Wild monkeys enjoy heavenly 'hell valley' hot spring in snowy Nagano Pref.

YAMANOUCHI, Nagano -- Wild Japanese macaques have been enjoying a heavenly hot spring bath in the snow in the central Japan town of Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture.

The Jigokudani Yaen-koen Wild Snow Monkey Park is well-known as a site where snow monkeys take a dip in the hot spring. The word "jigokudani" translates to "hell valley" and the area earned this nickname due to it steep cliffs and hot spring steam. More than 10 of the monkeys were seen relaxing with their eyes closed or huddling up and grooming each other in the open-air bath surrounded by snow when the Mainichi Shimbun recently visited there.

Taking a bath helps the monkeys survive the bitter cold. According to the park, monkeys generally do not like water, but some 50 among the herd of about 160 macaques inhabiting the area take baths to keep warm. Most of them are female or young monkeys, and apparently not many males soak in the spring.

The scene had been popular among tourists from both in and outside Japan, but the number of visitors to the park has decreased amid the spread of coronavirus infections. Even after last autumn's state of emergency was lifted, the park apparently has not seen many visitors.

Atsushi Takizawa, 40, the business manager at the park said: "Snow monkeys, which appear in old tales, are well-known in Japan. I want people to thoroughly observe them as their behavior differs depending on the season."

(Japanese original by Kota Yoshida, Photo Group)