Today we drove from Nagoya to Yudanaka to see the famous snow monkeys. It wasn't too difficult but there were not many signs to the monkey park. Luckily we had a map.

Access was via a windy road with passing points. Having paid for parking and parked, there is a short climb through woods to the entrance. (It isn't suitable for the disabled.) On the way up we occasionally saw the odd monkey nonchalanatly passing by. Once past the pay kiosk, there were lots of them, going about their business, whilst we tourists gawped at them. They didn't seem to like having cameras pointed at them as they would turn away. Fair enough!

Only a few monkeys were in the pond. Little baby monkeys were playing, other monkeys groomed each other, whilst some seemed bored and had a snooze. They were enchanting and we spent at least two hours in their company. Occasionally one would brush past you, oblivious or indifferent.

The keepers put wheat out to entice the monkeys to come down off the rocks. Some of the wheat went in the pond and the monkeys patiently fished it out.

On the way down we looked for the geyser that is meant to be on site, but they are doing construction work near it and appear to have switched it off.

We headed to our Ryokan, Shimaya, and the owners were very helpful. They seemed bothered that we might be bored as we had already seen the monkeys, so recommended a walking trip around the old town. We headed off and found a tall statue, Heiwakannon-dori, the Goddess of Mercy and World Peace. A board explained that this impressive statue had been melted down during WW2 as the Japanese military were running out of metal.

Nearby was the god of smokers and those who are tring to give up.

Much of Nagano-ken seems to be taken up by orchards with huge apples,which the locals are just beginning to harvest.

Getting dark we headed back to our Ryokan where the hostess had arranged for us to have a "rotemburo" (open air bath). We thought that this would be nearby, but instead they ran us up a local mountain to a resort where we had a private spa and sauna to ourselves overlooking the valley and the Nagano plain. It was delightful watching the streetlights twinkling in the distance.

On the way back we were dropped at a Sushi Restaurant, who had kindly agreed to do a vegetarian meal for us. Unfortunately we were sat at the bar with a range of dead fish and octopus tentacles directly in front of us.

After a spinach and edame bean starter, we ate deep fried tofu, rice, miso soup with wild mushrooms and vegetable tempura. There was a raucous band of locals in who were cheerful, trying out their English: "Adios amigos!" The food was delicious and the owner patiently listened to our dodgy Japanese!

Now we are back in our room editing lots of monkey videos and photos. Only a small sample will be attached to this blog!! A truly delightful day!!