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 being aggressive.