Monkeying Around

As if visiting Mount Fuji, exploring Tokyo, and hanging out with Kate in Asia again weren’t already good enough to consider this vacation an amazing one…we got to have one of our top traveling experiences of a lifetime…VISITING THE JAPANESE MACAQUES!

We kept trying to get this little guy
to look at the camera, but he
was too interested in us

Kate, Jo (Kate’s co-worker), Jesse, and I all made our way to Nagano this last weekend to see the adorable, fluffy, playful, and at times a little frightening Japanese snow monkeys.  Jesse and I rode on an overnight bus and arrived at Nagano very early (4:30am) Saturday morning.  We hung out in the train station waiting for the sun to begin rising before we headed to a Zenkoji Temple.   We listened to the monks greet the new day by ringing bells, chanting, and bopping the visiting Buddhists on the head with a beaded necklace.  Who knows what exactly was going on, but it reminded me of something out of an Indiana Jones movie with all the chanting and smoke rising from all the incenses.  Not our style, but still neat to see and experience.   

No Jesse, you can't take a
Monkey home with us!

However, the best part of the day was getting on an early bus to head an hour outside of Nagano to visit the monkeys.  The trail was gorgeous and looked like a scene from a movie as we traversed our way up the mountain to get to the park.  Once at the park, the monkeys immediately greeted us and were ready for their pictures to be taken.  The park itself is very touristy, but it was the best tourist trap I have ever been to! 

Jesse and I spent the whole day chilling with the monkeys.  Taking turns using our camera or warming up in the main building by the wood burning stove.  We enjoyed watching the monkeys play around, roll/ fall down the steep mountain side, and sit in the hot spring. 

After we were done at the park, we headed back on the once peaceful and tranquil trail only to find it had turned into a death trap.  The beautiful snow covered trees that had captivated us were now dropping mini avalanches of snow from 40-50 feet in the air.  It was a little terrifying walking back and running every time you heard the branches begin to crack!  Thankfully we only got a light dusting of snow on our heads at times nor did we witness anyone getting hit and knocked out J 

It was another lovely weekend in Japan.  Our vacation is coming to an end, but we are happy with the way it has turned out and will continue to enjoy our last few days here in Asia.