If you’re visiting Japan in winter and looking for a fun day trip from Tokyo, then a visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano is a must! In this article, I’ll give you an easy copy and paste 1-day itinerary that you can follow to plan your visit!
Want more ideas of things to do in winter in Japan? Check out my Japan winter itinerary and Kyoto in winter articles! If you’re looking for ideas for day trips from Tokyo – check out my article on 20 Cities Near Tokyo For Unforgettable Day Trips.
What is the Jigokudani Monkey Park?
The Jigokudani Monkey Park or Snow Monkey Park in Nagano is famous for its free-roaming wild Japanese macaques that bathe in the natural hot spring baths. According to the official website, it is the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs, making it one of those unique ‘only in Japan’ experiences to add to your Japan bucket list!
Located in Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in the northern part of Nagano prefecture, the park is also referred to as ‘Hell Valley’ because of the volcanic activity causing steam to rise from the hot springs. The area is covered in snow for around one-third of the year, usually from mid-December onwards.
Is the Snow Monkey Park a Good Day Trip from Tokyo?
Overall, I would say yes, a visit to the Snow Monkey Park is a fun (but slightly long) day trip from Tokyo – but you do need to plan it in advance to make sure all the transportation lines up properly. (This itinerary will help with this!)
My advice would be to only visit during the winter when the monkeys are more likely to be present and try to visit on a weekday so it will be much quieter.
If you’re a nature lover, enjoy hiking, or looking to escape the bustle of Tokyo then a trip to the Snow Monkey Park is a great day trip.
Nagano is easy to access from Tokyo via the Shinkansen (bullet train) which takes only 90 minutes. The Snow Monkey Park is within easy reach of Nagano City. From Nagano Station, there is a direct bus to the Snow Monkey Park which takes a further 45 minutes called the Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Snow Monkey Park?
The cold winter months in Japan from December to late February are the best time to visit the Snow Monkey Park and is when visitors are most likely to be able to see Japanese snow monkeys bathing in the natural hot springs. The monkeys do visit the park during the warmer months too but are much less likely to appear so I personally wouldn’t risk traveling all that way outside of the winter.
Who is the Snow Monkey Park Unsuitable For?
I would not recommend the Snow Monkey Park for people in poor physical health, wheelchair users, children under the age of around 6 or 7, and families with strollers. This is because there is a 30-40 minute fairly steep hike involved to access the area where the wild monkeys live, which would be too difficult to walk along when covered in snow. Also, right before the entrance area to the park, there is a large set of steep stairs with no other way of access.
Snow Monkey Park – 1 Day Itinerary
7:52AM Travel to Jigokudani Monkey Park from Tokyo
Planning the transportation in advance is essential for a successful day trip to the monkey park so you don’t end up wasting time with missed connections.
Trains to Nagano on the Hokuriku Shinkansen depart from Tokyo Station fairly frequently and the journey time is just over 90 minutes in total. You can also take the train to Nagano from Ueno Station in Tokyo.
I purchased my ticket the night before departure from a vending machine in Shibuya Station and there were still plenty of seats left, but you may want to buy your Shinkansen tickets a couple of days in advance if there is a group of you traveling so you can ensure you get seats together. You can also buy your tickets online in advance if you prefer through this website.
I took the 7:52AM train from Tokyo Station which got me to Nagano for 9:30AM. This gave me an hour to kill before the bus left for the monkey park at 10:30AM. The bus arrived at the entrance to the monkey park at around 11:15AM.
There is an earlier bus to the monkey park but obviously, this would require an earlier departure from Tokyo.
10:30AM Travel from Nagano Station to the Monkey Park
I would recommend arriving at Nagano Station a minimum of 30 minutes before the bus you want to leave departs. This will give you time to use the restroom, store any baggage in coin lockers, buy any snacks or drinks, and find the bus stop in plenty of time. You can check the bus times in advance from the official website here
You can buy a ticket for the bus at Nagano train station from a vending machine just inside the tourist information center to the right of the ticket gates, but most people just pay the fare when they get off the bus.
The fare at the time of writing is 1,800 yen one way per adult. You can pay in cash – try to have the right change available to avoid holding up other passengers, or by card, but at the time of writing this, only Visa and Amex work for some reason, not Mastercard.
The number 23 bus stop where the bus departs from is located outside the East exit of Nagano Station. When you come out of the ticket gate, turn left, and go down the stairs. You will pass some coin lockers on the way if you want to store any bags whilst you are visiting the monkeys.
I started to line up for the bus around 40 minutes before it was due to leave which may sound insanely early, but by the time it was 10:10AM (20 minutes before departure), the queue to board the bus was already super long. I was lucky to be one of the first people to board the bus and it was completely packed by the time it left.
Bear in mind this was just a random Tuesday morning in early December so if you traveled more during the peak winter season or on a weekend it’s likely that not everyone would get on board and would have to wait around for the next bus.
11:15 AM Arrival at the Monkey Park
Upon arrival at the bus stop ‘Snow Monkey Park’, it will take you around 30-40 minutes (depending on how fast you walk) to get to the area where the monkeys are. When I walked in early December there was no snow on the paths, but it was quite muddy and a bit slippery so make sure you have appropriate footwear. I can imagine that when snow covered the walk can get a bit hairy!
