Japan’s hot spring bathing macaques draw record crowds, raising concern for their welfare

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. welfare / ˈwɛlˌfɛər / (n.) – the health, safety, and happiness of people or animals
    Example:

    Animal shelters focus on the welfare of street dogs and cats by giving them food, medical care, and a safe place to stay.


  2. sneakily / ˈsniːkəl i / (adv.) – in a secret or dishonest way, so that others do not notice
    Example:

    The cat sneakily entered the kitchen and stole a piece of fish from the table.


  3. a pain in the neck / ə peɪn ɪn ðə nɛk / (idiom) – someone or something that is very annoying or difficult to deal with
    Example:

    The long lines at the bank are a pain in the neck, especially when you’re in a hurry.


  4. ill-prepared / ˈɪl prɪˈpɛərd / (adj.) – not ready or not prepared for something
    Example:

    The government was criticized for being ill-prepared to handle the crisis.


  5. treacherous / ˈtrɛtʃ ər əs / (adj.) – very dangerous or not safe
    Example:

    The hikers were warned not to take the treacherous mountain path, especially in winter when it is covered in ice.


Article

Read the text below.

Each winter, hundreds of thousands of tourists go to see the spectacle of Japan’s snow monkeys bathing in the hot springs of Jigokudani Park in Nagano.


Temperatures in the Japanese Alps plunge to around minus 20 and the macaques rely on the natural springs to survive the cold. With increasing visitor numbers to Japan, the monkeys have become the region’s biggest attraction which is raising concern for their welfare.


Staff here say the number of visitors to Jigokudani Park last year reached 257,000, the highest since it opened in 1964. The majority—60%—are from overseas.


According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website, there were 36,869,900 foreign visitors to the country between January and December 2024—an increase of 47% from the previous year.


Park director Toshio Hagiwara shares mixed feelings about the surge in visitors. The increase in visitor numbers has improved the park’s finances but Hagiwara expresses concern over the impact of tourism, particularly as many people try to physically interact with the monkeys.


“Some visitors do not follow rules—touching monkeys, throwing stones at them and trying to feed them. Inside (the park) we are strictly monitoring and giving them warnings, but some still do it sneakily as we cannot monitor the whole area, which has been quite a pain in the neck for us,” he says.


“As a company, our business is going well to the level that we can relax financially. There was a time that we were at the risk of closing the park. So compared to that, we are financially relaxed now thanks to them (tourists).”


Hagiwara also warns that many visitors arrive ill-prepared for the snow-blanketed and potentially treacherous valley and many injure themselves.


Among the well-prepared tourists is French visitor Mari Berbertiere, who’s secured lodging near the park to catch the monkeys in the early morning before the crowds arrive.


“Too many people. But I knew it was like that, so it is not a surprise,” she says.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Park director Toshio Hagiwara appreciates the financial benefits of increased visitors but is concerned about their impact, especially on the monkeys’ welfare. Do you think animal tourism helps or harms the animals? Why? If a park is making money from tourists but animals are suffering, what do you think should be done (ex. reduce visitors and profits, increase the fees)? Discuss.
  • Would you visit a place that lets you interact with wild animals up close? Why or why not? Do you prefer to see animals in the wild, in a zoo, or in a park? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Despite strict monitoring and warnings, some tourists sneakily break park rules. Why do you think some people ignore rules about interacting with wild animals? What should parks do if visitors don’t follow the rules? What do you think would encourage people to follow such rules (ex. educate them about the animals, impose huge fines)? Discuss.
  • Hagiwara also warns tourists about being ill-prepared for the treacherous weather and landscape of the area. Why do you think some people fail to prepare before visiting a new place? What advice would you give a first-time visitor in your area? What do you think would happen if they didn’t follow this advice? Discuss.