One of the most memorable experiences in Japan, a visit to Jigokudani Monkey Park to see the Nagano snow monkeys in a hot spring in the winter months is an absolute must-do.
Witnessing the beautiful Nagano snow monkeys up close, bathing in a hot steaming onsen surrounded by snow covered mountains is simply (monkey) magic!
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We’ve visited the hot spring Snow Monkeys in Nagano’s Jigokudani Monkey Park a couple of times during the winter months.
To ensure it doesn’t become a ‘monkey puzzle’, here is our guide on visiting Nagano’s Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, what to expect, with updated prices for 2026, and whether buying a snow monkey pass is still worth it.
This article was originally published in September 2023.
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How to see the hot spring snow monkeys in Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano
From Tokyo
If you have a JR pass and you are passing through Nagano from Tokyo, it is entirely possible to jump off in Nagano for the day and visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (but you would have to depart Tokyo very early given the park’s opening times).
The shinkansen bullet train journey to Nagano from Tokyo takes 80 minutes one way.
If you are jumping off at Nagano with backpacks and luggage, you can store your belongings in the Nagano JR station lockers. Lockers come in all sizes with higher fees for the larger ones – you can easily fit a large suitcase in the largest lockers at Nagano station.
For our first visit to see the Japanese Snow Monkeys, we used the shinkansen train to go from Takayama to Tokyo via Nagano for a trip to see the snow monkeys all in one day.
With JR train pass prices increasing quite steeply recently, it is important to use your shinkansen train tickets and time wisely.
Find out more about the JR train passes here >
Note – the JR pass does not include the local train that goes near Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Alternatively you can book a group tour that picks you up in Tokyo and takes you to Jigokudani Monkey Park by bus – check out the tour on Viator or this one on Klook.
Note it is a long travel time but we think it is worth it for a memorable experience, especially if you only have limited time in Japan.
From Nagano
For our most recent visit to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, we based ourselves in Nagano for several days.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is approximately 37km from Nagano train station and around one hour away by car (although this can take longer in the snowy winter months).
It is easy to get to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Nagano JR train station by using public transport or by using the Nagaden Express Bus.
If you are staying in the ski resort areas of Iiyama or Nozawa, you can book this tour to visit the Snow Monkey Park >
You might like – Things to do in Nagano City >
Nagano Accommodation and Hotels
As the snow monkeys are in a wooded forest protected park on a large hill, there are no hotels directly within the park.
However, there is accommodation in the town of Yamanouchi within a 1 to 2 km distance of the Jigokudani Monkey Park including:
Senjukaku
(1.8km from Jigokudani Monkey Park)
Live like the snow monkeys and enjoy open-air hot spring baths (without the spectators!), a heated indoor pool plus tranquil Japanese gardens. Senjukaku offers traditional Japanese-style accommodation with mountain view – only a 15 minute drive from the snow monkey park.
Check rates and availability on booking.com, expedia.com and agoda.com (use the agoda discount code TAIWANDERERS).
Sakaeya
(2.9km from Jigokudani Monkey Park)
The highest rated accommodation near Jigokudani Monkey Park, Sakaeya has traditional Japanese style lodgings with historic charm in the heart of the Shibu hot spring area. Every room has tatami (woven-straw) floors and futon bedding.
Check rates and availability on booking.com, expedia.com and agoda.com (use the agoda discount code TAIWANDERERS).
Alternatively, stay in Nagano city like we did and get the Snow Monkey Express bus to Jigokudani Monkey Park. Recommended hotels and accommodation in Nagano include:
Chisun Grand Nagano
We stayed at the Chisun Grand Nagano during our five night stay in Nagano as it was a short walk to the train station with affordable rooms. The hotel also has large room sizes (for Japan) – our room had views of the mountains, plus there are free amenities in the lobby.
Check rates and availability on booking.com, expedia.com and agoda.com
Compass Nagano
An 800 metre walk to Nagano JR station, all apartments at Compass have a kitchen and dining area plus some have patios. Great for self catering.
Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Nagano-Zenkojiguchi
Modern hotel just 2 minutes walk from Nagano Station. The rooms offer great views of the local area plus the restaurant serves up a warm buffet breakfast. The highest rated 3* accommodation in Nagano on booking.com.
Check rates and availability on booking.com, expedia.com and agoda.com
Check out the 10 best hotels near Jigokudani Monkey Park in Yamanouchi via Booking.com >
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Buying tickets for Jigokudani Monkey Park
Due to the increased popularity of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and recent extreme overcrowding, an official online ticketing and reservation system has been in place since August 2026.
