Kyoto, is the seventh largest city in Japan, known for its ornate and serene Buddhist temples, lush botanical gardens and the mysterious geisha district of Gion.  However, one place that remains hidden to most American tourists is Iwatayama Monkey Park.  Nestled high in the hills of the Arashiyama Mountain Range, this park is home to 170 wild, free-range macaques, better known as Japanese snow monkeys.

Japanese macaques are known for their love of soaking in an onsen (Japanese hot spring) to keep warm in bone-chilling, wintery climate. However, they live throughout Japan in ranges covering subtropical lowlands to sub alpine regions. The great differences in habitats make it necessary for them to adapt to large seasonal changes.

Macaques typically feed on plants, such as conifers, but will gladly feast on vegetation, or fruit placed right into their hands by human visitors. Although they’re wild monkeys, they’re typically docile creatures since many of them are already accustomed to humans meandering about their domain.

Iwatayama Monkey Park is among Japan’s many regions where macaques run freely; dazzling visitors with their fur-picking antics, sibling squabbles and high-pitched cries.

The park is a simple 20-minute hike from the base of the Arashiyama mountain range. At about three quarters of the way there, rest awhile and wait. You just might catch a furry critter or two stealing away in a nearby tree. Oftentimes, you’ll find one munching on a conifer bush, or staring right at you as you walk by. Just don’t stare back or he’ll take it as a sign of aggression. It’s the park’s ground rule #1.

Once you reach the center of the park, you’ll find a small lake where the monkeys like to play.  Sometimes, you’ll find them hanging freely off a staff member’s parked scooter.  Other monkeys simply like staring at their own reflection in the water.  It’s quite a sight to behold.

The real fun comes once you enter the observation platform. Here, you can enter into the feeding hut to buy some sliced apples for a couple hundred yen (a $2 equivalent). You’ll find the windows fenced with crisscross metal, making it easy for the monkeys to hang out at their leisure.  Oftentimes, you’ll see as many as 12 to 15 monkeys crawling around the fence at the same time!  Many of them will already be eyeing you as you leave the apple counter with their goods. They’ll stretch out their arms and reach through the fence just to grab a tasty morsel right out of your hand.  Be careful.  When handing out snacks, monkeys are quite aggressive in pushing their own counterparts away.  Sometimes, you’ll see two hands pushing through the fence and heading right toward you!  Stay as long as you want and let the games begin.

Iwatayama Monkey Park is easily accessible via train from the Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR San-in (Sagano) Line in Kyoto.

 

Venue name:  Iwatayama Monkey Park

Address: 8 Genrokuyama-cho, Arashiyama, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto City

Neighborhood:  Arashiyama, Kyoto City

Phone number: 075-872-0950

Hours of operation: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.(Winter season: - 4 p.m.) seven days/wk

General admission: 520 yen

Junior and Senior High School Students: 420 yen

Elementary School Students: 320 yen

Credit Cards: N/A

E-mail: N/A

Web site: N/A