A monkey carries a wooden bucket out of the mountains — just to soak in an onsen in downtown Tokyo

▲ A monkey leaves the mountains with a wooden bucket and takes the train to Tokyo just to enjoy an onsen. (Video from YouTube, apologies if removed)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The “Jigokudani Yaen-koen” monkey park in the mountain forests of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is famous for its snow-monkey-onsen spectacle. Recently, a viral online video shows a commercial building set to open in central Tokyo attracting snow monkeys who leave their forest home, hop on a train to Tokyo, and carry their own buckets — all just to soak in its onsen. Though it’s a creative ad, the adorable and heartwarming scenes have left many netizens saying, “So warm and cozy, I want to go too!” — sparking huge buzz even before the facility’s official opening.

▲ A lone monkey waits for the train in the snow with a bucket and toiletries. (Image / Screenshot from YouTube)

▲ With guidance from station staff, the monkey heads to Otemachi Onsen. (Image / Screenshot from YouTube)

The advertisement was produced by Japanese real estate developer Mitsubishi Estate to promote the new Otemachi Building, set to open this July in central Tokyo’s Otemachi district.During construction, a natural hot spring was discovered at a depth of 1,500 meters underground, which has been certified by the Central Onsen Council, and thus named “Otemachi Onsen.”The developer has also included an onsen facility of the same name inside the building.Once officially opened, visitors will be able to soak in an onsen in central Tokyo for just 1,500 yen — making it the most convenient onsen spot in the city.

▲ Looking up in the urban jungle, the monkey finally reaches its destination. (Image / Screenshot from YouTube)

▲ The monkey, having successfully soaked in the onsen, looks warm and comforting. (Image / Screenshot from YouTube)

Through the ad, the monkey carries its bucket and towel, boards a train alone, leaves its home in the deep mountains, and makes its way toward Tokyo. With the help of a Tokyo Station attendant, it finds Otemachi, eventually discovering the Otemachi Onsen amid the dense urban jungle — and enjoys one of the city’s finest hidden onsen experiences. The heartwarming scenes led many viewers to comment: “This ad is amazing!” “Even monkeys know how to enjoy an onsen.” “A truly heartwarming film.”

According to Japanese media, Otemachi Onsen is classified as a therapeutic spring, with a flow rate of about 240 liters per minute, known to alleviate joint and neuralgia pain. The Otemachi Building has 17 floors, with floors 3 and above housing Hoshinoya Tokyo, the latest onsen ryokan from the Hoshino Resorts group. The rooftop also features a rotenburo (open-air bath), along with operators offering spa and gym services. The building is scheduled to open officially in July.

Address: 0100-0004 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Otemachi 1-chome, 9-2, Otemachi Building