{"id":3452,"date":"2018-05-31T08:32:45","date_gmt":"2018-05-31T06:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog?p=3452"},"modified":"2020-11-19T09:08:18","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T08:08:18","slug":"jigokudani-monkey-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/jigokudani-monkey-park","title":{"rendered":"Visiting the snow monkeys of Jigokudani Monkey Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For decades, nature lovers have reveled in documentaries featuring <strong>snow monkeys<\/strong> that warm themselves in natural hot springs. Did you know that you can view these unique creatures in person? You can at the Jigokudani Monkey Park.<\/p>\n<p>The park\u2019s monkeys are <strong>Japanese macaques<\/strong>, which live in large social groups. They have become accustomed to human visitors, and so their playful antics can be observed as they interact with one another. The phenomenon of the bathing monkeys occurs nowhere else in the world.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_white no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table of Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#How_to_get_to_Jigokudani_Monkey_Park\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">1<\/span> How to get to Jigokudani Monkey Park<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Hours_and_fees\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">2<\/span> Hours and fees<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Where_to_see_the_snow_monkey\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">3<\/span> Where to see the snow monkey<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Nearby_attractions\"><span class=\"toc_number toc_depth_1\">4<\/span> Nearby attractions\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"How_to_get_to_Jigokudani_Monkey_Park\"><strong>How to get to Jigokudani Monkey Park<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You may <strong>use your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\">Japan Rail Pass<\/a> to first travel to Nagano Station<\/strong>. From the station\u2019s east exit, at bus stop number 3, as many as <strong>ten buses per day depart for the Monkey Park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Read more<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/nagano-travel-guide\">How to get to Nagano<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>The bus ride takes around 40 minutes and costs \u00a51400<\/strong>. You may depart at either the Kanbayashi Onsen stop or the Snow Monkey Park bus stop. From either stop, the park is a 30 to 40-minute walk away.<\/p>\n<p>From\u00a0Nagano Station, you can also take the\u00a0<b>Nagano-sen (Nagaden)<\/b>\u00a0train to\u00a0<b>Yudanaka Station<\/b>, (not covered by the JR Pass) and then a bus or taxi to Kanyabashi Onsen anyway.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, you may rent a vehicle and drive to the park. The parking lot requires a fee, and the road leading to it may be closed in winter due to hazardous conditions. The park is a 10 to 15-minute walk from the parking lot. Some nearby lodgings also offer free shuttles to the parking lot.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n            <a class=\"fasc-button banner-button-shortcode fasc-size-large fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium ico-fa fasc-ico-after fa-chevron-circle-right fasc-style-bold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/the-japan-rail-pass\">\n                Buy your JR Pass\n            <\/a>\n        <\/p>\n<p>In some seasons, the\u00a0<strong>Snow Monkey 1-Day Pass\u00a0<\/strong>is also available for foreigners, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access to the Nagaden Train<\/li>\n<li>Access to the Nagaden Express Bus between Nagano Station and Kanbayashi Onsen<\/li>\n<li>Access to the local Nagaden Bus between Yudanaka Station and Kanbayashi Onsen<\/li>\n<li>Admission to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"Hours_and_fees\"><strong>Hours and fees<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>The Jigokudani Monkey Park is open year round<\/strong>. During the summer months, from April to October, the park is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Hours are slightly shorter during the winter, from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission to the park is \u00a5600.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Where_to_see_the_snow_monkey\">Where to see the snow monkey<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Upon entering the park, you will find a small information center. There is a foot path \u2013 often full of curious monkeys \u2013 that leads to the park\u2019s man-made <strong>pool, which the animals frequent<\/strong>. A live camera is located near the pool; its video feed can be accessed online. Natural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/all-about-onsens-the-japanese-hot-springs\"><em>onsen<\/em><\/a> are also located throughout the park, and used by the monkeys.<\/p>\n<p>Many visitors feel that the park is best experienced when there is snow on the ground. <strong>Snow may fall from December through March<\/strong>, but it is most certain in January and February. During the warmer months, food is placed in the pool to entice the monkeys to bathe.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that the snow monkeys are wild animals. <strong>Feeding or touching the monkeys is not allowed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Nearby_attractions\"><strong>Nearby attractions<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>After viewing monkeys relaxing in beautiful hot springs, you may want to try one out for yourself. <strong>On the way to the Monkey Park is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/ryokan-japanese-guest-houses\">ryokan<\/a> known as Korakukan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Monkey Park and onsens make good side trips from nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/blog\/nagano-travel-guide\">Nagano<\/a>.<\/strong> This city sports attractions such as the Zenkoji Temple, former Winter Olympics facilities, shrines, and the Togakure Ninja School.<\/p>\n<p>Other nearby onsen towns include Shibu and Yudanaka. <strong>Shibu Onsen is a historic town located on the slopes above the Monkey Park<\/strong>, with ryokan that are over 400 years old. Many guests stroll the streets in geta sandals and yukata robes, traditional clothing of onsen visitors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Yudanaka Onsen also enjoys a long history, but it has developed a more modern atmosphere<\/strong>. This town is often the first stop of travelers arriving by train, and offers the first access to the hot springs. In fact, a free footbath is located just outside the train station.<\/p>\n<p>When ancient peoples first entered the valley that is the monkey\u2019s home, they called it \u201cJigokudani,\u201d meaning \u201chell\u2019s valley,\u201d because of the <strong>volcanic activity that produces the hot springs<\/strong>. To the monkeys, however, it is a warm oasis that allows them to survive in a harsh environment. Are you ready to embark on an onsen inspired adventure of your own? With your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrailpass.com\/the-japan-rail-pass\">JR Pass<\/a> in hand, you can explore all that Japan has to offer.<\/p>\n<p><em>Credit for images copyrighted by JNTO \u00a9JNTO<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For decades, nature lovers have reveled in documentaries featuring snow monkeys that warm themselves in natural hot springs. Did you know that you can view these unique creatures in person? You can at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. The park\u2019s monkeys are Japanese macaques, which live in large social groups. They have become accustomed to human visitors, and so their playful antics can be observed as they interact with one another. The phenomenon of the bathing monkeys occurs nowhere else in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[],"acf":{"related_tours":{"tour_number":false},"bread_1":false,"bread_2":false,"bread_3":false,"bread_4":false,"bread_5":false,"bread_6":false,"bread_7":false,"bread_last":false,"custom_guide":"nagano","pageresume":"Find out how to get to Jigokudani Monkey Park and see the japanese snow monkeys in Yamanouchi, near Nagano, bathing in the park hot springs.","shortcodes":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Jigokudani Monkey Park: How to see the snow monkeys | JRailPass<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out how to get to Jigokudani Monkey Park and see the japanese snow monkeys in Yamanouchi, near Nagano, 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