One of my favorite places is
Jigokudani Yaenkoen in Nagano Prefecture. Jigokudani translates as "Hell's Valley," so named because of the harsh winters with heavy snow, steaming hot springs, and steep cliffs. A troop of wild Japanese macaques has called this area home since the 1960s. More commonly known as snow monkeys, these adorable primates spend much of the harsh winter in the natural hot springs. On recent a trip to the States, I was thrilled to flip through the TV channels and come across a show about the snow monkeys. Who needs to watch a telenovela when you can watch the daily lives of the Japanese macaques? I can't wait to visit next winter with a new appreciation of life in Hell's Valley. In the meantime, here are some photos from my last visit. Watch the Nature Snow Monkey's Episode on the
PBS Website.
