.jpg?width=1600)
Jigokudani Monkey Park
地獄谷野猿公苑 · Yamanouchi, Nagano
Snow monkeys in hot springs: the world's only 'monkey spa'
Know before you go
- Taboos: chasing monkeys for close-ups, and blocking their paths. Remember: they're wild animals, not actors.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Why it’s popular
Images of wild Japanese macaques bathing in an open-air hot spring in the snow have been famous worldwide since they appeared on the cover of the US magazine 'LIFE' in 1970 and were covered by global media during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics; videos of 'snow monkeys blissfully closing their eyes' on TikTok and YouTube are the top symbol of winter Japan, drawing more than 250,000 foreign visitors a year.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
'Jigokudani' (Hell Valley) is the general name for volcanic geothermal valleys; the park was founded in 1964 to protect monkeys that had been coming down into villages as their habitat shrank, and 'people and monkeys living together' is its philosophy. Nearby Shibu Onsen is a 1,300-year-old spa town famous for its 'tour of nine baths'.
Local customs
- Touching, feeding or looking monkeys in the eye (they see it as a challenge) is strictly forbidden
- keep your distance and don't push a selfie stick at them
- zip up your bag (monkeys will rummage)
- don't shout to drive them away.
Religion & beliefs
None. Japan's animist view of nature is the cultural backdrop to the closeness between people and monkeys.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
Taboos: chasing monkeys for close-ups, and blocking their paths. Remember: they're wild animals, not actors.
Locals appreciate DO
Staff appreciate visitors who 'watch quietly and follow directions'
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Getting there | From Nagano Station take the Nagaden line to Yudanaka Station and change to a bus, or take a direct bus from Nagano Station |
|---|
Travel tips
- December–March is bathing season (on warm days the monkeys don't go in)
- admission JPY 800, 9:00–16:00 in winter
- from the bus stop it's about a 30-minute walk on a mountain path, so be sure to wear non-slip snow boots
- access: from Nagano Station take the Nagaden line to Yudanaka Station and change to a bus, or take a direct bus from Nagano Station
- stay a night at Shibu Onsen.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
There's no food in the park — eat in Yudanaka or Shibu Onsen
Must-try
- Soba
- Onsen manjū
- Shinshū miso dishes
Soba, onsen manjū, Shinshū miso dishes, nozawana pickles, apple desserts / local sake
| Where to eat | Simple meals at the shop by the park entrance (seasonal), restaurants in the Yudanaka onsen town |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Absolutely never feed the monkeys or show them food (they'll snatch it) — keep food packed in your bag; in the onsen town you can usually go into shops in yukata and geta |
| Typical price per person | JPY 1,500–2,500 ≈ CNY 68–113 |
| Tips | Winter mountain paths are slippery — eat well in the onsen town before entering the park; eat onsen manjū while hot. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
M yanagisawa · CC0
Photos
Photos
.jpg?width=640)
迷惘的人生 · CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg?width=640)
迷惘的人生 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Daisuke tashiro from Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Sources & verification notes
- In-depth research on Japanese sights (2026-10-15). Sources: japan-guide.com
- the park's official notice at nagaden-net.co.jp.
More in Japan
Also nearby
Sensō-ji
Beneath the great lantern of the Kaminarimon: where Edo charm meets Tokyo's everyday bustle
Dōtonbori
Under the neon of the Glico Running Man: the ultimate food battlefield for 'eating yourself bankrupt in Osaka'
.jpg?width=800)
Nara Park
An ancient capital where 1,200 sacred deer roam: the thousand-year Heijō-kyō guarded by deer and the Great Buddha