Jigokudani Monkey Park: World's Only Place to See Japanese Macaques Bathing in Hot Springs

Amid falling snow, Japanese macaques soak deep in a hot spring and narrow their eyes in apparent bliss. This endearing scene, known worldwide as the snow monkeys, can be seen at Jigokudani Monkey Park in Yamanouchi Town, Nagano. Places where wild monkeys can be watched bathing in hot springs up close are rare, and it is a popular nature spot Nagano is proud of, drawing many visitors from overseas.

Highlights

Jigokudani Monkey Park opened in 1964 and sits in a valley at about 850 meters elevation. Here you can watch Japanese macaques bathing in a steaming open-air pool at close range. The expressions of monkeys huddling together as parent and child, dozing off, or soaking while snow settles on them, soften the heart just to watch. Though wild, the monkeys are not very wary of people, so their gestures can be observed at leisure. Set within Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, the rugged and mystical surrounding nature is also a highlight.

Enjoying the Seasons

The monkeys are seen bathing most often in the harsh cold of winter, roughly December to March. Jigokudani gets so much snow that about one third of the year is snow-covered, and the sight of snow monkeys soaking amid the snow is a view unique to this season. That said, the park is open year-round, and in the fresh-green and autumn-foliage seasons you can enjoy young monkeys playing energetically and the seasonal valley scenery. Still, the monkeys bathe more frequently in the cold season, so winter is the main highlight.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Yamanouchi Town, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture
• Transport: bus from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano Dentetsu line, then via the parking area, walk the valley-side promenade to the park
• Promenade: from the parking area to the park, a walk along a forest path (a mountain trail of about 2 km)
• Hours: roughly 8:30 to 17:00 as a guide (varies by season)
• In winter the path becomes snowy, so non-slip footwear is essential

The common route is to take the Nagano Dentetsu line from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station.

Practical Travel Notes

Reaching the park requires walking the promenade from the parking area or bus stop, and in winter it becomes slippery with snow. Warm clothing, non-slip footwear, and ideally light crampons are reassuring. Camera lenses fog easily from the temperature gap between outdoors and indoors, so take care. Time needed, including the round-trip walk and viewing, is about two to three hours as a guide. Nearby spread the real hot spring towns of Yudanaka Onsen and Shibu Onsen, and a journey combining an overnight stay with hot springs and snow monkey watching is popular.

One Piece of Advice

The monkeys are wild animals. Refrain from feeding, touching, or staring into their eyes. Good manners mean observing calmly and keeping your distance. On early winter hours or depending on the weather there are days when the monkeys do not bathe, so visiting with time to spare is recommended.

📚 Sources

The information about the Jigokudani Monkey Park was compiled by our editorial team from the park official guidance, tourism information of Yamanouchi Town, and interpretive signs at the trail entrance and inside the grounds. Descriptions of the Japanese macaques bathing in the hot spring and of the surrounding terrain follow these public references. Because opening hours, admission fees and the presence of the monkeys vary with the season and weather, please confirm the latest details from the official Jigokudani Monkey Park information or the Yamanouchi Town tourism guide before your visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow roughly one to two hours round trip to walk the trail from the parking lot and view the park.
• What to prepare: In winter the path is snowy, so non-slip winter boots, warm clothing and gloves are reassuring.
• Getting around: You walk about 1.6 kilometers of trail from the entrance to the park, so come equipped for easy walking.
• Viewing manners: Do not touch or feed the wild monkeys; keep your distance and observe quietly.