On weekends, crowds flock to catch a glimpse of “Punch-kun,” leaving both the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden’s main parking lot and temporary lots constantly full.
On February 25 , he appeared on the White House’s official X account, and searching “punch the monkey” on Google displays Punch —truly a global sensation.
What he’s holding is an orangutan plush toy sold at IKEA. Not only has it sold out at many stores across Japan, but it’s also reportedly selling out overseas one after another.
The Daily Life of Punch-kun, Who Captivates the World
Born on July 26, 2025, Punch was raised by hand and began living with the troop starting January 19 this year . According to the zoo, in hand-rearing primates, the practice of having them hold stuffed animals or towels is a common part of care to provide a sense of security as a substitute for the mother monkey.
For Punch, preparations to reintegrate him into the troop have been carefully advanced. Starting around three months old, he was placed in an environment where he could freely interact with other monkeys through the fence. After he turned four months old, he began entering the monkey hill area with his caretaker to spend time there.
After confirming his compatibility with a young female who treats him gently, he now lives safely as part of the troop.
Japanese macaque infants typically begin to become independent around six months old, but in Punch’s case, he can still be seen snuggling up to stuffed animals when he wants to feel secure or protect himself from danger.
If you’re going to see Punch-kun, take the train!
Due to his immense popularity, admission restrictions are sometimes imposed on weekends, and the zoo also encourages visitors to use public transportation.
From Shinjuku Station, it takes about an hour to reach Ichikawa-Ono Station on the JR Musashino Line , the closest station to Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden . From there, it takes about 30 minutes on foot to reach the garden.
While it takes a bit of patience to get there by train from Tokyo, seeing Punch energetically moving around with his stuffed animal will surely make all that fatigue disappear.
Additionally, while numerous inquiries about cash and in-kind donations are currently being received, an announcement regarding the acceptance system is expected soon.
👉Official Website
📍284-1 Omachi, Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture