Autumn Leaves Photo Tour - Guaranteed Snow Monkey (Macaca fuscata) Encounters

The JDS workshop leaders are currently in Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park leading a private Autumn Leaves Japan Photo Tour.  They’ve spent time indulging in Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing,) and experiencing Authentic Japan off the beaten path, at locations across the Kanto region, and now they’re experiencing a primal form of nature, or perhaps our team should say ‘primate’ in nature.  The Japanese macaque are referred to as ‘snow monkeys’ because they are the most northerly living non-human primates.   They may be referred to as ‘snow monkeys’, but to tell you the truth, there are over 120,000 snow monkeys in thousands of troops throughout Japan, so they can be found during any season.  If you want to find them outside of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, you have to go off the beaten path.  And once our workshop leader tracks down them down in the wild you will get some great shots.  Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is an almost guaranteed encounter with the snow monkeys, but this Autumn the monkeys were not seen in the snow monkey park for over five weeks, due to climate change, warm weather and plenty of food in the backcountry.  Also, there are only about 300 resident monkeys in the park.  So for Autumn 2025, this part of the cross-country Essence of Autumn tour will be changed to not visit the snow monkey park, and our workshop leaders are confident they can track them down in the wild off the beaten path.   

Also, new for 2025 are Sea stacks along the Sea of Japan.