Macaques and the Mystic

A winter fairy pale and translucent like ice plays in the thermals of the steams that rises from the hot springs. Dragonfly like wings glistening like snowflakes. Blanketed in a deep layer of snow, the Jigokudani valley is a winter wonderland. Steam rises from the hot spring, swirling into the cold air. In the center of the steaming pool, a family of wild Japanese Macaques, or Snow Monkeys, huddle together. Their reddish-brown faces contrast with the white snow and the misty air as they soak in the warm water.