The ticket office where you pay the entrance fee is situated at the very end of the walk at the top of a steep staircase, right before you see the monkeys. There is also a gift shop closer to the car park which you will pass on the way to the entrance, but there are no tickets sold here.
When you arrive at the monkey park, I recommend that you decide in advance which bus you are going to take back to Nagano Station so you can make sure you arrive at the bus stop in plenty of time (at least 20 minutes before departure).
11:45 AM – See the Snow Monkeys!
Once inside the monkey park, you are free to observe the monkeys as they roam around and hang out in the hot springs. Obviously don’t try to feed or touch the monkeys at all. I’m happy to report I didn’t witness any bad behavior from tourists during my visit here. It was not too crowded during my visit, so I was lucky enough to be able to take pictures quite easily. Despite the lack of snow, it was still enjoyable, and I even spotted a couple of baby monkeys which were extremely cute!
The area where the monkeys are located is not that big so I can imagine it gets very crowded during the weekends. This is another reason why I would recommend visiting during the week and as early in the day as you can.
I stayed around 30 minutes looking at the monkeys before heading back down the trail to catch the bus back to Nagano Station. Before you exit the park there is a small souvenir shop, toilets, and baby changing facilities, and you can also collect a stamp to commemorate your visit.
12:15 PM – Stop at Enza Café
As I had around an hour to spare before taking the bus back at 1:28pm, I decided to stop for something to eat at the Enza Café located at the bottom of the trail. Their menu includes hot food items such as karaage (fried chicken) and ramen, whilst their apple pie seems to be a popular dessert. The menu also says that the café is Halal certified and there are a couple of vegetarian options available too.
I ordered a bowl of chicken ramen and a drink, and the total bill came to around 1,300 yen which I would say is a reasonable price considering it’s such a tourist hot spot. They also have a takeout menu if you just want to order something to go.
If you want to go somewhere a bit more special for lunch and are not in a rush to head off, then I recommend eating at the Hotaru Tei restaurant where you can enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch for around 5,000 yen per person. They also have sake tastings available. If possible, I would recommend making a reservation in advance, particularly if you are visiting on a ‘busy’ day. (You can make a reservation easily through the website).
1:28 PM Take the bus back to Nagano Station
As the bus works on a first come first served basis, I would strongly recommend getting in line for the bus back to Nagano at least 20 minutes before the departure time if you want to be sure of a seat. When I joined the line, it was already quite long and not everybody was able to board the bus, so they needed to wait another hour for the next one.
3:22 PM Return to Tokyo
I recommend avoiding booking your return train too close to the scheduled bus arrival time, as delays are common. To be safe, allow at least 30 minutes between the bus’s scheduled arrival and your train departure times. If you left Nagano on the 3:22pm train this would get you back to Tokyo just before 5pm.
Extra Stops on Your Snow Monkey Park Day Trip and Overnight Options
If you want to extend your day trip a little longer then you could also visit Zenko-ji Temple, a historic Buddhist temple in Nagano city. From Nagano Station, Zenko-ji Temple is about a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute ride via local bus or taxi.
The temple was founded over 1,400 years ago, and the main hall is one of the largest temple buildings in Japan. One of the unique experiences at this temple includes a pitch-black underground passage that visitors can walk through to touch the “key to paradise,” which is believed to grant enlightenment.
For an overnight stay in the area, I recommend booking accommodation in one of the nearby hot spring villages where you can experience staying in a traditional Japanese inn with onsen. Shibu Onsen is a historic hot spring town in the Yamanouchi area.
Wafu no Yado Masuya is a ryokan around a 5-minute drive away from Yudanaka Station, where you can also take a 10-minute bus ride to and from the monkey park.
The traditional ryokan offers family rooms, accommodations with private open-air baths, and access to a public onsen. Guests can enjoy a traditional Japanese experience with futons laid out on tatami flooring for an authentic stay.
Kanbayashi Onsen is another small hot spring village very close to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Kanbayashi Hotel Senjukaku is within walking distance from the monkey park and is a luxurious ryokan offering an indoor swimming pool, onsen baths, and kaiseki dining.
If you are into winter sports, then Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen are famous Japanese ski resorts located around a 30-minute bus ride away from the monkey park.
You could also travel onwards to other destinations from Nagano instead of returning to Tokyo. For example, I took a train to Matsumoto which is less than one hour away and spent the night there before visiting the castle the next day, and taking the bus to Takayama.
As Nagano is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line you could also travel onwards to cities like Kanazawa and then Kyoto from there. If you decide to take this route it may be worth investing in the Hokuriku Arch Pass which will save you money on train fares.
Snow Monkey Park: Guided Tours vs DIY Travel
I personally don’t think it’s necessary to pay for a guided tour as it’s quite a straightforward journey and there is no way to cut out the 30-minute hike to the monkey park no matter where you park.
However, if you don’t want to have the stress of trying to line up all the transportation by yourself, or if you want to ensure you have a guaranteed seat on a bus that doesn’t require lining up in advance so you get more time to explore, then a guided tour like this could be the best option for you. It might also be the least stressful option if you are visiting on a weekend or public holiday.
But if you don’t mind doing the planning work, then arranging the day trip yourself is the most flexible and budget-friendly way to visit the monkey park.
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