jigokudani snow monkey onsen

Life in the mountain town outside yudanaka is at a different pace. The treatment we received from the ryokan jinpyokaku was amazing! For a start we were 4 hours later than we Spain and yet the lovely staff from the ryokan was waiting for as at the platform in cold wintery weather. The exceptional service and attention to detail was continued everywhere. We spent much of the days In yakuta (a kind of pajama kimono) and relaxing in the private and public onsen. Morning and nightly stuffed with great Japanese food and waited on hand and foot. By day two we felt like royalty... or perhaps  like a "better class of person" as the Victorians would say. I went so far as to cut and clean my toe nails.

A short walk from the ryokan were the snow monkeys. These monkeys came and took over an onsen hot spring killing all the in habitant and claiming it for their own. This is why it is called jigokudani or hell valley ( complete with charming welcome to hell valley signs). OK, that's not the official story but i prefer it.  walk from the ryokan were the snow monkeys. These monkeys came and took over an onsen hot spring killing all the in habitant and claiming it for their own. This is why it is called jigokudani or hell valley ( complete with charming welcome to hell valley signs). OK, that's not the official story but i prefer it.