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Japanese Snow Monkeys and How to Visit
We’ve all seen it, whether you are flipping through pages of a National Geographic magazine or watching a documentary on Animal Planet – the monkeys somewhere in Asia that like to hang out in hot springs during the cold winter months. I’ve known about these monkey’s since I was a child. Honestly, I thought they were high in the mountains somewhere near China or some other country, I had no clue these were Japanese Macaques (Japanese Snow Monkeys) that lived in, you guessed it…Japan! When I moved to Japan in 2019, I made it a goal to visit Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, otherwise known as Snow Monkey Park. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Japanese Macaques(Japanese Snow Monkeys) Japanese Macaques are not just known as Japanese Snow Monkeys, in fact the ones in Jigokudani Yaen-Koen are the only monkeys known to relax in hot springs. The Japanese Macaques can be found throughout the country of Japan from the northern tip of Honshu to Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. Other then humans, the Japanese Macaque is the northern most primate in the world. Japan, especially northern Japan can get very cold and can endure a lot of snow. The Japanese Snow Monkeys have adapted to this climate by growing long and thick coats of fur to last the winter. During the winter, they huddle together for warmth high in the trees and scavenge for food during the daylight hours. The monkeys we know that enter the Onsen (hot springs) is somewhat a new phenomena and secluded to one valley, the Yokoyu River Valley, in the Shiga National Park located in the Japan’s Nagano Prefecture. How Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Became a National Park Jigokudani Yaen-Koen opened in 1964. It was never meant to be an onsen for monkeys. I read that the onsen was man-made for the intent of a resort, but once complete a rather un-ordinary guest appeared to be relaxing in the warm waters. Ever since then, travelers from around the world have come to see the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys soaking it up in the onsen’s. The park itself is not big but it is nicely done and gives both visitors and monkeys space. Upon entering the park, you will most likely see monkeys on the trail, in the hills and trees, and chasing each other in the river and surrounding areas. Obviously, the main attraction is the onsen and seeing the monkeys enjoying it. The monkeys tend to spend the nights in the mountains high up in the trees and come to the onsen during the day, when park officials arrive and set food out for them. Visitors can’t actually get to close to the onsen, there is a divider and somewhat of a platform on the side located slightly above the onsen. But it does offer the best view of the monkeys in the onsen and believe me, you don’t want to get to close to them, generally monkeys are known to be aggressive. Park Hours and Admission The park is open year round, and the monkeys will be in the area, but winter months is the best chance for seeing them in the onsen. Remember, with all wildlife, the monkeys may not be present at the time. A friend of mine went during mating season and he didn’t see a single monkey. Summer Months (April through October) – 8:30 – 17:00 Winter Months (November through March) – 9:00 – 16:00 Admission: ¥800 for Adults ¥400 for Children For more information check out the Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Website. They also have a live camera page, you can check out what the monkeys are up to. Hiking to and enjoying Snow Monkey Park Some hotels will offer rides to Snow Monkey Park, which is recommended, but they can only get you so far. There is a trailhead here and one must hike to the park entrance. The trail is 1.6 kilometers and can take about 30 minutes to walk. Due to the elevation and weather, the trail can be muddy, snowy, overgrown, etc.. so make sure to dress appropriately and find out ahead of time what the weather is like before attempting the hike. Most likely, there will be monkeys on or off the trail even before the park, so be cautious. Once I saw the first monkey on the trail, I instantly felt like a little kid, I mean it’s not every day you see monkey’s in the wild. Jill and I were watching a group of monkeys chase each other and another group cuddled up together, this was all before even getting to the park. After a few more minutes, we arrived at the park right on time, and were first in line. Go early, after an hour or so the park started filling up, fear not there will be more monkeys then humans here and the way it is set up, you get great views of the park and onsen area. We stayed here for hours just watching the macaques bathe in the onsen and chase each other around the park. There were several babies that were absolutely adorable, it was entertaining watching the little monkeys play and even push each other in the water. Although cute, monkeys are not the nicest of creatures, several fights broke out, most likely over food or territory and they make these screeching noises when agitated that are quite scary. Please, make sure not to touch or pet the monkeys. It seems tempting because they can be inches in front of you or even run into you or jump on your shoulders, remember they are wild animals and should stay wild. After our wonderful experience at Snow Monkey Park, Jill and I walked back to town. There are a few trails that head to town, you