Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
- from JPY 500
- Not step-free
Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
About
Why go
- Macaques bathing on snowy cold days, with some staying in the water for hours.
Opening hours
Today09:00 – 16:00Show all
With kids
- Children can watch macaques in the hot spring up close, with no fence between visitors and the monkeys.
Tips for your visit
- Check the park's monkey visit forecast and daily status before you set out.
- Walk the 2 km forest path from the hot-spring village; it is almost flat, with a few slopes.
- Along the path you may meet wild serows and squirrels, and hear birdsong.
- In the yearly activity peak, monkeys are often absent for the whole day, so the visit may be without them.
- Park in the free car park at the hot-spring area if you come by car.
- Watch the monkeys without food; feeding is not allowed.
Best time to visit
- Winter is the best time to visit, when snow covers the ground.
- Snow covers the ground for about four months a year, after heavy snowfalls.
- In winter the monkeys come down to the valley; in warmer months they forage elsewhere in the national park.
- The monkeys bathe in winter to get through the cold, and do not bathe in summer.
- On heavy snowy cold days, many monkeys bathe.
- Staff feed the monkeys, so they can sometimes be seen outside winter.
- The park is open daily from 09:00 to 16:00.
Know before you go
- Open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 16:00.
- Visits are possible all year round.
- Visitors are not allowed to feed the monkeys, and no food is sold on site.
- No fence separates visitors from the monkeys, who share the same space.
- The monkeys are wild and may stay away, depending on season and conditions.
- Routes to the park are unpaved, with stairs, slopes and steps, so wheelchairs and carts cannot be used.
- The forest road to the car park is too narrow for large vehicles and is closed in winter.
- Tickets and souvenirs are sold at the visitor house.
- The company that runs the car park accepts no liability for accidents or theft there.
Shorts
-
Snow Monkey Getting into the Onsen at JigokudaniWabi Sabi Japan Living
-
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Yamanouchi, Nagano JapanEK Around Japan
-
Snow Monkey Baby 2026 Jigokudani Monkey Park ⑫TOKIZO
-
Child Snow Monkey Asking for Grooming in Snowy Hot Spring Bath. Jigok…Osaru
-
Japanese macaques relaxing in a hot spring bath, Jigokudani Snow Monk…Osaru
History
Japanese macaques lived in the mountains until ski resorts and forest clearing pushed them down. In the 1950s they raided village crops and moved into a local onsen. A young monkey first started bathing in the open-air bath of a nearby inn, by chance. A separate bath for monkeys was then built inside the park, because monkeys in the human bath was unhygienic.
- 1950sSki resort growth and forest clearing pushed the macaques down to village areas, where they raided crops.
- 1957A hiker found a group of monkeys in the valley.
- 1964The park opened so visitors could watch wild monkeys up close.
- 1967The main bath, where monkeys and people meet, was built.
- 1970A LIFE magazine cover made the park known worldwide.
Show all
- 1998The winter games brought many visitors, and the park became widely known.
Interesting facts4
How to get there
- 79 minTrainFrom Tokyo, the fastest bullet train takes 79 minutes to the regional station.
- 38 minTrainFrom the regional station, a private railway express takes 38 minutes to the hot-spring station.
- 15 minBusFrom the hot-spring station, a 15-minute bus ride reaches the park's bus stop.
- 35 minOn footFrom the bus stop, a 35-minute walk leads to the park.
- 41 minBusAn express bus toward the highland resort takes 41 minutes, then a 35-minute walk to the park.
- 35 minCarBy car, drive 16 km along route 292 from the expressway exit to the village car park, then a 35-minute walk.
- 30 minOn footOr walk the 2 km path from the hot-spring village, about 30 minutes on foot.
Sources: Jigokudani Monkey Park - Wikipedia · Yamanouchi - Wikivoyage (see) · 地獄谷野猿公苑【公式】 · 地獄谷野猿公苑【公式】 | 地獄谷野猿公苑について · 地獄谷野猿公苑【公式】 | アクセス · Jigokudani Yaen Kōen - Wikipedia · Parc aux singes de Jigokudani - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park?
The park is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 16:00. Visits are possible all year round, but the monkeys may stay away depending on season and conditions.
How do I get to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Tokyo?
The fastest bullet train from Tokyo takes 79 minutes to the regional station. From there, a private railway express takes 38 minutes to the hot-spring station, then a 15-minute bus and a 35-minute walk reach the park.
Is there parking at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park?
Yes, the park has its own free car park at the hot-spring area, and the walk from there takes 35 minutes. The forest road to it is too narrow for large vehicles and is closed in winter.
Can children watch the snow monkeys at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park?
Yes, children can watch the macaques in the hot spring up close, with no fence between them and visitors. Visitors are not allowed to feed the monkeys.
Is Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park wheelchair accessible?
No, the routes to the park are unpaved and have stairs, slopes and steps, so wheelchairs and carts cannot be used. The 2 km walking path from the hot-spring village is almost flat, with a few slopes.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.