03 April 2005 - 04 April 2005

Last Updated: 05/04/05


Monkeys?  In an onsen?

 

This has to be one of the most exciting trips I've taken while in Japan.  I've been trying to see wild Japanese monkeys since I arrived...the most significant trips being: 

Mikata, Fukui: No Monkey

Obama, Fukui: No Monkey

Miyajima, Hiroshima (twice): No Monkey (twice)

Arashiyama, Kyoto(twice): No Monkey (twice)

 

So it was a bit of a leap of faith to drive for 7 hours to the monkey onsen in Nagano in the hope of seeing the wild Macaques enjoying the hot springs up a snow-covered mountain...  the drive was not in vain, however...  

 

This trip was pure magic, and the photos just don't do it justice.  If you ever have the opportunity to go, this place is not to be missed!  

 

We did a few other things too...like visiting Zenkoji temple (we stayed the night at the youth hostel associated with the temple).

 

 

 
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On the way to Nagano, we stopped of at some caves in Gifu

 

(actually, this cavern was only about 30cm tall!)

A shrine just outside the caves

 
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A gate to Zenkoji temple, Nagano, with two giant gaijin shadows...

In case you're ever caught-short out of hours, and need a quick fix of...religious keitai (mobile phone) chain...

well, there's a handy vending machine at Zenkoji

 
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We were up early the next morning

(it was snowing outside, and our youth hostel had no heat, and no hot water...ok, so it had a hot shower, but other than that...)

Zenkoji...and what did we find there?  A whole group of kids from the Fukui Diving Club...

 
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Most temples in Japan are all more-or-less the same, and we got "templed out" long ago, but Zenkoji's a bit different:

you can go into a pitch black underground tunnel within the temple (and I mean COMPLETELY dark) and wind your way through, following the right hand wall.  Eventually you come to a large metal "key" (actually, it felt more like a large door handle...), which you jangle a bit for luck.  The key is said to be the key to paradise, and is directly below the temple's coveted (and hidden) Buddha image - which is said to be the oldest image of the Buddha in Japan.  This passageway is the closest you can get to it.  

 

Scary, though.

On our way up to the monkey onsen - Tom looking cold, but surrounded by gorgeous scenery

 
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Still on our way up there, a monkey came out of nowhere and ran right next to us! 

 

SCORE!

 

My first wild monkey in Japan, and it actually brushed by me :)

A cold, snowy monkey

 
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Still on our way to the onsen.


The great thing about this place is that you can go right up and be amongst the monkeys.  They're not in the least bit bothered by human presence - they don't pester for food, or try to run off with your camera...

The onsen!

 
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Well, if you lived up here, where it was snowy even in April, you'd leap into the hot water too!

Drying out

 
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He looks like he's having fun, anyway!

Babies

 
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Wonder what he's looking at...

The drive back: lovely sunshine

 
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Sunset on the mountains

The road ahead

 
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We stopped at the side of the road to take this.  I know, I know, I've been moaning about the snow, but it's back to being a novelty again now it's all gone in Fukui city!

 

   

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