We arrive in late afternoon at the snow monkey park for a
brief experience with the monkeys. Spring is approaching and
the iconic images of the monkeys covered with snow in the
thermal pool is over but we learn this has certain advantages.

First, it is above freezing, not much, but after the bitter
cold of Hokkaido, this is welcome. Second, and more important,
the large crowds that photograph in the snow are gone and
we have much better access to the animals.