Daily Photo - Sleeping Snow Monkeys
This was not an easy place to find! (The geolocation is not exactly
right.... but see below)
From JR Tokyo Station, take the JR Shinkansen to Nagano.
From JR Nagano Station, take the Nagano Dentetsu train to Yudanaka.
From Yudanaka, take a bus or taxi to Kanbayashi Onsen. From there,
it's about a 30 min walk to the Jigokudani Yaen-koen entrance.
I've always wanted to come see the wild snow monkeys... and so I just decided to make it happen this trip. Way up in the mountains of Japan, near Nagano, there is a troop of several dozen wild snow monkeys that roam all around a set of mountains. I didn't know if I'd be lucky enough to catch them or not... some say it is hard, and some people say it is easy. But you never really know! I set out to do my best and see what I could find.
Towards the very top of the cold mountain, there is a hot spring that churns out super-heated water that smells of sulfur. It fills this little pool and the monkeys come down during the day to lounge about, play, rest, eat, and all kinds of other wonderful things.
I spent two days on this mountainside. In the evening, I slept on the floor of a nearby ryokan, which is a traditional Japanese inn. There are about 30+ more stories about things that happened here, including eating crunchy crickets, but I will leave those to accompany future photos.
Another New Video Soon!
I just finished editing together a cool video interview I did with Alfie Goodrich here in Japan a few days ago. He has borrowed an awesome
medium-format digital camera, and I asked him a bunch of questions
about it. I think you will enjoy learning a little about the camera,
about Alfie, and about his photography!
from Trey Ratcliff at www.stuckincustoms.com
Lucio Santos, BoazImages, ancutza*, and 143 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 19 more comments
Leo Teles 38 months ago | reply
National Geographic picture !!! Superb work
Svam1 38 months ago | reply
Wow! It's a really hardcore set, love the monkeys.. these like people here!
/\ltus 38 months ago | reply
You made it to the snow monkeys! Very cool shot bud. Was great having you over while here. No doubt see you again soon!
Aram G. 38 months ago | reply
Another great photo!
Imapix 38 months ago | reply
FABULOUS!
Woooooooooooowhat a shot!
sujanara0 38 months ago | reply
:)
ceridwenn 38 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Kokoro no shashin - Creative commons pictures of Japan, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Bin 1.83 37 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Feel Good Hit of the Summer , and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Bin 1.83 37 months ago | reply
What a wonderful shot ! O(∩_∩)O
from FEEL GOOD HIT OF THE SUMMER group
fabienbarral 37 months ago | reply
This one is amazing, so much serenity....
ezyemoleda 37 months ago | reply
the best of all for me
keenanthephotographer 37 months ago | reply
Getty images!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mangini Adalberto & Laura 35 months ago | reply
what a wonderful photostrea you have!
Niks beleefd maar gelukkig heb ik de foto's nog 31 months ago | reply
it looks majestic like a whale
Joel Brady 31 months ago | reply
Excellent capture. I, unfortunatly, only saw Snow Monkeys from a distance when I stayed at the Karakukan Onsen (http://www.google.com.au/maps/place?cid=16621209681833093226&q=korakukan+onsen+nagano&gl=au&view=feature&mcsrc=details&num=2&start=0).
iaidokokoro.com/
Damien Douxchamps 29 months ago | reply
Excellent shot!
54StorminWillyGJ54 27 months ago | reply
great family portrait!! :D
JebbiePix 17 months ago | reply
SilviaGr 14 months ago | reply
Absolutely fantastic!
fossiled 3 months ago | reply
Wonderful wonderful composition. Perfect light, color and focus. Stunning image