Monkeys? Wtf? I had no idea. Given its geographic location I should have guessed that was the case but for some reason I am still a little bit shocked.
Feel like I've seen about a million photos on instagram of snow monkeys chilling in hot springs. I've never been, but I think it's a pretty world-famous tourist attraction (can't comment on whether it's actually worth a visit, though):
I've also run into wild monkeys hiking around Kamikochi in Nagano, and cycling around Lake Tagokura Fukushima. They're small, but not particularly shy, and like any wild animal bigger than a cat I find them somewhat scary.
Well-founded caution. Monkeys are very strong and fast. Hung around with a spider monkey for years at my friend’s house. The monkey was “domesticated”, but sometimes it would just… go off.
https://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/
I've also run into wild monkeys hiking around Kamikochi in Nagano, and cycling around Lake Tagokura Fukushima. They're small, but not particularly shy, and like any wild animal bigger than a cat I find them somewhat scary.