PICTURED: The Japanese snow monkeys who enjoy nothing more than a hot bath

Most monkeys are happy swinging in the trees of tropical jungles but from the look on the face of this one there is nothing like indulging in a hot bath after a long day.



These incredible pictures are of Japanese m acaques relaxing in a hot spring in Yamanouchi, central Japan.

Nicknamed the snow monkey, the cheeky-looking animals live a much chillier existence than their tropical cousins and they appear to like nothing better than keeping warm in steaming-hot pools such as this one.



Just the ticket: A Japanese monkey looks extremely relaxed in a hot spring in the ski resort town of Yamanouchi

Monkeying around: The monkeys close their eyes as they soak up the steam from the spring

The inviting-looking spring is in a ski resort town and from the incredibly human-like expressions on their faces they could almost be a group of tourists enjoying a relaxing break.

In the pictures the red-faced monkeys, who are covered in bushy brown fur, cling to rocks as they soak themselves in the warm bath with one looking so relaxed he looks as if he's yawning.



Welcome winter warmth: The monkeys enjoy the hot spring in their snow-covered surroundings

The snow monkeys are the most northerly non-human primate in the world.

Sensibly they spend the winter - when temperatures drop to below freezing and snow covers their habitat - warming up in the volcanic hot springs.

Freezing fun: A young monkey plays with one of its elders in the hot spring

I'm so relaxed! One of the monkeys yawns as it enjoys the hot spring with snow falling on its face



