Jigokudani Hot Spring Korakukan

For 1200 yen, you can soak in the hot springs from 12:00 to 16:00(4PM). The interior is very rustic and really feels like an authentic traditional bathhouse. The passage to the bathing area is somewhat narrow, so the 2.6km climb up from the bus stop helped with that. Facilities wise, there are two indoor baths (separated by gender), and one common bath outside (where the monkeys join you). There is no shower, but shampoo and soap are provided in the indoor bath.

Overall a very worthwhile deal especially since the experience includes bathing together with the famous hot spring monkeys. Even the monkeys queue up until it opens (note: the actual entrance is opposite, this monkey was peeking into the resting area)

Loved staying here it was a nice change from the bustling of the city.

Great dramatic scenery and lots of snow monkeys around. Very intimate with only a few guests in the ryokan who we barely saw. All onsens were available for use by guests. Outdoor onsen should be tried but given there are wild monkeys around its not the cleanest. After park closes at 4pm monkeys come down to the ryokan and are shooed back up at 8.30am. great photos to be had in the morning outside the park.
Rooms were big traditional Japanese rooms which were comfortable.
Food was good local food mostly vegetarian and not particularly exciting. Dinner and breakfast was included. No choice for food just what is served.

Right near the entrance to the snow monkey park for the public allows for quick and early access to the monkeys when they're the freshest. The walk up was about 30-40min and can be icy or muddy, there's a shop at the start of the trail that rents boots and sells rubber slip on crampons if you need it. Definately backpack only for this walk roller bags would not work.

This was an amazing place full of history. It felt like staying at your grandparent’s house. Amazing food- dinner and breakfast were provided. This place has been run by the same family for many generations- even before the Snow Monkey park was opened. Please support this small piece of history by staying at this humble ryokan.

A great experience staying in this warm old house in a beautiful mountain forrest. Really grounding and humbling. The dinner was lovely and the baths were great. My room was cozy too. The snow monkeys were in the outdoor hot baths everytime we checked. Loved the owner who runs it. Couldn’t be happier with the entire experience

There's something special about walking through a small town and up a mountain path to a place with a steaming hot bath and a traditional Japanese experience. It remimds me of one of those tea shops you'd pass by along a journey through the mountains. Where you can just sit and enjoy nature and relax and rejuvenate your spirit. Would go again.

It is a one-of-the-kind experience! The Ryokan is spacious, very old, it is truly authentic. The onsen are really hot and feel very nice. The owner is so welcoming, friendly, and cooks very well! It is a true and good rustic experience (there is no shower, you wash with the onsen hot water, before entering the onsen). The monkeys are almost all around, when they are here, and make the whole a memorable experience. Thank you!

Most amazing first onsen experience we could’ve asked for. The man behind the counter was super kind and understanding, making it one of the most wholesome and out of this word experiences ever.

Most memorable and once in a lifetime experience. only building right across from the Snow Monkey Park high up in the mountain. It was very convenient in the morning when I was enjoying a morning walk with the monkeys while the park wasn't even open. Especially nice to not have to pay for ticket to get into park since monkeys were roaming everywhere. I actually woke up at 0430 for sunrise thinking I can see the monkeys climbing down the mountain. I wasn't able to see them that day but still got a monkey visitor at the human onsen when I was enjoying nature and hot springs around 7 am. Being naked near a monkey you're not supposed to make eye contact was nerve wrecking but lots of laughter came out of it. The other bathes included Public hot spring bath (same gender), Public outdoor hot spring bath(same gender), Mix Outdoor Hot Spring Bath. You're naked outside and kinda in view of the Snow Monkey Park trail but I just went outside when it was dark or no one was around. Plus you can wear swimwear. The check in was 2 pm and check out was 10 am. There are no restaurants and shops except when climbing back down the mountain during the 1.5 mile hike. Overall easy hike. The Farmhouse restaurant was good before starting the hike and I tried the apple soft serve ice cream on the way up at a cafe with hammocks. The hotel is made entirely of wood and there was a massage chair that was something nice to have. No showers just a bucket and water from the onsen. Body soap was provided. I didn't mind the no shower. While making the online reservation you can add notes but they do not accept Gluten Free, VEGAN and NO FISH DASHI of meals request. I stayed at the Japanese Room without private bath. It was spacious and the windows had great views. Futons were very comfortable. There was ac and wifi. The free dinner and breakfast was delicious. Meals were on time at 6 pm and 8am. If you're not in room it will be placed on the table. All the ingredients seemed like they were from the owner's private garden. Owners are friendly and always provided a welcome smile.

The accommodations were adequate. They had a shared bathroom, indoor hot spring baths, but no showers. There were also the true reason to stay here, outdoor hot spring where you can bathe with the local Japanese macaques. The food served by the owner was excellent and some of the ingredients were even taken from his garden. The entertainment was fun. They have a full Go salon in the building where I could play. Even though I've definitely stayed in nicer places, the experience was second to none.

