 |
|
Related Questions
|
1 day in shiga kogen, is it...
2 reactions, last updated 67 days ago
Walking trail to Jigokudani...
3 reactions, last updated 94 days ago
Shibu Onsen accomodations
4 reactions, last updated 162 days ago
Shinshu Nagano 2 day Pass
4 reactions, last updated 170 days ago
Nagano and Snow Monkey
1 reaction, last updated 288 days ago
Nagaden Express bus to Nagano
6 reactions, last updated 293 days ago
Hotel in Shiga Kogen & Matsumoto
0 reactions, last updated 335 days ago
Shiga Kogen Cross-Country Skiing?...
1 reaction, last updated 340 days ago
Nagano to Shiga Kogen (ichinose)
2 reactions, last updated 380 days ago
Nagano Electric Railway Ticket...
1 reaction, last updated 439 days ago
Taking cab to Jigokudani Parking...
0 reactions, last updated 447 days ago
Nagano Snow Monkey Park
2 reactions, last updated 455 days ago
Driving from Nagano to snow...
3 reactions, last updated 483 days ago
Child friendliness of Shiga Kogen...
1 reaction, last updated 496 days ago
Bus to Snow Monkey Park
9 reactions, last updated 497 days ago
Nagano snow monkey park
7 reactions, last updated 523 days ago
Timetable bus between nagano...
3 reactions, last updated 605 days ago
Tokyo to Yudanaka Onsen
3 reactions, last updated 607 days ago
Shibu Onsen bath house tour
2 reactions, last updated 678 days ago
Cheapest hotel in Shibu Onsen
0 reactions, last updated 699 days ago
|
|
japan-guide.com newsletter
|
Keeping you up to date on Japan travel and living related issues and site updates. Click here to subscribe!
|
|
The Jigokudani Monkey Park offers visitors the unique experience of seeing wild monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring. The park is inhabited by Japanese Macaques, which are also known as Snow Monkeys. It is located in the monkey's natural habitat, in the forests of the Jigokudani valley in Yamanouchi, not far from the onsen towns of Shibu and Yudanaka.
The park has one man-made pool around which the monkeys gather, located a few minutes' walk from the park entrance. Visitors will likely already encounter monkeys along the path to the pool. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their interactions. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from very close and almost completely ignore their human guests. Naturally, it is prohibited to touch or feed the monkeys.
The park has a small information center with information mostly in Japanese. However, there is a small explanation of the alpha male system of the monkey troop in English, as well as portraits of the park's present and former alpha males, dating back dozens of years. There is a live camera beside the monkey pool that is accessible online.
Tourists, a monkey sitting on the park's live video camera, and the monkey bath
Although the park is open all year round, the bathing monkeys are particularly photogenic when the area is covered in snow. There is usually snow in the region from December to March, and the best timing for a visit is January and February. Monkeys enter the bath around the year, but they sometimes need some encouragement to do so by park wardens throwing food into the pool, especially during the warmer seasons of the year.
Jigokudani, in which the park is located, means "hell valley" and is a common name for Japanese valleys with volcanic activity. Although its landscape is not as dramatic as some of Japan's other jigokudani valleys, Yamanouchi's Jigokudani does produce a few steaming hot springs. There is a ryokan called Korakukan in the valley, which visitors will pass along the way to the monkey park.
The approach through Jigokudani valley to the monkey park, passing Korakukan Ryokan, in different seasons
Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.
|
|
How to get there
|
|
There are two approaches to the Monkey Park: one requires a 25-40 minute walk through the forest, while the other requires a 10-15 minute walk from the nearest parking lot.
The first approach involves taking a bus to Kanbayashi Onsen from Yudanaka Station (10-15 minutes, 250 yen, 1-2 buses per hour), Shibu Onsen (5-10 minutes, 160 yen, 1-2 buses per hour) or Nagano Station (40 minutes, 1300 yen, 4-10 buses per day). Buses along the Yudanaka-Kanbayashi Line stop at "Kanbayashi Onsen" bus stop, while other buses stop at "Kanbayashi Onsen-guchi" bus stop, a short walk away. From Kanbayashi Onsen, a 25-40 minute walking trail leads to the monkey park. The walking trail is passable around the year, but sturdy footwear is recommended especially in winter.
The alternative approach involves a 10-15 minute walk from a paid parking lot just to the west of the monkey park. However the narrow road from Shibu Onsen to the parking lot is not served by public transportation and gets closed in winter. Although rather time consuming, it would be possible to walk to the parking lot from Shibu Onsen in about 45-60 minutes when there is no snow.
Some hotels and ryokan in Yudanaka and Shibu offer free shuttle buses to the park for their guests.
How to get to and around Yamanouchi
|
|
Hours and Fees
|
| Hours: | 8:30 to 17:00 (April to October)
9:00 to 16:00 (November to March) | | Closed: | No closing days | | Admission: | 500 yen |
|
|
Hotels and Ryokan
|
|
Wafu-no Yado Masuya
Free shuttle to Monkey Park. The dinner won Best 100 hotel award. Tasteful en-suite Japanese rooms. 100% natural onsen.
|
|
Hotel Shirakaba-so
3 min to the gate of Shiga Kogen ski resort. Free internet, private bath and outdoor bath. 45 min to the Monkey Park.
|
|
Yudanaka Seifu-so
A traditional ryokan with wooden building by Yudanaka Station. Unique onsen - private, open-air, apple, leaf baths etc.
|
|
Shibu Hotel
A friendly ryokan with natural onsen in Shibu Onsen. You can stroll to the Monkey Park. Free shuttle also available.
|
|
Hotel Heights Shiga Kogen
A comfortable onsen lodge in Shiga Kogen, the 1998 Nagano Olympics venue. 35min to the famous snow monkeys hot spa.
|
|
Shimaya Ryokan
An affordable ryokan providing free shuttle to Jigokudani Monkey Park. Enjoy 100% natural hot spring of Yudanaka Onsen.
|
|
Kokuya Hotel
Rooms with open air hot bath on balcony! 3min from Yudanaka st. - free pick up, shuttle to Monkey park, English speaking staff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel Community
|
Ratings for Monkey Park:
|
japan-guide.com Rating:
|
|
best of Japan
| |
User Rating (by 23 users):
|
94/100
|
highly recommended
|
Popularity of Monkey Park:
Users who have been to Yamanouchi: 83
Users who have been to Monkey Park: 38
1st of 4 most visited sights in Yamanouchi.
528th of 726 most visited sights nationwide.
|
|
Tours and Packages
|
|
Snow Monkey Tours
See Japan's famous snow monkeys! Available from Tokyo and Nagano with overnight stay optional.
|
|
|
English Links
|
Jigokudani Yaen-koen
Official English website of the monkey park with live video camera of the monkey bath.
|
|
|
    |
