Snow monkeys soaking in Japan’s hot springs: What a spectacle!

Did you know that the only species of monkey that takes hot baths is the Japanese macaque, also known as the snow monkey? Pictures of snow monkeys soaking in man-made hot springs have become a common draw for locals and foreign visitors to Japan. I recently accompanied a group of researchers on a Nozawa snow monkey tour in an effort to comprehend why these snow monkeys behave in this manner.

Our research was carried out under the auspices of Snow Monkey Tour Nozawa Onsen, an initiative of Staynozawa designed to make it easier for both Japanese residents and international visitors to enjoy the sight of macaques taking a hot spring bath in the same manner as humans.

Our study revealed that the macaques soak themselves in the hot springs to help them stay warm during the colder months after reviewing the Nozawa Onsen snow report and the sight of the macaques’ hot soaking. By decreasing their levels of stress hormones, the hot springs provided the snow monkeys with an unexpected additional benefit.

The history of snow monkeys bathing in hot springs

If you love monkey activities as much as I do, you may be curious about how Japanese snow monkeys first started soaking in hot springs. After reading a ton of material on the subject, I learned that the first Japanese macaque to take a hot bath was discovered in 1963. At a hotel close to Nagano, the snow monkey was relaxing in an outdoor hot spring.

Since the snow monkey’s hot bath experience in 1963, other snow monkeys have begun to imitate it. This prompted Snow Money Park officials to construct a hot spring just for the monkeys, and by 2003, one in every three female snow monkeys frequently bathed in a group in the winter, according to the Nozawa Snow Report written by a renowned scholar! According to the article, the monkeys bathed more frequently when the weather got colder, and they occasionally competed with one another for a hot spring bathing site!

Any tourist who desires to see Japanese macaques soaking in hot springs should be aware of the reasons why the Snow Monkey Park is the only tribe of monkeys in the world known to do so. This is due to the fact that monkeys, like cats, generally dislike water and will go to any lengths to avoid getting wet. Why, then, do these Japanese snow monkeys prefer soaking in the water for such extended periods of time in addition to simply entering it?

In addition to being another example of monkey see, monkey do, a renowned expert in animal behavior claims that this peculiar behavior of snow monkeys shows how behavioral adaptability might assist in reducing stress related to cold climates, with possible ramifications for reproduction and survival! It has been suggested that the snow monkeys got their distinctive habit of relaxing in the hot springs by observing people do the same.

How is watching the snow monkeys soak in hot springs beneficial to you?

It has been discovered that watching snow monkeys soak in hot springs is therapeutic for onlookers. While the charm has no influence on the monkeys’ levels of stress, the sight of red-faced monkeys taking a snow bath has a remarkable calming effect on those who observe them soaking in the hot springs.

Vising Nozawa Onsen and needing a snow money tour?

If you want to experience the enchanted snow monkeys and hot springs of Nozawa Onsen, you can negotiate for the best rates with Staynozawa.

Based in Nozawa Onsen, Staynozawa runs several group tours that include trips to the snow monkey park all year long. All of the hotel’s tours are led by local guides and combine trips to the snow monkey park with other memorable vacation experiences, such as lunch or dinner at a fantastic location or event.

For more information and a listing of their tours that always take cognizance of the Nozawa Onsen snow forecast, call them at +81 (0) 269 85 3121 or email them at bookings@staynozawa.com.