Mount Takasaki Monkey Park
The Takasaki Monkey Park is a popular monkey reserve at the foot of Mount Takasaki, a 628 meter high mountain along the coast between Beppu and Oita. The mountain is home to around 1,500 wild Japanese macaques. What began in 1952 as a way for locals to keep the monkeys from ruining their crops has since turned into a haven for the macaque monkeys and the people who love to watch them. To keep the animals away from fields and residential areas, they were fed by park rangers. The monkeys come to the monkey park in the mornings and afternoons and are fed by the guards and spend their time playing and resting. However, as they are wild, visitors should keep their distance from the animals.