can back track the same way or head right outside the park to a trail that cuts through the forest hugging the river. On this trail we ran into one monkey, minding his on business, it was quite funny just walking by him/her and carrying on with our hike. If I am still in Japan for another year, I definitely plan on revisiting Snow Monkey Park, but will most likely come a month earlier, as there will be more snow where you can get that iconic shot of the monkey chillin in the onsen with a blanket of snow. We visited the park in March of 2020. This trip was absolutely spectacular and will forever be one of my most memorable trips. Getting Here from Tokyo Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is a world famous attraction and people from around the world come here to see the famous snow monkeys. The Snow Monkey Park is somewhat secluded and does take some planning and travel to get here. Most travelers will likely fly into Tokyo, so these recommendations are for visitors arriving in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. From the Haneda Airport Terminal 2, take the Tokyo-Monorail Sub Rapid going toward Hamamatsucho and transfer to the Keihintohoku Line Rapid for Omiya toward Tokyo station. Seems like a mouthful but the whole transit from Haneda to Tokyo Station was about 25 minutes including transfers. Once at Tokyo Station, if time allows it, there are plenty of options to sit down and have a meal and a drink. Nagano, Japan is the biggest city near the Snow Monkey Park, so take the shinkansen (Japan’s High Speed Train) from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station. Once at the Nagano Station, if you are headed directly to Yudanaka (small resort town where the Snow Monkey Park is), take the Zenkoji Temple exit and go to the Nagano Dentetsu Line, here you will enter a slower paced train to Yudanaka. I recommend staying at least a night in Yudanaka, and hiking to the park the very next day, but first enjoy the cute resort town. Yudanaka is home to many beautiful resorts that offer access to several onsens around town. To sum up how to get to Snow Monkey Park: Haneda → Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho → Keihintohoku to Omiya → Tokyo Station → Shinkansen to Nagano → Zenkoji Temple Exit → Nagano Dentetsu Line → Yudanaka Station Our Hotel I was very much looking forward to visiting the Snow Monkey Park, and it did not disappoint. The whole trip will go down as one of my favorite experiences. Not only was the Snow Monkey Park an amazing experience, but the resort we stayed at made this trip truly memorable. We stayed at the Shibu Hotel, a traditional Japanese hotel with its own onsen. The hotel went above and beyond my expectations. The rooms were all tatami rooms, overlooking the town and surrounding mountains. They even provided both Jill and myself a Yukata (Japanese Robe) and Getas (wooden shoes) for wandering outside at night. The hotel included both breakfast and dinner, the breakfast took some getting used to as it was not the traditional eggs and toast I am used to but the dinner was absolutely phenomenal. Dinner was a multi-course meal, the variety was spectacular and the presentations and flavors were spot on! The photos below include one of our dinner and the other photo is us dressed up in our Getas. Additional Snow Monkey Pictures! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Okunoshima “Rabbit Island,” Japan
In the Seto Inland Sea, there is a small island named Okunoshima that has a dark past but the current residents are darn cute! I am talking about Rabbit Island, in Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture! **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! How did Okunoshima become known as Rabbit Island? So how did this island become known as rabbit island? The obvious answer is that this island is inhabited by bunnies. There are no cats or dogs allowed on the island, so it is overrun by a thousand cute, furry, adorable bunnies! Before it became Rabbit Island, Okunoshima was a typical island, no different then any of the others. So how did they all get here? There are a few theories on how the bunnies got here, remember these are just theories, no one truly knows how they got here. A popular theory is that the bunnies were released on the island by a group of school children, another theory suggests it was a couple from the U.K. But there is a darker history that occurred here. In the late 1920’s the Japanese Military used this island to create and test chemical weapons and they used rabbits as test subjects. After WWII the island was destroyed by allied forces and it is likely all the rabbits were killed, but there is no guarantee, which leaves the mystery unresolved. How to get to Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) Okunoshima “Rabbit Island,” is secluded, but is reachable by public transportation and a short 12-minute ferry ride from Tadanomi Port. The Port is a quick 3-minute walk from the Tadanomi Train Station. The easiest way to arrive at the Tadanomi Train Station is by the Mihara Station. Both Kodama Shinkansen coming from either Hiroshima or Osaka make a brief stop here. If driving to Rabbit Island from the Hiroshima area, you can stay on Route 2 through Higashihiroshima before taking a right onto Route 59 all the way to Tadanomi Port. If arriving by vehicle, there is plenty of free parking next to the General Store at the port. Ferry tickets and rabbit food can be purchased from the general store. There is an automatic