Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen) — Attraction in Yamanouchi

How to go there: The direct public bus going to this park is located at platform 23 Nagano Station East Exit (it's markes on google map: Snow Monkey Park Bus Stop Nagano Station East Exit). Scheduled at 8.50, 9.10, 10.10, 11.15, 12.15, 12.20 Don't bother going after those time, because the bus takes 1.5hours plus 40min walk, you won't make it. The park closed at 4pm.

Unfortunately there is no earlier bus, which doesn't makes sense since the Park is already open at 9am.

Taking the earliest bus at 8.50am means you'd reach the Park at 10.20am. If you are really keen on getting into the first bus, please reach the platform earlier, as there might be a queue. The bus fits 50 odd people, if you don't get into that, you'd need to wait for the next one at 9.10am. There were easily 80 people when I reached there at 8.45am.

The bus ticket is 1,800 yen x 2ways + 800 entrance fee. You'd be better off buying the Snow Monkey Pass, which is 4,000yen all inclusive (6-12yo 2,000yen, below 6yo Free) You can buy it from Nagano Dentetsu Line counter. It's underground, just follow the 'Nagano Dentetsu Line' sign displayed at Nagano station. Cash only, doesn't need to be exact change. This counter is open at 6am-23.20pm. However, since the ticket is a 2-day pass, you can only buy the ticket maximum a day before (there's an online reservation but you still need to go to the actual counter to redeem the ticket so no point).

Walking there: It’s about 1.5km in total, the first 10mins along the road and car parks, with some cafes, and food sellers around lunch time. Followed by 30mins in the forest. The track is either muddy, icy or snowy, having a ski/hiking pole helps. At the entrance of the forest there’s a small shop selling/ renting hiking equipment. Don’t bother bringing strollers, luggage, wheelchairs as it’s too dangerous and slippery with staircases at some points. Not sure if there’s any locker before the start of the track.

There are public toilets at the bus stop, the parking lot and at the ticket counter of the onsen.

Refer to pictures below for more info

At the end of the track: there’s a river with plenty of monkeys if you are lucky. This bit is free, if you don’t care about seeing the monkey in the onsen and want to avoid crowd, there’s a livestream of the onsen: http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam2/video_en.php There’s a local house selling lunches and providing human onsen 1200yen but they only open after 12pm. Since its an outdoor onsen, you can wear swimsuits. The onsen water here is hot and rich in mineral.

The monkey onsen part: After walking up the stairs, there’s a ticket counter plus an gift shop providing coin lockers, toilets and hot/cold water for free. Show your pass here. Don’t have a high expectation. It’s basically a small onsen, the size of a backyard swimming pool and by 11am there are so many tourists. It’s not unpleasant but becoming a tourist trap with no guarantee that you will see monkeys swimming in it (people recon there are more chance to see swimming monkeys in the morning). But it’s still worth it because of the nice forest walk and nice river view.

Going back: Plan ahead and decide what time you want to catch the bus back to Nagano station. 11.05, 12.45, 14.00, 14.15, 15.45, 16.45, 18.25 All infos are correct as of Jan 2024.

There are other indirect buses but it takes longer and you need to change bus.

This area is surrounded by onsens, if time permits, it would be nice to stay overnight in this onsen town rather than in the city.

In case you are scared of monkeys, don’t be afraid, the monkeys mind their own business, they are used to humans and don’t seem bothered by the crowd. They don’t steal items, or interact with humans. Avoid eating food or carry unsealed food as they can smell it. If they are too close to you, just stand still or walk slowly. Definitely don’t feed them or touch them as you don’t want to encourage unhealthy interactions with humans, develop bad habits of approaching tourists and...

We arrived around 9:30am at the Snow Monkey Park early to beat the crowd, and we were so glad we did. We were the fifth car in the free parking lot, and we didn't see anyone else on the entire 1.6km trail to the entrance. It was just us and nature, the tree line was beautiful and peaceful!

If you’re planning a trip in the winter, I highly recommend bringing some waterproof hiking shoes and carry an small umbrella just in case. The trail was somewhat wet and muddy, so regular shoes just won’t cut it. You could also rent or buy some gear at the little building at the beginning of the trail.

The walk from the entrance was fairly quick for us, taking about 30 minutes. We arrived before 10am to find that some monkeys were already near the entrance stairs. It seemed that no one else was around, so they must have felt safe enough to walk right up to us, passing by our feet on the narrow path. It was amazing!

As you walk up the stairs and pay a fee of JPY800 per person at the booth, you get to go up the hot spring to see monkeys bathing. The best part is that the monkeys are not afraid of people at all. They were running around everywhere, many babies too. It was amazing to watch them interact with each other and run through people.

It started to get crowded very soon after, so we didn't stay long. Fifteen minutes was enough for some fun photos. However, the walk back out the narrow trail was crowded and slow-going. We had to apologize and "sumimasen" our way past a group of them that blocked the path, and made it out in 30 minutes.

We finished at 11am, moved our car to the lower parking lot a few meters down, and waited for the S12 Nagaden bus to Shiga Kogen ski resort. Leaving the car parked there was free and the bus ticket could be bought online the night before. We had a full day of the best activities in Nagano! Highly...

A Magical Experience at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park – A Must-Visit in Nagano!

Visiting Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano was truly an unforgettable experience! Nestled deep in the mountains, this unique place offers a rare opportunity to witness wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) in their natural habitat, soaking in steaming hot springs surrounded by snowy landscapes.

The hike to the park was an adventure in itself—about 1.6 km (1 mile) through a scenic forest trail, covered in snow. It felt like walking into a winter wonderland! The air was crisp, the scenery was breathtaking, and the anticipation of seeing the famous monkeys made it even more exciting.

Once inside, the sight of these adorable monkeys relaxing in the hot springs was mesmerizing. Watching them play, groom each other, and simply enjoy the warm waters while snowflakes fell around them was a one-of-a-kind experience. The park has done a great job maintaining a natural, ethical environment, allowing visitors to observe without disturbing the monkeys.

Tips for Visiting:

✅ Wear warm clothes & waterproof boots – The trail can be snowy and slippery! ✅ Visit in the morning – Fewer crowds, and the monkeys are most active. ✅ No food allowed – It’s a strict rule to protect the wildlife. ✅ Bring a camera – Perfect for capturing those dreamy, postcard-worthy moments.

Overall, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is a must-visit if you’re in Nagano. Whether you’re a wildlife lover, a photographer, or just looking for a unique winter experience, this place will leave you in awe. It truly felt like stepping into a real-life nature documentary!

Would I go...