I Flew to Japan to See Punch, the Viral Baby Snow Monkey-Here's How to Visit

"In the past week, Punch-the baby Japanese snow monkey who was reportedly abandoned by his mother and was being raised by zoo staff-has become an unlikely international celebrity. The tiny macaque, born on July 26, is often spotted clutching a plush toy from IKEA and has melted hearts across the internet, inspiring a wave of comments from fans half-joking about booking flights to Japan to check on him."

"After weekend reports of thousands of visitors and hours-long waits at the small community zoo, I devised a strategy: beat the crowds. Running on jet lag, I woke at 4 a.m. to catch a 5 a.m. train from Shinjuku. I rode the Oedo Line to Daimon, transferred to the Asakusa Line bound for the Omachi Station, and watched the sunrise spill across the Tokyo skyline."

"As of Feb. 23, the zoo reported averaging 5,200 visitors per day-a surge that has prompted admission restrictions and even a temporary closure on Feb. 24. By the time the gates opened at 9:30 a.m., a few hundred people had gathered behind us. My two-hour wait at the entrance felt like a worthwhile trade-off."

Punch, a young macaque born on July 26, gained widespread internet fame after reports that he was abandoned by his mother and raised by zoo staff. The baby monkey, often photographed with an IKEA plush toy, inspired global fan interest, with some joking about traveling to Japan to see him. One visitor actually followed through, traveling to Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture during a trip to Japan. The surge in popularity created significant crowds at the small community zoo, with thousands of daily visitors and hours-long wait times. The visitor employed an early morning strategy, arriving at 4 a.m. to beat the crowds and secure a prime viewing spot at Monkey Mountain where Punch lives with his troop.

Read at Travel + Leisure