ticket machine within the store. Tickets are ¥310 one way; I recommend buying round trip tickets right away. Rabbit food can also be purchased here for ¥200 a bag. The ferries depart regularly starting at 8:00 am until around 7:00 pm, there is a ferry schedule in the store. The Gateway to Rabbit Island site has a lot of good information and pictures of everything related to Rabbit island to include getting here, ferry time tables, and exploring the island. Apart from rabbit food and tickets, the shop also sells souvenirs, ice cream, and drinks. Once the ferry arrives, there will be an individual collecting tickets outside the ferry. The ferry conditions are not the most comfortable but it’s a quick and easy 12-minute ride. Enjoy! Rabbit Island is small, but there is a lot to see! Of course, the second you get off the ferry, there are bunnies everywhere. Logically, you would think they would just hang out by the terminal since that is where all the tourists get off and feed them. That is not the case as they live all over Okunoshima. There is a trail around the whole island, my recommendation is to start walking right away to give yourself space from the potentially crowded port area. The trail was only a few kilometers in length and was well maintained. Cars are not allowed on the island, but there are bike rentals. But please, ride slowly and watch out for the bunnies. Along the trail there are gorgeous views of the sea and surrounding islands as well as the remains of the gas factories and forts. There are many other trails leading to the center of the island, unfortunately, when I went all these trails were roped off. There is even a luxury hotel on the island with a restaurant and café. If you love the outdoors, there is a small campground on the island, make sure to book in advance to reserve a spot. The Rabbits With over a thousand rabbits occupying Okunoshima, you are guaranteed to encounter them everywhere! The second you get off the ferry, you will be greeted by hordes of adorable bunnies. I recommend walking the paths around the island right away. Don’t worry, the rabbits are plentiful along the trails. It is quite entertaining to see a few running toward you and then out of nowhere there can be upwards to ten or more curious bunnies surrounding you. I purchased food to feed them (from the general store on the mainland). The rabbits are not shy, they will climb on your lap to get food, they will even eat directly off your hand if you are daring enough to feed them this way. I try to make sure everyone gets a few pellets. If you really want to feed the bunnies, I recommend not wasting all the pellets on the rabbits near the port, they get plenty of food from visitors that don’t walk the trails. Instead, save the pellets for the bunnies on the trails a bit further out, if you have left over pellets at the end, go ahead and share it to the smart bunnies near the ferry port. The rabbits on Okunoshima are wild animals, but thankfully they are well cared for. There are water bowls scattered throughout the island so they always have fresh water to drink. They get fresh vegetables to eat from caretakers as well. All the bunnies appeared to be in good shape and very happy! Please, follow the rules of the park and respect the rabbits. Don’t pick up the rabbits or forcefully try and pet them. If you want to feed the rabbits, purchase food specifically made for them which can be bought for ¥200 at the general store (there is no place to buy food for them once on the island). Do not feed them human food. Don’t try and sneak a rabbit off the island and make it your pet and don’t leave your pet rabbit on the island, trust me there are already plenty here and many signs regarding these warnings! Be kind and respect the rabbits and the island. Use common sense and enjoy their cuteness. The rabbits are curious and will come up to you and bombard you with cuteness. For photos, I found it fun to take ground level shots of them. Many times, when they get close they stand on their hind legs, perfect for unique photos! The Dark History of Rabbit Island, Gas Manufacturing Plants and Forts Obviously, the rabbits are the main attraction on the island, but when walking around it is hard not to notice the several large ruined buildings and forts scattered along the trail and throughout the island. Before WWII, during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), forts were placed on this island due to its secluded and prominent location. Today, many of the gun batteries and ruins from the Russo-Japanese War still remain and can be seen. In the 1920’s, the island was used as a secret location to develop and test chemical weapons in the form of poisonous gases. During the development of the chemical weapons, the Japanese went to great lengths to keep the island a secret, they even had the island removed from maps. After WWII, the gases were disposed of and the facilities were destroyed. Today, several of the storage houses can be seen throughout the island and there is a Poison Gas Museum near the Resort. So, Is Rabbit Island Worth Visiting? Visiting Rabbit Island in Japan is well worth visiting. Japan has so many animal attractions that are worth visiting. There are cat islands, a fox village, the snow monkeys, an island full of deer, and bunny island! I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit bunny island not once but twice. For being a small island I spent a solid five hours here and lifelong memories! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Best Cat Destinations Around the World for Cat Lovers
