March 2025 greeted me with an unexpected gift — a late burst of winter. Overnight, the town transformed under a soft white blanket, only an inch or so, but enough to make it feel like I’d woken up inside a postcard. I layered up and set off through mud, ice, and slush for a 25-minute walk to one of the highlights of my trip: the … Continue reading Steam, snow, and stillness — moments with the snow monkeys of Jigokudani.