- The daily visitor limit is now strictly capped at 2,000 visitors per day for the upcoming winter season. The park has been seeing as many as 4,000 people a day before the introduction of this limit.
- You must book date-specific tickets. You can purchase them online up to three months in advance.
- Visitors arriving without an online ticket will likely face a long waiting time, or possibly might be denied entry entirely during peak busy periods.
- Prices are 800 Yen for adults and 400 Yen for children (ages 6–17).
You can check availability and book directly on the official Jigokudani Yaen-Koen website >
The website also has a winter congestion calendar, showing you the dates where they expect to have the busiest days (mostly weekends, public holidays and the New Year period).
How to get to Jigokudani Monkey Park from Nagano Station
There are two different ways to get to Jigokudani Monkey Park from Nagano Station:
- Nagaden Express Bus + 25 minutes walk
- Train + local bus + 25 minutes walk
Graphic below shows the different ways to get to the snow monkey park.
Nagaden Express Bus
Take the Nagaden Express Bus to Kanbayashi Onsen from bus stop 23 on the east side of Nagano station (journey is 40 minutes).
Once the bus arrives at Kanbayashi Onsen, you will then need to walk for 25 minutes to the park entrance.
The cost is 3,000 Yen one-way for adults and 1,500 Yen one-way for children. You can buy tickets on the bus (when exiting) and you can pay by both cash or card (please note weekends and public holidays are cashless and you if you need to pay by cash you must buy a paper ticket at the “Aruyo” ticket office).
Also please note that the bus is a non-reserved and a first-come, first-served service, and can fill up fast during peak season, so arrive early to ensure you can board.
Snow Monkey Pass Express Bus spring, summer and autumn timetable 2026
Spring, summer and autumn timetable valid from 7 April 2026 to 4 December 2026
Nagano station > Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park)
| Nagano Station | Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park) |
| 08.30 | 09.20 |
| 09.00 | 09.50 |
| 10.40 | 11.30 |
| 11.30 | 132.20 |
| 13:05* | 13:55* |
| 13:15 | 14:05 |
| 15:10 | 16:00 |
Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park) > Nagano station
| Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park) | Nagano Station |
| 10.00 | 10.55 |
| 10.46 | 11:46 |
| 13:30 | 14:25 |
| 15:20 | 16:20 |
| 16:30 | 17:25 |
| 17:16* | 18:16* |
| 18:10 | 19:10 |
* Saturday only
Snow Monkey Pass Express Bus winter timetable
This is an old timetable – the winter 20206/2027 is still TBC
Nagano station > Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park)
| Nagano Station | Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park) |
| 08.15* | 09.00* |
| 08.50 | 09.35 |
| 10.10 | 10.55 |
| 10.20 | 11.07 |
| 11.15 | 12.02 |
| 12.15 | 13.00 |
| 12.20 | 13.07 |
| 13.10 | 14.30 |
| 14.30 | 15.17 |
| 15.20 | 16.05 |
| 17.25 | 18.12 |
* Saturday only
Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park) > Nagano station
This is an old timetable – the winter 20206/2027 is still TBC
| Kanbayashi Onsen (for Snow Monkey Park) | Nagano Station |
| 08.50 | 09.45 |
| 10.55 | 11.50 |
| 11.15 | 12.10 |
| 12.45 | 13.40 |
| 14.00 | 14.55 |
| 14.25 | 15.20 |
| 15.50 | 16.45 |
| 16.40 | 17.35 |
| 17.05 | 18.00 |
| 18.25 | 19.20 |
Train and local bus
Alternatively you can take the Nagano Dentetsu line AKA Snow Monkey train to Yudanaka station (45 minute journey – non-reserved seats), then transfer to local bus (10 minutes) to Kanbayashi Onsen.
You will then need to walk for 25 minutes to the park entrance.
The train costs 1,190 Yen or 1,290 Yen one-way, depending on whether you take a local or an express train (we recommend you take the direct express train).
The bus costs 310 Yen to 390 Yen one-way for adults, depending on the specific line.
Are Snow Monkey Passes worth it for Jigokudani Monkey Park?
Using a Snow Monkey Pass used to be the most popular and cheapest way to visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, but recent price increases means there is no savings.
A direct round-trip from Nagano Station and buying individual tickets costs pretty much the same as the bundle passes.
Because of the recent introduction of a 2,000 daily visitor limit, using the snow monkey pass is no longer as simple as buying it at the station on the day of your visit. The sale of these passes align with the park’s real-time daily capacity.
