Japanese Snow Monkeys

Happy New Year everyone !

Here are some photos from a shoot I took with the Japanese Macaques or Snow Monkeys. The shots were taken at the hot springs (or onsen) that feeds into the valley of the Yokoyu-River at Jigokudani Yaen Koen.

Literally meaning "Hell's Valley", Jigokudani was named after the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the frozen ground which is surrounded by steep cliffs. The valley sits at an elevation of 850 meters. Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Other than humans the Macaque is the primate that lives in the coldest climate and survives in winter temperatures down to -15 °C. In japan the species is known as Nihonzaru.

In Shinto belief, mythical beasts known as raijū sometimes appeared as monkeys and kept Raijin, the god of lightning, company. The "three wise monkeys", which warn people to "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil", are carved in relief over the door of the famous Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō.

Love to hear whats on everyone's bucket list for 2018?

Rob Downie
Love Life, Love Photography

_{All images in this post were taken by and remain the Copyright of Robert Downie - http://www.robertdowniephotography.com}