Hire Snow Boots to visit Snow Monkeys?

Hi, we are visiting the Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani on 4 April. Will it be necessary to take snow boots? If so, can I hire them locally for my family? We are travelling light and my children will be mainly wearing sneakers in Tokyo and sandals when we go south to the Yaeyama Islands, and I don't think either will be suitable
for visiting the snow monkeys!

Will you be staying locally? As the hotels and ryokan are often able to loan you rubber boots for your visit. Otherwise, unless it is snowing when you visit, snow boots may not be necessary as the trail there is quite protected in the forest and the paths around the park get pretty stomped down.

Hi, thanks for replying! Yes, we are staying locally at Aburaya Tousen in Yudanaka. I can't see anything on their website about boot hire but fingers crossed .

I stayed at Uotoshi Ryokan in Yudanaka a few years ago and 3 of us walked up to see the snow monkeys in early April. There was no snow on the trail but snow on the ground although only a few inches to a foot on the hillsides. We did not need any special boots, we were all wearing running shoes or walking shoes. Unless the weather is really bad you should be fine.

Sorry for hijack your threads.but i want to ask, is it ok to walk in snow with running shoes?like in murodo alpine road..

I've walked in snow in sneakers. The snow was heavy too.

Just walk slowly and you'll be fine.

The only issue is in places where it is early winter, some snow melted and froze and became ice. This is slippery.

Very unlikely you will need snow boots.(!?) The live cameras shows only limited snow on the hills.

I'll be visiting the monkeys again next week, and not expecting the forest walk to have any snow - a bit wet maybe.

Is it gonna cold and wet on your feet if u just wear a sneaker,not a waterproof boots?

Packed down snow is generally not a problem in sneakers. The issue is more fresh, unpacked snow that can get in above the top of low shoes. Murodo should be fine since there isn't really fresh snow around during most of the open period.

Might be a little cold if you're not used to it, but you can always double up on socks or get chemical shoe heater packs.

thx yllwsmrf for the reply, it's really help, since i'm not from the 4 season country. then i will dont need to buy a new waterproof boots.thx

We visited snow monkeys 2 weeks ago. There was snow on the Track & a bit wet & muddy in parts. But you can hire rubber /snow boots at the start of the track for 500 yen. You will love the monkeys, iit is worth the trip.