The best way to buy a snow monkey pass is online in advance and not on the day of travel. However only the Standard 1-Day Pass is available to book online and not the Express Bus 1-Day Pass.
We think that the express bus is the best way to get to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Nagano station. For that reason alone we personally recommend not using a snow monkey pass and to book your individual tickets online far in advance, and paying for your chosen transport option on the day (we recommend the express bus for ease).
However if you still want to buy, we will now cover the two different snow monkey pass versions:
| Pass Type | What it Covers | Cost (Adult) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 1-Day Pass | Unlimited 1-day travel on the Nagano Dentetsu Line train + local buses (via Yudanaka) + park entry admission. | 5,100 Yen |
| Express Bus 1-Day Pass | Round-trip express bus directly from Nagano Station East Exit to the park + park entry admission. | 6,800 Yen |
There used to be a 2 day pass but that has now sadly been discontinued.
Please note that the Snow Monkey Pass is unavailable to purchase in October and November.
Each pass has a different set of instructions for buying:
Buying a Standard 1-Day Pass
You can purchase the Standard 1-Day Pass snow monkey pass from Nagano station, but you are now encouraged to buy them online in advance from this website (only the Standard 1-Day Pass can be purchased online NOT the Express Bus 1-Day Pass).
Once you have purchased the Standard 1 day Pass online you will then need to redeem your voucher at the Nagano Dentetsu office inside Nagano Station on the specific date selected on your voucher. You will need to show ID such as a driver’s license or passport. I haven’t been able to find out any information online about how to secure specific timeslots.
If you decide to not buy a Snow Monkey Pass online, you can still buy them in-person from Nagano Station (plus Gondo, Suzaka and Obuse stations).
At Nagano Station you need to exit the station on the west side, turn right and head down the escalators to the Nagano Dentetsu Line station.
Turn left after going down the escalator and you’ll see a manned booth to the right where you can purchase the Snow Monkey Pass from.
Note that the Snow Monkey Pass must be paid for in cash. We learned this to our error so had to run to a nearby 7-Eleven store to withdraw some cash and then run back to buy our tickets.
Buying an Express Bus 1-Day Pass
You can only purchase the Express Bus 1-Day Pass snow monkey pass from Nagano station and not online. You can buy them at “Aruyo” Nagaden Bus Ticket Center on the 1st floor of the Nagano Station East Exit.
Note that the Snow Monkey Pass must be paid for in cash.
Try this – Nagano Private Two Day Tour or Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano
Walking up to Jigokudani Monkey Park
Once you get off the Snow Monkey bus, you need to walk for a further 25 minutes uphill before you reach the monkeys.
The path can be quite muddy and sludgy in winter months so wear boots or sensible shoes – best not to attempt in flip flops / sandals when snowing!
To reach the Snow Monkey Park, follow the slight uphill trail path through the cedar forest.
There are also a couple of small shops and cafes along the way BUT do not buy and take food into the Snow Monkey Park as it attracts the monkeys – best to get food on the way back down.
Monkeys are also apparently drawn to the sound of rustling wrappers so just take bottled drinks.
The walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park is beautiful in parks past babbling brooks and verdant forests.
You may also catch a glimpse of some playful monkeys on the bridges or playing in the steaming streams before reaching the main park. They are very relaxed in front of humans and will casually run around your feet.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park History
The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park has been around for almost 60 years (it opened in 1964). Jigokudani in Japanese means ‘Hell Valley’ and it was given this name due to all the steep sides and steaming thermal pools.
Conditions can be quite extreme at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in the winter months – the altitude is 850 meters meaning high snowfall and extremely cold temperatures.
The snow monkeys were drawn to the hot temperatures of the thermal springs and over the decades, it has become a major tourist attraction (plus it has helped with scientific research in terms of observing the monkeys).
Meeting the Monkeys at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Once through the entrance gate, you are free to wander around Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and get up (relatively close) to the monkeys.
The snow monkeys generally live in the mountains and forests surrounding the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park but are drawn to the onsen style hot spring by the promise of food.
It is a truly magical experience to see the snow monkeys playing or bathing especially if you are visiting during the winter months when there is snow all around.
The snow monkeys (Japanese macaques) are wild animals and there are no fences as such.
Monkeying about in the hot spring onsen
The best place to see the snow monkeys up close is when they bathe in the hot spring onsen – this is also a popular spot for the monkeys to preen / clean each other (the younger monkeys preen the older monkeys a lot)!
