Japan Honeymoon: Exploring Kyoto Part 2

[Iwatayama Monkey Park]

For Part 1 of Kyoto, go here.

For months, the boy made fun of me for wanting to go see the monkeys at the Iwatayama Monkey Park in Arashiyama, a neighborhood of Kyoto. (There are about 200 snow monkeys at the park, and they roam freely and you can feed them apples and peanuts.)

He liked to make fun of me to other people too.

To a friend who has been to Japan, but did not go to the monkey park: Yeah, did you go to that monkey park? Mo seems to only care about the monkey park, but see, you didn't even go, so how special can it be? Who wants to hike up a hill and see dirty animals?

To a stranger at a restaurant, who told us stories about being attacked by monkeys: She wants to hike up a mountain and visit them! [Turns to me] Did you know they attack people? Did you? Not so cute anymore, are they?

To the owner of the inn, who asked why I wanted to go see the monkeys: Seeeeeeeee. I'm not the only one who thinks you're crazy to go and see MONKEYS.

What a punk.

It's okay, I was right, because the monkey park was so much fun. And he totally liked it.

[Monkey Rules: No staring. No touching. No feeding outside the designated area!]

[The hike up was gorgeous, and at some point there was a lone monkey that just hiked up with us. I promise he only carried my bag while I took this picture.]

[We stayed there forever spoiling the monkeys with bags of apples.]

[I had a favorite monkey. I think this was her because of how gently she took the apples from my hand.]

[In addition to the monkeys, there was also this incredible view of Kyoto.]

After the monkey park, we had lunch with the best view ever at Arashiyama Yoshimura.

[Tempura and soba at Arashiyama Yoshimura]

We ended the day with green tea ice cream cones and a stroll through the bamboo forest.


My recap of Japan is ending! Next up is my last post, in which we share a meal in our own private room next to a beautiful garden. Why can't the honeymoon last forever?