Monkey tricks...

One of the most fun attractions in Kyoto--the Iwatayama Monkey Park. Dozens of Japanese monkeys roam the hills of Iwatayama, a small mountain in the Arishiyama area. For a small fee, anyone can roam the grounds with the funny little critters.


So, the reason we look like this monkey is doing something hilarious is because after the man who worked at the park tried unsuccessfully to bribe several monkeys to stay perched on this log so we could get a get photo op, he finally got this one stay and it promptly started to pee off the back side of the stump, which is probably the only reason it stayed put, and also the reason that we started cracking up. You may also notice the guy in the upper left corner of this shot who was practically toppling over laughing as we watched the monkey's little show for us.

Behind us you can see the city of Kyoto, which sits nestled between three mountain ranges that surround it on three sides.


You can see the monkeys, including a baby, scavenging for the grain and sweet potato they are fed three times a day in this clearing, which keeps them coming back for more.


Fraternizing with the locals.


The monkeys can also be fed from inside the "rest room" (no, it's not a big bathroom, just an awkward translation). You can see some monkeys clinging to the cage, begging for the peanuts (literally) that visitors hand-feed them. A bit pathetic.


Don't worry, I'm not illegally feeding it, just saying hello.