One of the best times to visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is during feeding time (no set times). Park staff will start to lay out food around the hot pool and the snow monkeys will scamper down.
The snow monkeys (Japanese macaques) are wild animals and there are no fences as such – note that parents can be very protective of their babies so do not get close or approach baby monkeys. They also become fearful when they cannot see their parents.
Note a lot of the tourist information and tour pictures you’ll see for Snow Monkey Park show people leaning over the monkey pond are quite old.
There is now a cordon in place to ensure there is thankfully (for the monkeys) a little space between the public and the hot spring bathing monkeys.
Before you exit the park, you can find toilets, a small gift shop and a couple of water dispensers.
Our final thoughts
We can honestly say despite all the tourist masses (which includes us!), visiting Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park has to be one of our top 10 Japan experiences and is up there with visiting Japan in cherry blossom season.
We’ve been to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in winter on a couple of occasions now (in 2018 and 2023) and would happily return again next time we are in Nagano.
It may be a slight tourist trap but it is delightful to see monkeys frolic and play around in hot springs in such an incredible hillside setting.
Snow Monkey Nagano Tours and Jigokudani Park Snow Monkey Tours
There are several tours and trips you can book before visiting Nagano or arriving in Japan to guarantee you’ll get tickets to Jigokudani Park Snow Monkey Park.
These Nagano snow monkey tours include:
- 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour (includes sake tasting and lunch) >
- Full-Day Private Nagano Tour: Zenkoji Temple, Obuse, Jigokudani Monkey Park >
- 2-Day Snow Monkey Tour: Nagano to Takayama via Matsumoto >
When can you see the Nagano snow monkeys?
You can see the Japanese snow monkeys all year round (although the Jigokudani Park may be closed on certain public holidays or when the weather conditions are poor).
Generally, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is open 7 days a week.
What are the opening times of the Snow Monkey Jigokudani Park in Nagano?
During the winter season which runs from November to March when there is generally snow on the ground, the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano is open from around 9am until about 4pm.
During the summer season at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano (which runs from April to October), it is open from around 8.30am until about 5pm.
There is normally no snow in the snow monkey park in the ‘summer’ season.
How much time should I allow to visit the Snow Monkey Park?
We’d recommend you allow yourself around 5-6 hours for the entire experience.
This includes the return bus journey to the park from Nagano Station, the round trip hike up and down the hill from the bus stop, and time spent with the Nagano snow monkeys.
Can you swim with the hot spring Nagano monkeys*?
No, you cannot swim with the monkeys nor touch them. The Nagano snow monkey pool at Jigokudani Park is built and heated especially for the monkeys although there are viewing decks to see them up-close.
*Can you believe people really ask this? Jeez!
How much does it cost to see the Nagano / Jigokudani Snow Monkeys?
As of 2026, the cost / price of admission to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is 800 Yen per adult (around £3.70 / $5 USD / 4.30 Euros). The cost of entry for children to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is 400 Yen.
Watch our Instagram video
This was filmed using an iPhone 14 Pro
Can you touch the snow monkeys in Nagano at Jigokudani Park?
No, absolutely not. The Nagano Snow Monkeys / macaques are wild animals and out of respect for the monkeys and their families, you must not touch them, surround them or feed them.
Make sure you read the Jigokudani Park rules before entering the park on your visit.
Do you need a long lens camera / zoom lens to get good snow monkey photos?
A zoom lens picture will get clearer pictures of the monkeys (especially when they are scampering down the mountain) but you should still get very good shots with a standard phone camera.
To be honest, as you can get quite close at the hot pools, some of our best Nagano snow monkey pictures were achieved with our phone cameras.
When is there snow at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park?
The best time to see the snow monkeys in Nagano is between December and March as this is generally when there will be snow on the ground – generally, there is snow here for around one third of the year.
For the best chance of seeing the Nagano snow monkeys in the actual snow, try to time your visit between December and January (also a great time to ski in Nagano).
Can I see the snow monkeys without paying?
Nothing can compare to seeing the Japanese snow monkeys up close and in the wild in Nagano but if you want a taster of what to expect or see the snow monkeys for free, you can watch the free snow monkey live stream here >
Can you visit the Snow Monkeys in Nagano from Tokyo?
Yes, Nagano is less than two hours away from Tokyo by Bullet Train.
There are sometimes tours that allow you to visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano in one day.
The round trip from Tokyo to Nagano Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park would take up most of the day – but if you are short on time, a Snow Monkey Nagano tour from Tokyo is well worth it.
Nagano Snow Monkey day tour from Tokyo >
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