Winter’s “Paradise for Monkeys”: Head to Hakodate to See Macaques Soaking in Hot Springs with Pure Bliss

▲ Macaques soaking in hot springs in Hokkaido, looking completely relaxed. (Photo / Courtesy of Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden)

Reported by Lai Wenxuan / Hokkaido

Winters in Hokkaido, Japan, are extremely cold — not only is there heavy snowfall, but temperatures can sometimes drop as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. Yet in such a harsh climate, there exists a true paradise for monkeys. At the Hokkaido Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, there is a special hot spring pool exclusively for monkeys. Visitors can watch these primates soaking in the springs, looking thoroughly content, and if you’re lucky enough to feed them, they’ll even happily clap their hands in thanks.

▲ A group of monkeys enjoying a soak in the hot spring pool. (Photo / Reported by Lai Wenxuan)

The Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden in Hokkaido was established in 1970. The garden staff specially piped hot spring water into a pool so that the resident monkeys could warm up during the winter. From around mid-December each year to May of the following year, visitors can observe the monkeys luxuriating in the hot springs — some even with their eyes squeezed shut in pure delight.

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