Jigokudani Monkey Park

Nature park
★ 5.0 (2K+ reviews) • 6K+ booked
If you're planning a trip to Japan, you should visit Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture. This snow monkey park lets you see Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, up close. The best part of this experience is watching these monkeys relax in steaming hot springs. It's especially amazing to see them surrounded by white snow in the winter. The park also has beautiful forest trails, perfect for a peaceful hike, and even for spotting other wild animals. After your walk, you can check out the gift shop and the information center to learn all about these wild monkeys and their animal welfare. Whether you visit in the snowy winter or during the lush green seasons, Jigokudani Monkey Park will be a memorable part of your trip to Japan.
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Jigokudani Monkey Park, National Route 292, Maruike, Yamanouchi, Shimotakai County, Nagano Prefecture, Chubu Region, 381-0401, Japan

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Why people love Jigokudani Monkey Park

5.0 /5
2K+ reviews
Read all reviews
Yrwin **************
3 days ago
Absolutely lovely experience ! Our tour guide was very accommodating and nice! This monkey park is difficult to get to if you don’t have a car! so this tour package was very worth it! and also the lunch they offered was top notch! thank you so much Mica for accommodating us with the tour! I’m very thankful I got to see some monkeys, despite not being snow season when I went!
2+
Ana ******
3 days ago
This tour is absolutely worth it! Mika is an amazing guide—very attentive and funny. She explained everything to us and even went beyond expectations. We started the day at the scheduled time at the station, with everything running punctually. After that, we took a van to the temple, followed by the sake experience. Mika offered us numerous sake options to try and explained the sake-making process in detail. Lunch was divine—it felt like we were in an old and elegant wooden restaurant. The food was a feast, beautifully presented. Afterward, we spotted some monkeys, although it was quite hot, so they didn’t enter the onsen. This tour is a 10/10. I highly recommend it!
Supiya *
4 days ago
It was a pretty good tour! We visited three places in a couple of hours. The temple and sake tasting are right next to each other, which was convenient. The lunch was so satisfying as well! We were quite lucky to at least see three snow monkeys too.
2+
Klook User
6 days ago
I did this trip in a one day trip from Tokyo (booked the shinkansen and takes about 1h15). This trip was one of the best I have done in Japan, I thought I had my shares of temples but this one was different. the whole area was so nice and cute. We had a buddhist priest blessure ceremonie while being there, and the sake tasting was also great. Lunch was really nice, a lot and very tasting. Even though beginning of November is mating season and a bit early to be sure to see the monkeys, we were so lucky and saw a whole troop, they stayed about 45 min and then left again. It was really amazing to see. Our guide Kei was sooo enthousiastic and very kind, and made this trip really top!
2+
Tsang *******
14 Nov
The group that day, originally only seven people, small group, very good. When online photon, the guide explained very clearly, with some history and anecdotes, very interesting. This tour included lunch, which was better than expected and very Japanese. When we arrived at Snow After Park, unfortunately, we only saw five to six monkeys. The tour guide saw the situation and suggested adding one more attraction, so we went to the nearby hot spring street for a walk. The overall journey was easy and the guide controlled the time appropriately. Good day.
2+
Jovani *********
8 Nov
Really a great experience to live 👌 We were lucky since several monkeys were there when we arrived. To visit if you are in the Nagano region no matter the year.
1+
Klook User
29 Sep
Wow, such a great tour. This was a small group tour with only 11 people, which gave this a very personal feel. Our guide Endo was friendly, knowledgeable and lovely to chat with. The tour mentions that lunch is included - this is an understatement! Lunch was a beautiful Japanese feast! Unfortunately, it sounds like late Sept isn't a great time to see snow monkeys, so we were lucky that there were 3 monkeys at the park, still incredibly cute! Our guide was then able to change the schedule to include a visit to a nearby onsen town that was the setting for the film Spirited Away. I highly recommend this tour!
2+
Klook User
13 Aug
This tour exceeding all expectations. Jens was an amazing tour guide and so knowledgeable about the area. From the temple to the sake tasting to the beautiful lunch and then all the spa monkeys plus a stop for apple pie and the best apple soft serve!! it was such a great experience and we can’t wait to come back in the winter to do it again!
1+

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FAQs about Jigokudani Monkey Park

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Things to do at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Explore the Yama no Well Steam Area

Just a short walk from Jigokudani Monkey Park, you'll find the Yama no Well Steam area. Here, you can see amazing natural hot springs and steaming pools. In winter, the mist from the hot springs looks magical with the snow all around. This special place adds to the fun of watching the snow monkeys take their baths nearby.

Visit Shiga Kogen Ski Resort

Why not mix your trip to Jigokudani Monkey Park with skiing at Shiga Kogen Ski Resort? You can enjoy amazing mountain views and modern facilities like ski lifts and comfy lodges. It’s the ideal winter trip where you can ski in the morning and see snow monkeys in hot springs in the afternoon.

Walk Through the Forest Trails

Near Jigokudani Monkey Park, there is a beautiful forest trail that is great for a peaceful hike. You can walk through the quiet woods and see other wild animals that live in the park. If you love calm walks and want to see more of the snow monkeys' natural home, this is a perfect activity for you.

Relax at Shibu Onsen

After seeing the hot springs monkeys, relax in the old hot spring town of Shibu Onsen. This cute village has many ancient hot springs, each known for its different healing powers. Walk through the pretty streets in your cotton robe and soak in the calm waters.

Explore Zenko-ji Temple

Visiting the historic Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano is a great addition to your trip to see the snow monkeys. Zenko-ji is one of Japan's oldest and most important temples, where you can explore beautiful gardens, and see ancient buildings. It's a fun and interesting experience that adds a lot to your adventure.