Uncanny Valley

Just outside Kyoto is a park full of cavorting wild macaques. The park is a short walk over the historic Togetsukyo bridge across the Oi/Katsura river from the town of Arashiyama.

After paying admission you must walk up a steep hill to get to the top where there is a cabin. There are no fences, the monkeys can come and go, but they do like the apples and peanuts. For those of you who may think zoos are basically animal jails, I can see no ethical misgivings with visiting this park. The animals here are wild (not domesticated) but are used to humans. I saw a troop on the path up, and they seemed unconcerned by my presence, even leaving the babies near me.

The cabin in the top is where you can purchase food for the critters. To feed them, you stay inside the cabin and feed the macaques who are outside. There is a ranger here armed with a slingshot and a broom in case of any monkey shines (had to do it). There is also a great view of Kyoto from here, so if you have any memory left on your camera from all the monkey pictures be sure and get some shots of the city.

On the way down there is a small playground for human children. I thought it was fun too.