Japanese macaque in Hakone

ニホンザル

Japan has its own native species of monkey, the Macaca fuscata, commonly known as the Japanese macaque, or, in Japanese, the nihonzaru ("Japan monkey"). A subspecies, the Macaca fuscata yakui, is confined to the island of Yakushima.

Japanese macaques are 50-60cm in body length and weigh about 11kg. They range in color from yellowish brown, to brown, to gray. They have a pink face and a short stumpy tail.

Males and females of the species are distinguished by several traits such as size, the males being a little bigger; lifespan, the males living 5 or 6 times longer than the females, who usually live only about 6 years; and habitat, the males being ground-based while the females are tree-based.

The estimated nationwide population of the Japanese macaque is one million. They are found in almost every part of Japan except Hokkaido. 

Japanese macaques are not endangered, being on the "least concern" end of the endangered scale. They have natural predators such as dogs, raccoon dogs and hawks. They are also hunted when they threaten human crops. An estimated 100,000 are killed every year.

Because of their pest value, feeding monkeys in Japan is strongly discouraged. The above photo is a sign in the resort town of Hakone, and says えづけ禁止　or "Feeding prohibited."

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Toppy Jetfoil Yakushima

トッピフェリー屋久島

There are several ways of getting to Yakushima, an island that is a World Heritage Site located off the coast of Kyushu.

From Kagoshima, perhaps the most pleasant option is a two-hour ride on the "Toppy" jetfoil.

"Toppy" means flying fish in the local dialect, and the boat does indeed "fly."

On the day we rode across the bay to Yakushima, the seas were rough but the ride smooth once the jetfoil kicked in and the boat lifted up and out of the water as it glided forward.

The fee is 7,000 yen one way.

For those who prefer a slower, cheaper, and possibly rougher ride, regular ferry service is also available. The Yakushima Ferry 2 departs Kagoshima New Port in the morning, and costs 5,000 one way for a four-hour ride to the island. For an extra fee, you can bring your car as well.

(Flights are available from Kagoshima Airport, but as the airport is so far outside the city this is not a good option. If you are coming , however, from Kansai - Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara - flights from Itami Airport take one hour and 15 minutes.)


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Yakushima Island

屋久島

Japan's Yakushima Island is an ecological wonder.

In recognition of that, it was designated a natural World Heritage Site.

Landing at the somewhat drab port on the jet foil from Kagoshima, we saw concrete and signs of typical Japanese construction. It was eight degrees centigrade and cloudy.

However, in the not so distant mountains snow could be seen.

En route to those hills, and the twenty-one percent of the island that is a UNESCO site, we stopped at a beautiful falls. Senpiro no Taki (Senpiro Falls) was an inspiration for filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. It is pictured below left.

After a short break, we pressed on up the mountains to the kigen sugi (BC cedar).

The tree is over three thousand years old and massive. While we were driving up the winding road into the mountains, a light snow began to fall.

A family of monkeys - smaller and with grayer fur than those on Honshu island - sat on the side of the road oblivious to us.

By the time we got to the famous cedar, snow covered much of the road and the branches on the trees.

The sheer size of the tree elicited cries of delight and amazement from a tour group already there.

Access

From Kagoshima City, the jet foil Toppy takes about two hours one way to the island.

Daily flights from Osaka's Itami Airport.

Getting around the island itself requires a rental car or hiring a driver.

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