Brass Monkeys

It is fair to say that one of the main reasons for us coming to Japan at all was to visit the snow monkeys.  And we weren't dissappointed, had a great morning looking at them all bathing in the sunshine and (occasionally) in the hot water.

We drive up from Nagano to the free car park on the south side of the river, and then walked along the marked (but icy) path for about 20 minutes from there.  After paying your money to get in there is a little further to walk to the hot spring, but there are monkeys everywhere.  The animals have learnt to ignore humans, so they might walk between your legs or jump over your hand if you are leaning on a rail, but they don't associate people with food.  I think this could only work in countries like Japan where people follow rules so carefully.  Alex was told off for interacting with the monkeys (as she likes to)  but apparently she wasn't feeding them just 'helping them find food'.  Maybe.

told off for interacting with the monkeys

Not much more to say really except to enjoy the photos.  Oh, and if you are ever looking for somewhere to stay in Nagano, don't stay at the youth hostel near the temple, which easily managed to be both the most expensive, and worst place we've stayed in Japan.  Over 4000Yen each, and the building (other than 2 small heaters in our room) wasn't heated at all.  Temperature in the corridor when we arrived was an arctic 6 degrees.  And then the lady went out without turning the gas on which made things even colder.