Observe the Snow Monkeys in Japan

Location: Japan

Recommended by Kate of Passports & Playgrounds

How do I know it’s ethical?

For a fascinating glimpse of Japan’s famous bathing macaques, you can take a day trip from Tokyo to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano. The Jigokudani Yane-koen is a facility for observation of monkeys in an environment that is kept as natural as possible.

Here, you can see wild monkeys steaming themselves in a natural hot spring (even when there’s no snow). There are no fences or cages at this natural park, and the animals come and go as they please. The facility is located on a mountain and far from towns. This park has been operational since 1964.

Description of the Experience

The must-see destination for up-close viewing of snow monkeys is only accessible by a long, scenic walk 2.5 km (approx. 1.5 miles). This is the only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs. Bathing in hot springs is one of the ways monkeys can survive the harsh winter cold.

I went with my family on New Year and it was a winter wonderland experience. The trees were covered in a fresh powder of snow and it was a sunny day for an afternoon hike. The path from the parking lot to the monkeys is unpaved due to the park’s focus on natural conservatorship and is not accessible for wheelchairs.

Caution is advised when hiking. There are stairs, slopes, and steep steps to navigate on this hike. For our family, it took us about 45 minutes to walk from the parking lot to where the monkeys were located.

For those who are traveling with infants or small children, we saw many parents struggle to get their strollers moving in the packed snow. Put little ones in a baby carrier and enjoy the nature walk to the monkeys. Some smart parents placed their children in a plastic sled and pulled the sled along the path.

Once we were at the monkey park, we were given strict rules to follow. Guests are not allowed the following:

• No pets are allowed (this also includes guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service animals). Dogs are the natural enemy of these monkeys
• Do not approach, threaten or feed the monkeys or any other animals living in the area
• No eating or drinking inside or outside the facility

• No hunting or collecting of plants, animals, or insects.

Please remember that you are here visiting the habitat of these beautiful monkeys. Have a wonderful time observing these creatures, and don’t forget to take lots of photos.

Company/ Cost: 

Admission Fees & Information for Jigokudani Yaen-Koen.

Parking information: There is a free parking lot exclusively for Jigokudani Yaen-Koen in Kambayashi Onsen.

Address: Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401

Save This Post For Later

This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.

Discover more experiences