Jigokudani Monkey Park

Attraction
Prefecture
Nagano
Type
Attraction
N/A
0 reviews
English Staff

About This Destination

The world-famous site where wild Japanese macaques bathe in natural hot springs, especially photogenic in winter snow.
Jigokudani Monkey Park is world-famous for its population of wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) that bathe in natural hot springs, particularly during the cold winter months when the surrounding valley is blanketed in snow. Located in the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in the Yokoyu River valley, the park is home to approximately 160 wild monkeys who have learned to soak in the hot spring to keep warm. The sight of monkeys relaxing in steaming water while snow falls around them has become an image of Japan. Reaching the park requires a roughly 30-minute walk along a forest trail from the bus stop or parking area. The monkeys are wild and should not be touched, but they are well-accustomed to visitors. Access is from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano Electric Railway, then by bus.

Location

Prefecture: Nagano

Address: Yamanouchi, Nagano, Japan

Nearest Station: Yudanaka Station

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Food Options: No food at the park itself. Restaurants in nearby Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka towns serve soba noodles and local cuisine.

Official Website

Access

Nagano, Japan

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do the monkeys actually bathe year-round?

No, and this catches a lot of summer visitors out. The bathing behavior is essentially **winter-only**: cold-stress drives the macaques into the pool from roughly late December through March, with the snow-falling-on-steaming-water scene most reliable in January and February. In summer, the troop is around the park area but rarely in the water; you'll see ~160 monkeys grooming, eating, and lounging on rocks instead. Spring and autumn are coin-flips, with some bathing on cold mornings. If the bathing scene is your reason for coming, target mid-January to late February. If you want to be near wild macaques in an alpine setting, summer's quieter (no queues, no ice on the trail) but cuts you off from the photograph everyone associates with the park.

How do I get to the park from Tokyo?

**Train + bus** (the JR Pass route, ~3.5 h door-to-door): Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo to Nagano (~90 min, ¥8,500, JR Pass covers); Nagano Dentetsu (Nagano Electric Railway, **NOT JR-Pass-covered**) Nagano to Yudanaka (~45 min, ¥1,330 limited express / ¥1,190 local); local bus Yudanaka to Kanbayashi Onsen Iriguchi (~15 min, ¥310); then a 1.6 km forest trail walk (~30 to 45 min). **Snow Monkey Express direct bus** from Nagano Station's east exit to the trailhead (~1 h 15 min, ¥1,800 one-way, runs ~5×/day December to April only) skips the Nagano Dentetsu transfers; the same operator sells a ¥4,000 round-trip bus + park admission combo. Many Shibu/Yudanaka Onsen ryokan run free shuttles for staying guests. Realistic day-trip from Tokyo: leave by 7 AM Shinkansen, back to Tokyo by ~7 PM. Overnight in Shibu Onsen is the better experience.

What's the 30-minute walk like, and what should I know about behavior around the monkeys?

**The trail**: 1.6 km of mostly flat forest path with a few gentle elevation changes, easy in summer. **In winter (Dec to Mar) it's icy**, with wooden boardwalks turning slick and packed snow unforgiving. Bring or rent rubber **microspikes/crampons** (¥500 to 1,000 at the trailhead Snow Monkey shop, Kanbayashi-onsen ryokan also lend them) and waterproof boots. Walking sticks help on the steeper sections. Strollers and wheelchairs cannot make the trail. **Around the monkeys**: do NOT feed (¥10,000 fine), do NOT touch, do NOT make direct eye contact (read as aggression). Keep food hidden in zipped bags, since open snacks attract bag thefts. Distance: stay ~2 m back; mother monkeys with infants on their backs are most defensive. Flash photography is allowed but pointless (steam fogs the lens; phone in a ziplock works better than a DSLR for cold). Allow 60 to 90 min in the park itself; combined with the round-trip walk, plan 2.5 to 3 h total once you're at the trailhead.

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