Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen)

This place is amazing! The monkeys are so cute and totally not aggressive. We came here in May so the monkeys didn't go into the hot spring. But at least we can see them drinking the hot water. And we saw many new-born babies and they are super adorable! We enjoyed watching them grooming each other! And the forest is stunning and it's just so relaxing walking through it. I will definitely visit again in winter!

Visit the park annually and enjoy it every time. Free parking and about a 30 minute walk through the forest to get to where the monkeys are. Wear waterproof footwear as the path can either have a lot of snow, melted snow or mud and can be icy. Can be very busy and also good to visit during summer. Buy tickets at the entrance after you have walked through the forest.

This is a really well run and maintained park. The monkeys are amazingly docile because of the complete lack of interaction with humans over the years.
In winter, they bathe a lot in the pool constructed for them which is very cute. You can get very close so there's lots of opportunities for great pictures.
It's a long cold walk, but the path up the mountain is well maintained. It's well worth it! You don't often get the opportunity to see nature this up close and personal. They close at 4PM so don't start your walk too late!

Si relaxed place, the monkeys also just ignore the people. Not agresives, very cute.
Done bring food. Respect the rules.
They are well maintained. Have to pay fee.
Have a half hour walk but very nice. Bring your coat , bring good shoes in case in snowy or ice , be aware can be slippery.
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You MUST do this!!! This was a once in a lifetime experience. It is a large hike up a steep street. Then you go up some steps. At the top it flattens out. You the have a long but fairly flat and very muddy walk along a trail. At the end of the trail there is a flight of extremely steep steps. At the top it flattens out again and you walk up a concreted slope to a hut. On the other side of the hut is the monkey park! It is amazing!!! You need good knees to do this and you must be sturdy on your feet. It is ok to go slow! Well worth the effort for the incredible experience!!!

Went here mid April and had great weather. The path is maintained quite well and didn't need any special footwear.

The monkeys were quite active in the morning and calmed down in the afternoon. There are so many around and it would hard to imagine them not being around, but something could always change a wild animals behaviour. Great place to see wildlife and they do not seem bothered by people either.

I have heard about this like most people so decided to take a tour to see the Snow Monkeys. It’s about 3 1/2 hours from Tokyo Shinjuku. Once we got there there is a little bit of a walk to get to the monkeys. ( 1 mile each way from the entrance) It’s about a 20 minute walk but be careful as there was a lot of ice and snow. When you see the geyser ( which is pretty interesting in itself) you are almost there. A few more steps up. There wasn’t a lot of snow but lots of monkeys. A few were in the water but it was really nice to finally be able to see them. You have to go at least once.

Must visit place if you are coming to Japan in January or February. From the bus stop to the the snow monkey park the road was narrow and covered with snow. It was slippery. Finally when you will reach to the snow monkey park you will be happy to see those cute well mannered monkeys. They are really special. They soak their bodies in the hot spring water and they are camera friendly. They will look at your camera in a nice way.

This is a very popular tourist attraction year round. We got there by bus just like most of the other people. It's roughly a 40 minute walk from the bus stop to the snow monkeys park. Part of the trail can be muddy and slippery due to rain or snow, so wear appropriate footwear as suggested by the other reviewers. Luckily the trail is mostly flat, we made it there without much difficulty even in the snow.
It's definitely worth the walk. We saw plenty of monkeys inside the park. Most of them were soaking or just hanging around the hot spring. The others were cuddling or running around the riversides. It got a little bit crowded around the hot spring, but there was enough room for everyone to get a good view and shots of the monkeys.

We loved this place. We went there during the winter in January and were afraid that there would be too many tourists but it was alright. You have a small hike from the parking of 20-25min and just this is already really nice to do. Beautiful views in a snowy forest. There were so many monkeys it was impressive. It’s really magical with those hot onsen and all the monkeys walking around. Be careful and don’t touch them though ! Vibes are immaculate

A day trip from Tokyo and turned out to be the best part of my visit to Japan. Nice 3.5 hour bus ride through the mountains north of Tokyo. Slight disappointment was that it was too warm for the snow monkeys to get into the water but they were out and about everywhere. Calm animals but don’t bother them as they can become aggressive when provoked.

