Capture Japan: Snow Monkey Park

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Yamanouchi

If you’re ever in Nagano, I would recommend visiting the Snow Monkey Park in Yamanouchi! It’s hidden away up in the beautiful mountains in Nagano prefecture. It’s about an hour from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station by train. Yudanaka is known for it’s onsen or hot springs, so there are many cute Japanese inns scattered around the area. From Yudanaka Station, there is bus that will take you up to the Snow Monkey Park (about 15 minute ride). After that it’s about a 15-20 minute hike up the mountain the find the elusive hot springs full of adorable snow monkeys! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to hike up all the way up to the hot springs, but I was able to find one little monkey hanging around the base. Very adorable! …but be careful as these cute monkeys are quite strong and can be a little vicious if provoked. It was still definitely a great trip out there!

 

Capture Japan: Mother Bokujo

Mother Bokujo, Futtsu, Chiba

My first time on a farm! It took about 2 hours to get here via bus from Tokyo, but it was worth it. The view was absolutely amazing and the air was so clean and refreshing. The farm is actually quite large, and it took us about 30 minutes just to cover half the ground. Surprisingly, there was also a mini amusement park on the premise! The farm features adorable farm animals such as baby piglets, cows, llamas, alpacas, goats, chickens, bunnies, guineas pigs, as well as an ostrich, haha! Strawberry farms and other fruit green houses are also a main attraction for the farm, although we didn’t get a chance to visit them. On the bright side, I did get to taste some fresh ice-cream, which was quite delicious! If you ever get a chance to go to Mother Bokujo, I would definitely recommend going in April though, since they have beautiful flower fields that cover the entire side of the mountain.