Punch, a young Japanese macaque, clutches his stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Punch is the reason throngs of people are getting off a train in Chiba prefecture and following a quiet stream of strangers toward a small municipal zoo just outside Japan’s capital.
The 7-month-old Japanese macaque has become an unlikely travel draw as the subject of viral videos, international headlines and an emotional arc playing out largely on social media. His story, involving abandonment, bullying and a stuffed orangutan from IKEA, has turned Ichikawa City Zoo into a pilgrimage site.
The trip to the zoo itself is unassuming. From central Tokyo, the train ride east passes through residential neighborhoods that feel neither urban nor rural.
Once inside the zoo, navigation is simple. Monkey Mountain requires no map. You find it by following the crowd — families, couples and solo visitors holding smartphone cameras over their heads. On the day I visited, the wait to see Punch was initially about 10 minutes but quickly doubled.
Punch was reportedly abandoned by his mother shortly after birth and later shunned or bullied by other macaques in the enclosure. Zoo staff began caring for him, eventually giving him the stuffed orangutan as a comfort object.
That plush toy transformed a difficult situation into a viral one. In videos shared widely online, Punch clutches the stuffed animal with the instinctive grip of a young macaque. The internet responded with sympathy, memes and declarations of devotion. Punch quickly became a symbol of loneliness and resilience.
Getting a glimpse of Punch requires patience. Monkey Mountain is a rocky enclosure with uneven sightlines. Shorter visitors may struggle to see much at all, though signs in English urge those in the front rows to make way for other patrons after 10 minutes.
Punch, a young Japanese macaque, clings to a zookeeper at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Punch, a young Japanese macaque, explores Monkey Mountain at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
I wondered if I would meet the bullied outcast from the viral video clips.
Instead, Punch appeared thoroughly engaged in monkey business. He played and was groomed by other macaques. When a zookeeper entered the enclosure, Punch ran over and jumped onto his leg, clinging there as food was distributed. It seemed routine.
Later, Punch disappeared into a cave. He emerged carrying the stuffed orangutan, curled up and fell asleep.
Punch, it seems, is assimilating into the group. The drama that made him famous appears to be giving way to something quieter and more reassuring.
Punch, a young Japanese macaque, explores Monkey Mountain at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, Feb. 27, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
On the QT
Directions: Ichikawa City Zoo is a 20-minute walk from Omachi Station on the Hokuso Railway Hokuso Line. Exit the station and turn right, heading west. At the second intersection, turn left into Omachi Park, and follow the path until you see signs for the zoo. Google plus code: QX78+M9 Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
Times: Open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; closed Monday.
Costs: 440 yen for adults and 110 yen for children. Parking near the entrance is 500 yen, though an overflow lot requiring a short walk is free.
Food: Several vendors offer a variety of food and beverages. There are also vending machines.
Information: Online: www.city.ichikawa.lg.jp/zoo/shisetuguide.html
