Animals On Earth: India, Asia, China, Hawaii, And Madagascar

Japanese Macaque

The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), also known as the snow monkey, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species that is native to Japan.

Japanese macaques are medium-sized monkeys that are predominantly quadrupedal. They have brown, gray, or yellowish-brown fur, and their faces are pink.

Japanese macaques are omnivores. Their diet includes smaller animals and plants, mainly fruits, berries, seeds, flowers, and young leaves.

The Yakushima macaque (Macaca fuscata yakui), also known as the Yaku macaque, is found only on Yakushima Island, the southernmost limit for Japanese macaques.

Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata, inhabit subtropical or subalpine deciduous, broadleaf, and evergreen forests. 

Japanese macaques are preyed upon by several species including feral dogs and Mountain Hawk Eagles (Spizaetus nipalensis) (Miyamoto 1976 cited in Fooden & Aimi 2005; Iida 1999).

Japanese macaques are the only monkeys able to survive the extremes of cold and snow in northern Japan, regularly enduring temperatures of -10°C / 14°F. Visitors to the park find the monkeys to be very docile and relaxed compared to monkeys in other parts of the world.

Jigokudani Yaen Koen (Snow Monkey Park) is one of the habitats of a population of Japanese macaques, and visitors have the opportunity to view these illusive creatures up close. During winter months, you can even see them soaking in the area's hot springs to keep warm.

The Jigokudani monkey park, covered with snow almost one-third of the year, is home to Japan's famous hot-spring-bathing snow monkeys and has become a major attraction. You can enjoy watching the monkeys all year round, and especially in winter, when you can take pictures of them bathing in the hot springs.