JAPAN TRAVEL: Hakodate Tropical Botanical Gardens is Where You Can Meet Hot-Tubbing Monkeys!
Don’t think that only humans can relax in an onsen—monkeys can do so, too!
Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are found at the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Gardens. It is where you can have the chance to see these cozy monkeys hot tubbing like a boss while waiting for you to feed them.
Japanese macaques in Hakodate
Have fun watching these human-like monkeys who play, swim, and interact with their fellow monkeys! To grab their attention, feed them with monkey biscuit that can be bought at the entrance for only ¥100 per bag.
These monkeys are best visited during winter
Aside from the monkeys, the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Gardens is a tropical paradise where you can see 300 species and 3,000 plants, situated in their greenhouse. All year-round, you can see beautiful flowers and fruit-bearing trees here too. Kids will also enjoy in the place as there is an outdoor play area and battery-operated Go-karts inside. The Go-kart area is only available from April to October. This ride charges ¥50 per hour.
A trip here in summer is the best time to go to Water Square, a pool area beside the greenhouse that’s popular with children. It is open from May to October. For adults who would like to relax, there is also a footbath where you can pamper your tired feet.
How to go here
By tram: From Hakodate Station, take the tram and get off at Yunokawa-cho tram stop. (approx. 30-minute ride)
By foot: It’s a 15-minute walk from the Yunokawa-cho tram stop.
Details
Address: 3-1-15 Yunokawa-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
Operating Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (April to October); 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (November to March); Closed from December 29 to January 1
TEL: +81 138-57-7833
Admission Fees: ￥300 (Adults), ￥100 (Grade school); Free of charge for babies/toddlers
How to go here: Take the train (25 minutes) from Hakodate Station and get off at Yunokawa Station. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk.
This first appeared on Philippine Primer magazine’s January 2019 issue.