Cats and travel might sound like an unusual combination, but there are cat destinations around the world that travelers like myself flock to. From cute cat cafes in Seoul, South Korea to city parks in Peru. There are unique cat attractions around the world that have become must-visit experiences for animal lovers. Whether you are planning your next international adventure or simply looking for unusual travel ideas, these cat destinations around the world offer memorable experiences, local culture, and plenty of adorable photo opportunities. For cat lovers, these destinations are more then just tourist attractions. They are places where communities care for local cats, and travelers connect over a shared love of animals, every corner seems to come with a furry surprise! ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Best Cat Destinations Around the World Cat tourism has always been popular, but seems to have become increasingly popular thanks to social media, viral travel videos, and a growing interest in animal-friendly experiences. Cat Cafes, cat islands, and cities known for their feline residents seem to offer a slower and more memorable style of travel that appeals to photographers, animal lovers, and cultural travelers alike. I’ve always sought out cat destinations along my travels. I grew up with cats and absolutely love them! Below you can find some of the famous cat attractions and destinations I’ve visited while traveling the world in search for cute kitties. Asia Ojima Island: Okinawa, Japan Connected to Okinawa’s main island by a short bridge, Ojima Island is known as a laid-back fishing village with amazing tempura shops, and a large population of stray cats. You’ll notice cats lounging all over the island and many begging for food. Ojima is not officially one of Japan’s famous cat islands but it’s a hidden gem for cat lovers visiting Okinawa. Visiting Ojima Island is perfect for those that want to try local Okinawan tempura, enjoy the beautiful ocean views, and socialize with the local cat population. Sanagi Island: Kagawa Prefecture, Japan Japan is known for its cat islands and one of my favorites is Sanagi Island. Located in the Seto Inland Sea, Sanagi Island is one of the lesser known cat islands. Sanagi Island, is a small island that is home to a small population of residents along with dozens of cats that roam the quiet fishing villages on Sanagi Island. Sanagi offers a peaceful and authentic atmosphere where visitors can enjoy the slow paced island life, experience rural Japan, and spend time with the local feline residents. Sanagi Island is accessible by ferry from Tadotsu near Marugame. When Jill and I visited Sanagi Island, I felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We didn’t run into any tourists. It was just us, locals, and the dozens of cats that greeted us while walking around. Houtong Cat Village: Taiwan Tucked away in the mountainous region of northern Taiwan, Houtong Cat Village is one of the most famous cat destinations in the world. What was once a quiet coal mining town has transformed into a paradise for cats and cat lovers. In Houtong Cat Village, there are hundreds of friendly cats, cute cafes, shops, and all things cats. It truly is a cat lovers paradise and it’s an easy day trip from Taipei. The village gained international attention when local villagers started caring for abandoned cats in Houtong and sharing photos. I think social media definitely helped the town go viral. Today, visitors can explore Houtong Cat Village by wandering the alleyways, visiting local cat-themed shops, eating at local cafes, and taking photos of the adorable cats throughout Houtong Cat Village. From Taipei Main Station, the journey by train to Houtong is only an hour. You can combine a day trip with popular places like Jiufen. Cat Cafe’s: Seoul, South Korea We really enjoyed our time in Seoul, South Korea. Prior to visiting S. Korea for our first time we were well aware of cat cafe’s. Surprisingly we only ended up going to one, we did go to a puppy cafe as well which was cute, but this is about cats right? Not dogs! We’ve been to other cat cafe’s around the world, but the one in Seoul stood out and it was around the corner from where we stayed. Here is how it works. You come in, take off your shoes and pay, usually drinks are included. Once you enter you can sit there and pet the kitties, play with them, or just take photos with them. It is funny being in a small space with 10-20 cats at one time. Some of them don’t want to be bothered by anyone while others just love to play. Either way, it is great that the cats get attention and used to people before hopefully being adopted! Mikan the Orange Cat: Kaohsiung, Taiwan In the city of Kaohsiung, located in southern Taiwan, there is a local cat celebrity and honorary station master that goes by the name Mikan. Mikan the adorable orange cat, can be found at the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Metro Station in Kaohsiung. The station itself and many other metro stations in the Kaohsiung area have embraced Mikan’s popularity with cat-themed decorations and merchandise, creating a fun and memorable stop for both train enthusiasts and cat lovers. Europe Cats of Dubrovnik There was not really a “cat attraction” in Dubrovnik, but the whole city seemed to be a playground for cats, they were everywhere! Dubrovnik seems to be the best place for cats, inside the walls, there are no cars, small alley