Stayed one night and surprised to be able to share open hot bath with the monkeys; I counted, there are at least 25 of them, from babies to large adults. If not for the heavy snow, I would have soaked longer. This is the best experience ever if one wants to get so close to the monkeys, where they're just soaking beside you. Owner is hospitable and showed us to the room of Go, where his wife used to conduct lessons, but unfortunately she can't come during our stay. Room is spacious with window view of stairs leading to monkey park opposite. Japanese dinner with home grown vegetables and western breakfast are greatly delicious. Will visit again.

Amazing experience staying here. Extremely friendly hosts, traditional building and rooms. A chance to get up close to the snow monkeys! 😍

If you want close encounters soaking with snow monkeys, this is the only place. The hotel is old and rough around its edges, but the room was spacious and clean. Toilets were shared, with no showers. Hospitality of the host was warm and welcoming. Both dinner and breakfast are a must, as there are no stores or services nearby. Meals were delicious and varied with multiple dishes.

While I did not stay at Korakuen overnight, I did utilize their outdoor bath and enjoyed lunch afterwards at the inn's restaurant. Built during the 1st year of the Meiji Era (1864), Korakuen offers you the experience to bathe in the same hot spring pool as the snow monkeys. A family of monkeys will share the bath with you, if you do not mind. Outside of the inn, you may be lucky to pose with the monkeys.

PRO TIP: Arrive well before their noon open time so that you can experience the bath privately before all the tourists arrive.

CAVEAT: There is no surrounding fence whatsoever, so other tourists can see you (from afar) while you bathe in the nude.

I visited this place today after going to the snow monkey onsen.
The location is amazing. It's 1200 yen for three hours of onsen - opens at 12. There are two sections of onsen. The first is private and enclosed. It is partitioned in two sides, one for men and the other for women.
The second section is open and right on the riverbank. This is open for both men and women. The view is amazing. Monkeys randomly walk by you, they may jump around, get into the water.
You can put on swimwear in the onsen or carry / rent a towel from the owner. The open onsen is exposed to all the tourists who walk on the trail along the hill on the opposite side, which didn't really bother me. My girlfriend was a little shy but she was wearing a towel throughout. Also this onsen seems to be tattoo friendly - I have a small tattoo on my back and it was alright.
The place also serves mushroom soba noodles. I can not recommend it enough. I wish I had known about the onsen before so I could spend a night here. The moneys are jumping around on the roof. The owner is a nice guy. The view is amazing. Do give it a try.

After going to snow monkey park we went to the onsen next door (opens at 12pm). We rented a towel and got in the water. Since it was warm out, the monkeys where no where to be found around the onsen but we still really enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend it. the guy spoke English well.

Incredible experience, bathing with snow monkeys in the original bath from the 1800s.

My friends and I went there and stayed for three days and two nights, we decided to go for the traditional futon variant style of room and took our first bath there on the mixed gender outside onsen at night after arriving and receiving our first dinner.
The hot water, the constant gushing from the nearby geysir and the rushing of the river below, forests and mountains alongside the ryokan and cold autumn air - it was wonderful and the most magical and cleansing thing I've ever experienced. Reception up there is pretty bad and WiFi is not the best but i highly recommend just turning off your mobile phone and enjoy the view, the food and the hot spring.
The Host/Owner of this place is also a pretty neat and funny guy and very caring and sociable!
It's pretty much like entering a completely different era or even world as soon as you've crossed the bridge to the ryokan and this whole place including the owner gave off a Studio Ghibli/ Spirited Away kind of vibe.

I highly recommend going and staying there for a couple of nights and taking in the magic of this place. My friends and I still talk about this wonderful place and what we experienced there and how otherworldly it still feels even though we had no snow monkeys visting us.

10/10, will visit again!

They have a very nice outside onsen, that you will share with monkeys. Very nice experience. The onsen is mixed. Bath clothes are allowed. Opening time for visitors 12 to 15 o’clock.

I visited this amazing place with my son!! It was an amazing experience! I will never forget it! We bathed with the monkeys in the onsen! The staff was so warm and welcoming!! Amazing! This was one of the most memorable adventures of my life!! We stayed in Tokyo for several days and then took the train and a bus to get there. We then walked through the forest and snow for at least an hour to get to the hotel. The food was so delicious! So many meals, so many courses what an experience!! We visited the monkey park on the property and spent our days hiking around the snowy forest observing the monkeys, taking pictures! Then we would return back to the hotel and soak in the onsen!! I had a fantastic time and if you can get there, do it. It’s well worth the trip!

Outstanding and beautiful location, snow monkeys will be hanging out inches from your window! Rooms are clean and well kept in this rambling old inn circa 1854. Hot springs onsen is amazing. Food is incredible. Family run and super friendly and kind. Cant say enough good things about this place.