Ready to see the famous Japanese monkeys in hot springs? While the stunning scenery of the Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park is world-famous, its remote mountain location in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, can make the journey feel complicated. This guide will break down exactly how to get to the Snow Monkey Park from major hubs like Tokyo and Nagano Station. We cover every step, from the best transportation options to the final scenic walk, ensuring your trip to see the Japanese macaques is completely stress-free!
How to Get to Jigokudani Monkey Park
- How to Get to Jigokudani Monkey Park From Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kanazawa
- How to Get From Nagano Station to Snow Monkey Park
- Driving to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
- From the Bus Stop, Snow Monkey Park, to the Actual Snow Monkey Park
- Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park's Entrance
- All You Need to Know About Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park Before Your Visit
How to Get to Jigokudani Monkey Park From Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kanazawa
Because Jigokudani Monkey Park is buried in the mountain, unless you are driving or joining one of the tours, which features the park on their itinerary, you will have to get off at JR Nagano Station (長野駅). Below is a rough guide to how long it might take you to reach Nagano Station, assuming you are taking the bullet train and/or a limited express.
- From Tokyo: around 1.5 hours
- From Nagoya: around 3 hours
- From Osaka: around 4 hours
- From Kanazawa: around 3 hours
Tip: Consider getting the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) if you depart from Tokyo and want to explore other cities in the region. A return trip from Tokyo will cost you 16,640 yen, which is almost two-thirds of the pass price at 27,000 yen. The 5-day pass gives you unlimited train rides on all JR trains in the area, Tokyo Monorail, and Izu Kyuko Line. It also allows you to board the reserved bullet train carriages. Remember to purchase the pass before arriving in Japan to save on the 10% tax.
How to Get From Nagano Station to Snow Monkey Park
By Nagaden Express Bus
From the bus stop no. 4 at Nagano Station east exit, take the express bus bound for Shiga Heights (Shiga Kōgen, 志賀高原) and get off at Snow Monkey Park (スノーモンキーパーク).
- Refer to HERE for the service’s timetable from early April to early December. In winter, please refer to HERE.
- You can translate the webpage to English using Google Chrome’s translation function on the right side of the address bar. The PDF link named “急行志賀高原線 印刷用時刻表（PDF）” has an English bus stop label in addition to the Japanese.
- A one-way trip will cost 2,000 yen (3,000 yen in winter).
- The bus trip will take around 50 minutes.
Tip: Get the SNOW MONKEY PASS（スノーモンキーパス) from Nagano Dentetsu’s ticket counter, which gives you unlimited rides on Nagano Dentetsu and Nagaden Express Bus. The pass also includes admission to Snow Monkey Park. The cost of the pass is currently 6,800 yen.
By Nagano Dentetsu + Bus/Taxi
Once you get to JR Nagano Station, change to Nagano Electric Railway (Nagano Dentetsu, 長野電鉄) and get off at the terminal stop, Yudanaka (湯田中).
- The entrance of Nagano Dentetsu’s Nagano Station underground is just in front of JR’s Nagano Station.
- You can check out the timetable HERE for the train’s departure time.
From Yudanaka, change for Nagaden Bus’s (長電バス) Kanbayashi Line (上林線) and get off at Snow Monkey Park (スノーモンキーパーク).
- Please refer to HERE for the timetable for the bus service.
- A one-way trip will cost 310 yen.
- The bus trip will take around 10 to 15 minutes.
You can also choose to take a taxi from Yudanaka Station.
Tip: If you are staying overnight at Shibu Onsen (渋温泉), ask the staff at your ryokan whether they offer a pick-up/drop-off service to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.
Driving to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
If you plan to drive, you can park at either of the following car parks.
- Jigokudani Yaen Kōen Senyō Chūshajō (地獄谷野猿公苑専用駐車場) at Kanbayashi Onsen (上林温泉)
- Parking is free
- It is around a 30-minute walk to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.
