Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama — Attraction in Kyoto

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is a delightful experience that surpassed all my expectations. Here's why it deserves a perfect rating:

Interaction with Monkeys The highlight of the park is the opportunity to interact with adorable Japanese macaques up close. Feeding the monkeys and observing their natural behavior in a semi-wild environment is a unique and unforgettable experience that visitors of all ages will enjoy.

Stunning Scenery Set amidst the picturesque Arashiyama mountains, the park offers breathtaking views of Kyoto city and the surrounding landscape. The scenic beauty alone makes the visit worthwhile, providing the perfect backdrop for a memorable day out.

Educational Experience Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama also offers an educational experience, allowing visitors to learn about the behavior, habitat, and conservation efforts of Japanese macaques. The informative signs and knowledgeable staff enhance the learning experience and foster a deeper appreciation for these fascinating creatures.

Hiking Trail To reach the monkey park, visitors must embark on a short but scenic hike through the lush forest. The hike is relatively easy and offers opportunities to spot wildlife and enjoy the tranquility of nature along the way, adding to the overall experience.

Visitor Facilities The park is well-maintained and equipped with visitor facilities such as rest areas, souvenir shops, and refreshment stands. The facilities are clean and convenient, ensuring a comfortable visit for all guests.

Overall Impression In summary, Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama offers a perfect blend of wildlife interaction, natural beauty, education, and visitor facilities. Whether you're a nature lover, animal enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique and memorable experience in Kyoto, a visit to this park is a must. Highly...

This place was really fun, for several reasons! Firstly though I want to quickly explain getting in:

We were here right before it opened (slightly before 9 AM) and there was already a small lineup. But that line went by quickly, within ten minutes we were in. We had to pay cash, so keep that in mind! Then began a completely up hill 40 minute hike to the place where most of the monkeys were (the mountain summit). It was pretty steep but nothing crazy, and there were rest areas on the way for those who had to stop and catch a breath.

Anyways once you get through all that, you get rewarded with monkeys! They are very cool, and one nice thing about them is I think they're completely free to go wherever and do whatever. I say this because I'm pretty sure not only are they native to the area, but also because I saw them outside of the park near the entrance, without any fence or anything to hold them behind. So if I understood correctly, you get to experience real, wild monkeys!

You are told not to approach them, not to crouch down and look them in the eye kind of stuff, etc. and I feel it's very good and important they point that out. I didn't see any monkeys being aggressive to people there, but that's because most people were following the rules. You can only feed the monkeys from an indoor caged area (you are in the cage!) where you can buy one packet of either peanuts or apples per person. They love that stuff, and it'll be gone in seconds! Besides also just watching them play and go on about their daily life, you also get an amazing view of Kyoto from the mountain summit and I think that's already a whole other great reason to come here. I really recommend this unique visit to get a taste of the nature...

One of the recommended destination when in Kyoto. Took the local train to Arashiyama and from the train station a relatively short walk to the Iwatayama Monkey Park entrance. The access cost is 600yen for adults, 300Yen for kids. From here there is a climb up to where the monkeys are, not very steep but quite long, about 30 minutes depending on your stamina. The uphill walk in itself is very nice, through the forest on gravel path with benches here and there. Once you reach the top you are rewarded with some unique experience, basically walking among snow monkeys. Generally they are not aggressive and mind their own business but if you stir them up might get into some troubles. Don't provoke them, don't tease them with food and act with common sense like around wild animals. There are monkey keepers on site and will promptly deal with occasional monkey brawls. There is a building where you became "caged" and where you can feed through metal bars the monkeys with food offered for a cost. Even there are rules not to touch the monkeys while feeding them, there are posters everywhere showing you how to properly and safely do it. I've seen people ignoring the posted rules and getting too close to the monkeys, nothing bad happened but still, as a precaution just follow the rules and you'll fully enjoy the experience. The site also offers some nice views of the surrounding areas but then again, monkeys are the...