However, after regularly clicking in to view the monkey park's web cam, I've learned that their hot springs pool does get cleaned — regularly. Every week, if not every other day. When I check in during the morning hours, Japan time, I frequently see the pool drained and workers mopping up.
That surprised me. The other thing that surprised me is that there are large rocks inside the pool that come nearly to the waters surface. So, the monkeys I saw hanging around in the center of the hot springs while I was there were not treading water, they were lounging on rocks!
The other thing that surprised me, after watching the monkeys via web cam off and on for the last 8 months, is that they still go down to the hot springs during the summer. I wouldn't have guessed that. The water is rather warm and Japan is a hot, muggy place during the summer. But these highlander monkeys do live in the mountains where it is always cooler.
Even if the monkeys can be seen there year round, I still think it is far superior to see them in the winter with snow all around. After all, they are nicknamed Snow Monkeys.
2 comments:
So these hot springs are man-made (hence, the draining)? By the way, one of the best titles for a blog post - EVER! Ha Ha Ha
Yes, it sure looks that way to me Bonnie.
There are natural hotsprings in the area, and I am sure the monkeys go to them too, but this one seems to have been retrofitted to accommodate tourists.
And there are plenty of tourists, based on web cam shots!
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