Japanese Snow Monkeys Season Their Food and Make Snowballs

Japanese macaques aren't just surviving in some of the coldest climates any primate calls home—they're living their best lives. These resourceful monkeys have figured out how to add a little seasoning to their meals and even invented their own version of winter sports.

In 1953, researchers on Koshima Island witnessed something remarkable. A young female macaque named Imo started washing sweet potatoes in a freshwater stream before eating them. Smart enough on its own, but Imo wasn't done innovating. Within a few years, she and her troop had upgraded to washing their food in the ocean instead.

The First Chef Monkeys

Why switch from fresh water to salt water? The macaques weren't just cleaning their food—they were seasoning it. Observers noted that the monkeys would dip their potatoes in the ocean, take a bite, then dip again. They were actively seeking out that salty flavor, essentially becoming the first non-human primates to intentionally season their meals.

What makes this even more fascinating is that this wasn't instinct. Imo invented this behavior, and then it spread through social learning. Within five years, six out of nine members of her family were doing it. Eventually, nearly the entire troop adopted the practice, except for the oldest individuals who apparently weren't interested in trying new things. The behavior has been passed down through generations ever since, making it one of the first documented examples of cultural transmission in animals.

Snow Monkeys Just Wanna Have Fun

The salt-water washing trick is impressive, but Japanese macaques have another behavior that's purely about joy: making snowballs. Young snow monkeys in places like Jigokudani Monkey Park have been observed gathering snow, packing it into balls, and rolling them down hills. No survival benefit. No practical purpose. Just fun.

Researchers have watched these monkeys toss snowballs around, steal each other's snowballs, and start chase games over them. Some carry their snowballs around like prized possessions, showing them off to other monkeys. It's play behavior in its purest form—these animals are making their own entertainment in the snow.

Young macaques are the primary snowball enthusiasts, suggesting this might be a learned behavior passed down through observation and imitation. Scientists believe this kind of play serves a social function, helping young monkeys bond with each other and develop relationships within the troop.

Not Your Average Monkeys

Japanese macaques (also called snow monkeys) live farther north than any other primate species except humans. They're famous for bathing in natural hot springs during winter, but their intelligence goes way beyond finding warm water. Between the food-seasoning innovation and recreational snowball-making, these monkeys demonstrate:

• Innovation: Creating entirely new behaviors not found in other populations
• Cultural learning: Passing knowledge through generations socially rather than genetically
• Playfulness: Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment
• Taste preferences: Actively seeking to improve the flavor of their food

The Koshima Island population has even developed other learned behaviors, including washing wheat grains by throwing them in water—the sand sinks while the grain floats, making an easy meal. These aren't just clever tricks; they're evidence of complex cognitive abilities and social structures that allow knowledge to spread and persist across generations.

So the next time you season your food or build a snowman, remember: you've got something in common with Japanese macaques. Though they probably do it with more style, and definitely more fur.