One Day Trip To The Snow Monkey Park From Tokyo | Guidable - Your Guide to Life in Japan

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One Day Trip To The Snow Monkey Park From Tokyo

By Emma Saragai Feb 12, 2026

If you’ve ever watched any nature documentaries or perhaps are just a fan of monkeys, you’ve probably come across those of the Snow Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑 jigokudani yaen koen).  

These famous monkeys (Japanese Macaques) spend the warmer months frolicking around in the mountains, enjoying the wide variety of plants that grow throughout the valley and the colder winter months relaxing in and around the hot springs.

A History of the Park

Jigokudani (地獄谷), which translates to ‘Hell Valley’ in English, was named for its steep inclines and hot water fountains (in Japan, the name ‘Jigokudani’ usually refers to places

with frequent volcanic activity).

And whilst it’s now known for its bathing snow monkeys, they weren’t officially known to enter the onsen until 1964! 

In 1970, the park made the cover of LIFE magazine, and since then, it has attracted tourists from all over the globe who come to see the monkeys bathe.

What’s more, according to Jigokudani Monkey Park’s official website, this is the only place in the world where monkeys spend time in hot springs!

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Getting to the Snow Monkey Park

Tokyo to Nagano

There are several ways to get to Nagano from Tokyo. The most obvious is probably via the Shinkansen.

However, you can also get there by express bus or car. 

(I don’t recommend travelling to Nagano by car during the winter unless you have proper snow tyres and training, as the roads can become very dangerous).

For those like me who are always looking for a convenient way to get there without spending an arm and a leg on a bullet train, I recommend taking the night bus (夜行バス yakou basu).
The main reason is that it’s much cheaper than both the daytime highway and the Shinkansen, and it lets you sleep on the way there!

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There are many options for getting the night bus. However, I took the Willer Express bus from the Shinjuku Bus Terminal to Nagano. The whole journey took just over five hours, including two service area breaks where we could get off, use the bathroom and stretch our legs.
Although we left at 12:30 am, we arrived at 05:45 am, which meant we had a lot of time to kill before we could head to the park. Luckily, Japan has excellent options for cheap overnight stays (here are some ideas for spending the night out).
For our peace of mind, measures were in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as mandatory mask-wearing and partitions between chairs.
However, the partitions made the window seats feel smaller than they actually were, so I don’t recommend booking one if you’re not a fan of small spaces!

Nagano Station to Kanyabashi Bus Stop

Once you have arrived at Nagano station, you’re already over halfway there! 

From here, there are two main options for reaching the park: the first by train and the second by express bus.

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Getting the train involves taking the Nagano Dentetsu train from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station before changing to a local bus or taxi, where you will need to get off at the Kanyabashi Onsen stop or the Snow Monkey Park bus stop. Either way, you will need to walk for around 40 minutes to reach Jigokudani Monkey Park.

The good thing about getting the train is that you have more flexibility in coming and going, as local trains and buses are more frequent than express buses. It’s also a great chance to explore Shibu Onsen town, which is full of local onsen and traditional Japanese buildings; it’s the perfect place to relax in a hot bath away from the cold or even as the backdrop for some photos!

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The express bus is the better option for those who don’t want to change multiple times. If you go via express bus, all you need to do is take the bus from the East Exit of Nagano station (pay at the bus stop). It takes you directly to the Kanyabashi bus stop, and from there you will need to walk for 40 minutes to the park.

(We decided to get the express bus on the way to the park and the train on the way back, which meant no fuss on the way there and a chance to explore Shibu Onsen town on the way back!)

If you are in Nagano for more than a day, I recommend getting the Nagano 2-Day Pass for 3,500 yen, which includes unlimited use of the Nagaden bus, train, and express bus between Nagano Station and the Snow Monkey Park, as well as entry to the park itself.

However, the pass can only be bought and used during a few specific months of the year, so make sure to check in advance!

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Kanyabashi Bus Stop to The Snow Monkey Park

Once you have reached the bus stop, it’s a 40-minute walk to the park. The first 10 minutes include walking to the entrance from the bus stop, where there is a small gift shop and a place to rent snow boots, coats, and gloves, amongst other things, so if you’ve forgotten something, don’t worry!

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After the entrance point, it’s a 25-20 minute walk through a snow-covered forest. Try not to slip!

When you’ve made it to the park, you will need to buy a ticket before entering, which costs around 800 yen for an adult ticket. Lucky for us, there is no limit on how long you can stay!
Wander and enjoy the unique sight of these Japanese macaques soaking in an outdoor onsen or playing in the snow, but make sure not to use flash when taking photos, not to get too close, not to feed the monkeys, or to make extended eye contact with them!

Although bathing with the monkeys at the park isn’t allowed, you might be able to try your luck at Korakukan Onsen (the place where the monkeys first began bathing in the hot springs), where the snow monkeys may join you in the open-air onsen. However, this may not be the most hygienic experience!

Back at the park, if you’re lucky, you may be able to catch sight of more than just the monkeys playing around the park. During our time there, we were lucky enough to spot a deer on the other side of the river that runs through the valley, so make sure to keep an eye out!

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Once you’ve felt the cold weather catch up to you, you can head inside to the small gift shop to warm up and get a small souvenir to remind you of your time at the park, or you can go back to the bus stop and try exploring Nagano! There are so many things to do in the city, like visiting the Zenkoji temple, that you’ll be wishing you had more time to explore!

Make the Most Out of the Snow and Visit the Snow Monkey Park

Whilst the Snow Monkey Park is a beautiful place to visit year-round, there is something special about being able to watch the monkeys play around covered in snow whilst relaxing in an onsen!

However, even if you aren’t able to make it during the winter, it should still be on your list of places to visit in Japan, as you can still catch some amazing sights like the newborn monkeys in the spring or the beautiful foliage in the autumn!

So, how about a trip to Jigokudani Monkey Park this winter?

For More Related Articles:

Six Scenic Places to Enjoy Snow in Japan

 

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