Monkey Spa | Cousins | BBC Earth

For a long time the Japanese people have enjoyed bathing in these hot springs in the mountains but they were being watched and soon the monkeys that live here decided to join them. But the people didn't want to share their baths even with their relatives so they decided to build another pool further up the valley just for the monkeys. The first monkeys that discovered the joys of a hot bath were a couple of youngsters way back in the 1960s and not surprisingly the others thought it was a great idea. Now several troupes share this hot spring and it's turned into a kind of monkey health spa. I know how they feel, the heat is very relaxing. For those who do manage to stay awake the pool is also a social hot spot where determined fingers complete the cleansing and relaxation treatment. The hot water may be lovely but at a certain point they've got to get out and they do look very cold and bedraggled when they do but fortunately they've got this thick undercoat which never actually gets wet and even the outside fur dries remarkably fast. Just like after any hot bath they must glow with warmth for hours afterwards. Once these snow suits are fluffy again the youngsters are ready to play some rather familiar winter games. The kiss fleece, it's really cold out here and as with all youngsters they just can't keep out of the pool for long. Clever macaques have managed to thrive no matter where they find themselves and they've certainly made the most of having us as neighbours.