A popular tourist spot on Awaji Island where more than 350 Japanese macaques (commonly known as Awaji macaques) live.
Hello, this is Kojima from AWAJI HOLIC.
We recently visited Awaji Island Monkey Center and would like to introduce its attractions with photos.
Please see the following article for basic information, including fees, hours of operation, and access.
Contents
- Awaji Island Monkey Center is marked by a monkey sign
- Awaji Island Monkey Center entrance gate has a spectacular view
- You'll be amazed at how many Awaji monkeys you can see
- Awaji Island Monkey Center is a monkey laboratory
- There is a restaurant "Chariko" next to the reception desk
- Awaji Island Monkey Center Summary
- Awaji Monkey Center Photo Gallery
Awaji Island Monkey Center is marked by a monkey sign
Awaji Island Monkey Center is a tourist spot located on Hyogo Prefectural Road 76 (commonly known as the Minami Awaji Suisen Line). It is marked by a signboard of a monkey along the road.
Please note that the road is along the coastline, so you may miss it if you are driving comfortably.
When you park your car in the parking lot, there is a reception desk where you can purchase tickets.
The monkeys are out in the forest from September to November every year, so you cannot visit the park. If you plan to visit during this period, please visit at a later time.
Admission is 1,000 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
Awaji Island Monkey Center entrance gate has a spectacular view
The entrance to the Awaji Island Monkey Center begins with a slope.
It is not much of a slope if you climb slowly, but those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility may want to consider a visit.
Along the way, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the open space to your left. We visited in the morning, and the morning sun shining on the surface of the sea makes you feel like you are on a trip.
The island in the photo is Nushima, which can be reached by boat from Awaji Island. There is a port for Nushima nearby, so it is recommended to visit there together with Awaji Island Monkey Center.
You'll be amazed at how many Awaji monkeys you can see
As you climb the hill, you will see a sign for Awaji monkeys.
At the time, I had no idea that there were so many monkeys in the back.
Everywhere, monkeys! Saroo! Monkeys!
On the roof, too, monkeys! Saroo! Monkeys!
They are grooming each other in a friendly manner on the side, which is not shown in the photo.
You can see monkeys like this everywhere, so it is perfect for animal lovers and those traveling with children.
I took this picture of the Awaji Island Monkey Center with the sea in the background. It is a very open sightseeing spot.
The facility itself is small, so it is more of a place to enjoy watching and hanging out with the monkeys than a place to walk around.
Awaji Island Monkey Center is a monkey laboratory
Up to this point, we have reported on the facility and the monkeys, but the Awaji Island Monkey Center is actually also a monkey research center.
Inside the facility there is an exhibition room where research results presented both inside and outside the facility are displayed.
The photo shows the genealogy of the boss monkey at the Awajishima Monkey Center. They have been taking observation records since 1985.
These are research results that have been published externally.
The information seems to be provided in various media such as newspapers and magazines.
This is a map showing the range of the monkeys at the Awaji Island Monkey Center.
It seems that the range of the monkeys' behavior has been expanding since 1993.
There is a restaurant "Chariko" next to the reception desk
There is a restaurant called "Chariko" in the area where the reception desk and parking lot are located.
Awaji Island is popular for "awaiichi" (riding a bicycle around Awaji Island), and the area where the Awaji Island Monkey Center is located is probably a rest area. The name of the restaurant is unique in that it gives the impression of bicycles.
The menu also offers an appetizing type of meal.
We did not visit this day because we visited in the morning, but would definitely like to have a meal next time we visit the area.
Awaji Island Monkey Center Summary
This time we visited Awajishima Monkey Center in Sumoto City on Awaji Island.
It is like a zoo specializing in monkeys with a spectacular view on top of a small hill, and I was particularly surprised by the large number of monkeys and the close proximity of the animals.
This is a great place to visit for animal lovers and those who want to give their children the experience of interacting with animals. There were also exhibits that might be useful for those who want to know more about monkeys or are looking for a subject for their free research during the summer vacation.
Please note that there is a slope from the reception desk to the entrance, so those with limited mobility may want to forgo a visit.
There is also a restaurant attached to the reception area, so it can be a tourist attraction of choice for lunch.
I will end with some photos of monkeys that I did not use in the article. Thank you very much for your visit.
Awaji Monkey Center Photo Gallery