Visit the place when the snow started to melt. Be prepare to walk over the muddy path that takes about 20-25 min walk to reach the ticket entrance. Definitely worth the visit to see how the monkey enjoy the hot onsen. Admission - 800Yen . Parking fee - Free

Wonderful experience, a real nice winter treat! Long trek to go to the park but well worth it. In full snow and with actual snow falling hard it's a great winter time experience walking around with the added bonus and stars of it all, the monkeys happily lazing about, playing everywhere and readily taking poses for you as you photograph them.

A magical experience! The snow covered path leading to the park was so beautiful. Expect a 25 minute walk to see the monkeys. It was great to see them bathing at the onsen, they don't seem bothered by visitors.
A good tip would be to research the weather conditions before going. I've seen some low reviews complaining about how the ground was muddy, etc. Research first, make sure to go on a snowy day and the experience would be amazing! Would not recommend to go in times when there is no snow, path will be muddy and wet. Monkeys will also not go to the onsen if its not cold. Research the weather before going!

We went in middle of March . Didn’t expect the snow fall and it was magical experience indeed. Then you see the cute snow monkeys relaxing in the hot spring. What a perfect moment.! You can check online to see if the snow monkeys are there. They have live broadcasting website to confirm sightings. Highly recommended

Prepare to hike 2km on foot uphill muddy messy terrain slippery when wet. Not recommended for unfit or elderly. Check live cams online before going down. Monkeys may not be there all the time. They don't guarantee it.

Entrance ¥800 for adults. Monkeys are generally well behaved, don't attack humans like those in Bali temple as no feeding rules are observed. They can walk by you close proximity without snatching your sunglasses or other personal effects

Free parking available but some walking required too.

Fantastic place to view the snow monkeys bathing in the hot spring. I did not realize how many monkeys there were at this venue. Great photo opportunities as they come right up close and do not seem bothered by all the humans clicking pictures of them. Used the Snow Monkey Pass. It cost 4000 yen but was cheaper than paying for the express bus booth ways and the entry fee into the park. Express bus leaves from bus stop 24 on the east side of the Nagano Station. We took the first bus of the day at 8;15am and it was a wise decision as we were able to get to the park before all the coach tour buses arrived. The express bus takes about 50 minutes. There is a 25 minute walk from the bus stop to the monkey park, but it's an easy stroll, albeit a bit muddy in some places. Toilets are at the start of the walk and at the entrance to the park. Lots of places to see the monkeys roam free and delve into the running water. Well worth making the effort and going.

Snow Monkeys Park offers a unique, albeit slightly crowded, experience. The park, though small in size, is a treasure trove for nature lovers. The pathway to the park is scenic, leading to the extraordinary sight of snow monkeys in their natural hot spring habitat. Despite the limited space occasionally feeling crowded, the opportunity to observe these photogenic monkeys up close is unparalleled. The staff's dedication is commendable, and the facilities are well-maintained. Overall, it's a must-visit for an unforgettable glimpse into the serene world of these charming creatures. A truly remarkable, photogenic encounter!

TL;DR:
Visited around noon/evening, snagged a lucky parking spot near the hike start. Easy 1.5 km trail to a ticket booth charging 800 yen for adults. Group discount available. Weather affects monkey sightings. Souvenir shop with toilets and a photo booth. Monkeys are friendly if you follow the rules.

Full Review:
Arriving at noon or evening, we found parking close to the hike's starting point—a stroke of luck, although securing a spot might be trickier for others. A manageable 1.5 km trail leads to the ticket booth, where adult admission is 800 yen (kids' prices elude my memory). Groups of 20 or more enjoy a discount, if I recall correctly. The scenery is stunning, though seeing monkeys is weather-dependent. A souvenir shop, equipped with toilets and a photo booth, adds convenience. When fortunate enough to encounter the monkeys, they're amiable, offering picturesque moments if you adhere to the rules.

We visited this place in winter and it was lovely. Although no snow fell these days, there was still snow on the mountains. It feels surreal approaching the monkey park. The view is just amazing. It is a bit of a climb to get there, but it is totally worth it! The monkeys are not shy and walk past you or sit near you. A must see when visiting Nagano!