ways, and plenty of fun places for kitties to explore. Around every corner we would see a kitty, especially in the evening times, there would be groups of them. All the cats were well taken care of. Apparently the restaurants leave out their leftover food at night for the cats, primarily fish. We would see piles of cat food in random locations. At one of the main bus stops, we saw a rough looking kitty, he’s been through a lot. It was great to see that no one forgot about him as he had food in the mornings. People in Croatia seem to love their cats. Plus the weather is always nice there! Cat Obsession: Kotor, Montenegro . Doing our research prior to visiting Kotor, we read that they are obsessed with cats in this small medieval town. We were very much looking forward to visiting Kotor because of this reason. Apparently, back in the day, during time of plague, the cats would eat the rats that spread the horrible disease. Because of this, it is likely cats saved hundreds if not thousands of people, so they are basically worshiped in Kotor. There were cats everywhere, but not as many as we saw in Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia, not sure why? Smaller town and crowds perhaps. There was a cat museum in Kotor, no way in hell we could pass that up, besides it was only a Euro (Montenegro uses Euro’s). Umm, it was not quite what I was expecting. I was expecting displays of cat toys, or famous cats from the area. In reality it was full of very odd paintings, postcards with cats, and photos of men during war with cats on their laps. I don’t think I would say this is a must do, but for a Euro it was fun. North America Save a Gato: San Juan, Puerto Rico This has got to be one of my favorite cat attractions/rescues to date! Save a Gato is a rescue organization in San Juan that traps, neuters, and releases cats in Old San Juan. I believe they also foster and adopt kitties out. But once the cats are taken care of at Save a Gato, they are released back to their colonies, more places need to do this!! The best thing about the cats of Old San Juan is the location. You can walk outside the walls around the Forts along the coast and you will see cats everywhere along the trail, sunning on the rocks, in bushes, etc..it was quite fantastic! Cats love soaking up the sunshine by the beach just like we do I guess! If you come here, you are guaranteed to see cats. They all looked well taken care of and seemed to be friendly. Once you exit the trail and get back into Old San Juan, don’t worry, there are cats all around town. Hemingway House: Key West, Florida Home of the six-toed cats! That’s right, a visit to the Hemingway House is not only famous to view Ernest Hemingway’s belongings and works as a writer, but also to see the popular polydactyl (six-toed) kitty cats. His home lies within Key West, Florida on Whitehead St and is home to about 50 cats that sleep around both inside and outside the house. The cats even have their own replica of the Hemingway House. Apparently six toed cats were popular among sailors in the early 1900’s, for several reasons. They were considered good luck, the extra toe allowed for better grip while at sea and made them better mousers. Hemingway received a six toed cat from a sailor named Snow White and that is where it all began! Now a days, you can tour the Hemingway House and visit the cats. During the day, you can catch them sleeping on the furniture, under tables, or outside relaxing in the shade. The grounds also includes a cemetery for the cats and there is a vet that takes care of them all. Cashnip Kitty, Tulsa, Ok The story goes, there is a small business downtown and they have an office cat. For a few days, the employees would come to work and see a few dollar bills laying right by the door. This would be almost a daily occurrence and they finally found out that drunk people would walk by the business, see the cat in the window and play with it using a dollar bill. Eventually the dollar would fall into the office and the cat would claim victory over their money!!!! Since this occurred so often, the business made it into a thing and now they donate all the money to the local homeless shelter. South America Kennedy Park (Kitty Park): Lima, Peru Kennedy Park (Kitty Park), is kind of where it all began. We were in Miraflores which is an upscale area in Lima, Peru. We were visiting a Pre-Inca Ruin and the tour guide mentioned something about a cat park. Did we hear that right, “Cat Park?” We quickly asked the guide if he really meant a cat park, and sure enough, it was true. We arrived at Kitty Park and saw cats everywhere, I read that there are about 100 cats here give or take, and they are all cared for by a group that spays, feeds, and takes care of them all. For the most part they were all in good health, a few had bandages and medicine on wounds, but it is good to know they are cared for. We spent close to a week in Lima, I believe we stopped here at least three times. The cats were all friendly and enjoyed pets and belly rubs. It was funny, you could look into the bushes and see 5-10 curled up taking a cat nap. They were literally everywhere, on benches, people’s laps, tree’s, trails, etc.. Conclusion From the famous cat islands of Japan to the historic streets of Montenegro and Peru’s cat-filled parks, these destinations prove that travel can be both unique and wholesome. For cat lovers, visiting these places offers more then just cute photos, it creates memorable experiences, connections, stories, and opportunities to