How to Visit the World-Famous Japanese Snow Monkeys

[elementor-template id=”3471″]

Bucket list item: checked! ✅

I have had it in my head for a while now that I wanted to visit the world-famous Japanese snow monkeys. It only took me 4 trips to Japan to make it happen! My chance finally came on my recent ski trip to the village of Nozawa Onsen near Nagano on the main island of Honshu. The Snow Monkey Park, officially known as Jigokudani Yaen Kōen” is only 45 minutes away from the tiny ski town. So I knew I had to carve out a day to make the trip!

And I am so glad that I did! It was such a fun, memorable experience watching the adorable snow monkeys “monkey around” for a few hours. While only a handful of monkeys actually went swimming in the hot spring onsen during my visit, it was still very entertaining to watch these sociable creatures interact with each other on dry land. It was fascinating to observe the monkeys in their natural habitat — sunbathing, foraging for food, and endlessly grooming each other.

The snow monkeys are very human-like, with various facial expressions, and each one seems to have their own personality. The adult monkeys are more stoic and reserved, minus the occasional territorial squabble. In contrast, the baby monkeys can best be described as cheeky, playfully wrestling with each other, and scampering after the adults. They all had a very nonchalant indifference towards the visitors, which enabled me to witness their antics up close and personal!

If you are planning a trip to Japan, you should definitely make room in your itinerary for a trip to Jigokudani Yaen Kōen to see the snow monkeys. I’ll tell you how, but first, a little background information…

What Are Japanese Snow Monkeys?

The snow monkeys are technically a species of monkey known as Japanese macaques. They get the moniker “snow monkey” because many of them live in a cold climate area where snow blankets the ground for many months of the year. In fact, these Japanese macaques are the most northern-living non-human primate in the world!

The Japanese snow monkeys that frequent Jigokudani are also unique because they are the only troop of monkeys known to bathe in hot springs. They became world-famous when these spa-loving monkeys were profiled on the cover of LIFE magazine in 1970. And they’ve been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan ever since.

History of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park was founded in 1964 by a man named Sogo Hara in an effort to preserve the natural habitat for the monkeys. A main issue was the number of ski resorts that were being developed up in the region during the 1950s. With the clearing of land for ski runs, the Japanese macaques began to migrate down the mountain, closer to the village of Yamanouchi. They began raiding farms for food, causing the disgruntled farmers to hunt them down. And so began Sogo Hara’s efforts to save these monkeys and protect them in their natural habitat.

Related: Complete Guide to Skiing in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

At the same time, these cheeky monkeys began observing the behavior of the humans with whom they were now in close contact. In particular, they witnessed guests at the Korakukan ryokan (a Japanese guest house located at the base of the steps leading to what is now the park) lounging in the outdoor hot spring onsen bath. The monkeys decided to test out the restorative waters themselves and thus became the only troop of monkeys in the world to bath in hot springs! Unfortunately, there were some hygiene concerns involved with this practice. To solve this issue, Sogo Hara created hot spring baths within the park boundaries solely for use by the monkeys.

While Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park was created as a safe haven and playground for these monkeys, care was taken to preserve the natural habitat of these wild creatures. The park is not fenced in and the monkeys are free to come and go as they please. Park rangers began the practice of feeding the monkeys to incentivize them to stay in the park and away from the village. However, the amount of food is not enough to survive on so the monkeys must still fend for themselves and are not reliant on the park alone for their food.

Related: Guide to Onsen-Hopping in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

Another important aspect of the park is that visitors are forbidden to feed or touch the monkeys. The result is that the monkeys have become unfazed by tourists, do not beg or harass visitors for food, and generally just go about their business as if we aren’t there. In turn, visitors are able to observe the monkeys in very close proximity in their near-natural habitat, which is a very unique experience!

When to Visit the Snow Monkeys

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year (except for rare instances of inclement weather or absence of snow monkeys).

To truly experience the Japanese macaques as “snow monkeys,” you should plan your visit during the winter months (mid-December through mid-March). The monkeys are more likely to be warming up in the hot spring onsen during this time. And the park arguably looks most beautiful blanketed in a fresh layer of snow.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Onsen Etiquette

That’s not to say that it’s not worth visiting the snow monkeys at other times of the year. I visited in late March when spring was arriving in the region and the snow had melted in all but a few sparse patches. Only 1 or 2 monkeys were “monkeying around” in the hot spring itself, but it was definitely still a fun experience to observe the other 20+ monkeys playing, foraging for food, and grooming each other. An unexpected plus is that the monkeys are so much fluffier and (dare I say) cuter when their fur is dry!

Although the forest trail may still be beautiful with fall foliage or summer greenery, I would avoid visiting during these seasons if your main objective is to see the snow monkeys. The main reason they visit the hot spring is to warm up in the cold weather and to take advantage of the food offered by the park rangers when it is harder to forage in the snow. So it may be the case that you won’t see any monkeys coming down from the mountains to the park in the warmer weather. 

In terms of time of day, your best bet for an uncrowded experience in the winter would be to time your visit for right when the park opens in the morning. The monkeys tend to visit the hot spring from early morning through the afternoon, when they head back up in the mountains. In the offseason, it is better to visit midday for the highest likelihood that the monkeys will be at the park. I visited in the afternoon and had a great experience because I was there in the shoulder season when there weren’t many other tourists (we can also thank COVID-19 for that). But if you arrive too late, you may miss the monkeys altogether!

