2024.12.29

Snow monkeys

Overseas tourists visiting Hokkaido sometimes ask the tour guides where they can see snow monkeys.
There are many wild animals including Ezo-Shika deer, brown bears, red-crowned cranes etc. , that are often observed here, but no wild monkeys inhabit in Hokkaido.

However, at Hakodate City Tropical Botanic Garden, you can see monkeys soaking in a hot spring bath during winter (December-April)!

The monkeys in this Garden are originally brought from Honshu, or the main land where there are many wild monkeys.
Taking an open-air hot spring bath seems quite nice for monkeys as well as humans, especially in Hokkaido’s freezing winter!

Tomoko.W