Two wild Japanese macaques share a peaceful moment in the warm waters of Jigokudani. Winter coats included—fortunately, only one of them appears responsible for the bill.
Some couples book a private spa. These two simply arrived in their winter coats and claimed the best seats in the house.
I photographed this pair of wild Japanese macaques sharing a quiet moment in the warm water of Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, high in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. The park lies in the Yokoyu River Valley, where cold winters and natural hot springs have created one of Japan’s most remarkable wildlife spectacles.
What caught my attention was not only their famous relationship with the onsen, but the tenderness of the scene. One monkey leaned gently against the other while both appeared completely unconcerned by the cold surrounding them.
For a moment, the harsh mountain valley felt less like a wildlife sanctuary and more like an exclusive wellness retreat—spa for two, bill for one.
- Date
- 2026-01-01