Pro-tip: Take a look at the live webcam feed provided by Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park prior to visiting to decide for yourself if it is worth your while to visit.

Where is Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park Located?

The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is located in the Yokoyu River valley of the Nagano prefecture and is part of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. The word “jigokudani” in Japanese literally translates to “Hell’s Valley.” This rather dramatic name was given to the area because of the plumes of steam that emanate from the hot springs formed in this volcanic mountain region.

The park is situated in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen, near the slightly larger towns of Yamanouchi and Yudanaka. It is easily accessible as a day trip from Nagano City and from a number of nearby ski towns, such as Nozawa Onsen. It’s also doable as a very long day trip from Tokyo.

How to Get to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

By Car

From Tokyo, the drive to the Snow Monkey Park in Kanbayashi Onsen is roughly 270 km and takes about 3.5  hours. From Nozawa Onsen, the drive to the Snow Monkey Park is roughly 35 km and takes about 45 minutes.

By Train/Bus

From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku-Shinkansen train to Nagano Station (¥ 8,540; 1h 20min), then take the Nagaden Express Bus directly to the Snow Monkey Park bus stop (¥ 1,500; 40min).

From Nozawa Onsen, the most convenient way to get to the Snow Monkey Park in the winter months (Dec-Mar) via public transportation is by bus directly from Nozawa Onsen to the Snow Monkey Park bus stop (¥ 1,600; 65min). If visiting outside the winter months (Apr-Nov), the public transportation options are extremely limited and time-consuming so I would recommend either renting a car or visiting via a tour.

Pro-tip: If visiting in the winter, purchase the “Snow Monkey Pass” at Nagaden Nagano Station. It’s a 2-day pass that gives you unlimited use of trains and buses between Nagano and the Snow Monkey Park and includes admission to the park itself for just ¥ 3,600.

By Tour

If you are traveling outside of the winter months, or just want to relax and not worry about figuring out how to get to the Snow Monkey Park on your own, then joining a tour may be the best option. Here are my top recommendations for tours from Nozawa Onsen:

Arriving at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

If arriving at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park by private car or via tour, you will park in the car park at the bottom of a hill. If arriving by bus, you will need to walk straight up the road from the bus stop, past the Hotaru-tei restaurant, and turn right at the intersection and you will reach the car park.

Actually getting to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park on foot is no easy feat, especially in winter. Anyone with mobility issues should take this into consideration before deciding to visit.

From the car park, you must first walk up a hill, past the ENZA Café, where you will reach the Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop. Here you will find the entrance to the trail which leads to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.

Note | The park may close randomly due to heavy snowfall or absence of monkeys.

Next, you will need to walk for ~30 minutes along a picturesque, 1.6 km (1 mile) forest trail. The trail itself is well-maintained, relatively flat, and very peaceful. However, the weather conditions can make the path quite treacherous. In the winter, the trail can be covered with snow and ice; in the spring, the path may be very muddy.

At the end of the trail, you will then need to walk up a somewhat steep staircase to reach the actual park! Here you can either buy a ticket to the park or you will need to present the ticket provided to you as part of your tour package. Please note that entrance tickets cannot be purchased at the gift shop at the start of the trail!

What to Wear to Visit the Snow Monkeys

If visiting the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in the winter, be prepared for very cold weather! The temperature regularly drops to between 0°C (32°F) and -15°C (5°F). So make sure to dress VERY warmly! A down winter jacket, hat, gloves, scarf, and warm fleece-lined pants are recommended. Proper footwear is a must – wear sturdy snow boots that can withstand the snow and ice on the path leading to the park.

If you didn’t pack these items in your luggage, have no fear! Snow boots and winter jackets are available for rent from the Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop. Hats, gloves, and crampons (metal spikes that attach to the sole of your shoe or boot) are available for purchase.

If visiting in the shoulder seasons of fall or spring, you should still be prepared with warmer clothing than you might expect. I visited in late March and it felt like spring at the entrance to the park; however, the canopy of trees made the forest trail quite chilly and I definitely needed a hat and gloves for the walk to and from the park entrance.

The trail was also very muddy so make sure you have water-resistant shoes that you won’t mind getting a bit dirty. There are buckets of water with brushes located in the car park so you can clean off your shoes after visiting the park!

Where to Eat When Visiting the Snow Monkeys

Where to Stay When Visiting the Snow Monkeys

While it is possible to visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park as a day trip from Tokyo, I would advise staying overnight if you can. This way, you won’t need to worry as much about making sure your train and bus connections are lined up perfectly on what will be a VERY long travel day. You will also have the freedom to visit the park early in the morning rather than praying you make it there with enough time left before the park closes. Here are a few recommended accommodations near Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park:

Accommodation Photos Source

Some visitors choose to stay in the nearby town of Yudanaka, which is where one of the major train stations to access the monkey park is located. You could also combine your trip to see the snow monkeys with a visit to the picturesque towns of Obuse or Shibu Onsen, or the prefecture capital, Nagano City. If visiting in the winter, I highly recommend spending a few days in one of the nearby ski towns, like I did in Nozawa Onsen, and take a day trip to visit the snow monkeys from there.

Whichever option you choose, make sure to save room in your itinerary to visit the world-famous snow monkeys at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. You won’t regret it!

Is visiting the Japanese Snow Monkeys on your bucket list?

[elementor-template id=”1865″]

Loved this post? Feel free to share it!