- Jigokudani Chūshajō (地獄谷駐車場) near Shibu Onsen (渋温泉)
- Parking will cost 500 yen.
- The road to the car park is narrow, which won’t fit large vehicles
- The road to the car park is closed in winter
- It is around a 15-minute walk to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park.
Tip: For those planning to drive, head to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park before noon if you want to visit the park on weekends and public holidays. This is to avoid traffic jams and the frustration of not being able to park when you get there.
From the Bus Stop, Snow Monkey Park, to the Actual Snow Monkey Park
Unfortunately, because the mountain trail leading to the Jigokudani Monkey Park is too narrow, taxis and buses won’t be able to bring you straight to the park’s entrance.
From the bus stop, it will take about 40 TO 60 minutes on foot, depending on how fast you walk and how much snow has accumulated on the trail.
Important: There is no public toilet along the way.
Shigakogen Roman Museum (志賀高原ロマン美術館)
The bus stop is in front of the Shigakogen Roman Museum (志賀高原ロマン美術館). The museum was opened in 1997 to commemorate the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The building was designed under the theme of “coexistence with nature” by a well-known Japanese architect Kishō Kurokawa (黒川紀章). The collections in the museum include:
- Excavated Roman glass bottles and jars
- Artworks made of glass by Japanese artists
- Paintings by Kodama Katei (児玉 果亭), who was born in Shibu Onsen (渋温泉)
- Kilim in Central Asia
- Other artworks from the Edo period, all the way to the Taisho period
If you love to spend time in museums and art galleries, it is a nice little place to spend an hour or so. For information on opening hours and admission fees, please visit their website HERE.
Continue Trekking Towards Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
From the Shigakogen Roman Museum, the next Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park’s directory board is around a 5 to 6-minute walk away. From there, it is still 1.8 km to Snow Monkey Park. But at least there is a shrine and a few other facilities, such as a cafe and restaurant on the way, so it won’t be a dull walk until you see a slope.
It is the steepest road along the promenade (until you reach the park’s entrance). After the slope, the trail is mostly flat and isn’t hard to walk on, even for older people.
The narrow road was not just constructed for us to visit the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. It has been there for centuries as a road to draw agricultural water and hot springs to the village at the foot of the mountain.
Important: If you are heading to the Snow Monkey Park from December to March, when the road is frozen, please wear slip-resistant shoes and walk carefully.
Roaming the cedar forest, breathing in the fresh air, and listening to birds sing creates a relaxing atmosphere, making the trip seem much shorter. If you are lucky, you might be greeted by Japanese serows at the side of the trail or squirrels in the tree (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
Tip: In winter, remember to put a hand warmer into both of your shoes to keep your feet warm. If you have one that can stick to your clothes, that is even better, so it won’t move around in your shoes.
Jigokudani Onsen Kōrakukan (後楽館)
Jigokudani Onsen Korakukan is a ryokan near Jigokudani Monkey Park. Established in 1864, it existed 100 years before Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park. The open-air onsen pool where the monkeys were spotted bathing is still there. If you are brave enough, it is probably your only chance to enjoy an onsen with wild animals (≧▽≦).
For more information, refer to our Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park article!
Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park’s Entrance
Once you get to Jigokudani Onsen Korakukan, the snow monkey park is just a 5-minute walk away!
This set of staircases is the last bit of climbing you have to do before you meet the cute monkeys!
Inside the building where tickets are purchased, there is a small museum where you can learn about the snow monkeys’ ecology.
Important: Before you head in to meet the snow monkeys, please put all plastic bags and any food you might be holding in your hands into your bag. If you do not, the snow monkeys could attack.
All You Need to Know About Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park Before Your Visit
Now you know how to get to the Snow Monkey Park in Nagano, it is time to prepare yourself for your visit by learning some basic knowledge about the Japanese snow monkeys and the dos and don’ts on the day at the park.
Refer to our Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park guide for more information!
