Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Knowledgeable Local Guide | 3 hours 15 minutes

17 Reviews | Nagano
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You can select up to 8 travelers in total.
Senior (61-70) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 4
0
Adult (20-60) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 8
2
Youth (13-19) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 4
0
Child (5-12) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 3
0
Infant (0-4) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 2
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Knowledgeable Local Guide
2 Adults x $205.18
$410.36
Approx Total
$410.36

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Bus tickets
  • Professional guide
  • Foot Spa
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Overview

Jigokudani Yaen-koen is home to hundreds of “snow monkeys”, known as such because they spend their days soaking in the mountainous hot springs. In 1970 they appeared on the cover of Life magazine in the U.S. due to this unique behaviour. Furthermore, in 1998, when the winter Olympic Games was held in Nagano, lots of athletes, media, and tourists from foreign countries visited. Monkeys don’t soak in the hot spring in the warm season because they bathe in order to prevent from the severe coldness in winter. Soaking in the hot spring is only one part of the monkeys’ life. You can also see them lazing or frolicking on the nearby mountain and forest.

Meeting points

Yudanaka Station
Hirao, Yamanochi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan

Open in Google Maps

The guide will waiting for you at the ticket gate of Yudanaka station.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Yamanouchi Information Center

    The tour starts from this station.

    10 minutes

  • Yamanouchi Information Center (Pass By)

    This tourist information center is pretty small, but interesting and has quite good information for tourists. You can take a map or brochure for free.

  • Jigokudani Funsen (Pass By)

    Jigokudani Fountain is blowing high. Jigokudani means Hell Valley in Japanese, Jigokudani Fountain is designated as a national natural monument. The hot spring that gushes from the bottom of the river is a natural fountain that can be up to 20 meters high. It’s dynamic landscape is also great!

  • Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

    Located in the Yokoyu River Valley at an altitude of 850m, the Jigokudani Yaen Koen is known as "Hell Valley" due to the steep cliffs and steam emitting from the springs. It's buried in snow for a third of the year but is a paradise for the monkeys of Nagano area as they enjoy bathing in the hot springs to warm up.

    40 minutes

  • N/A

    If you're feeling a bit peckish while waiting for the bus to Yudanaka Station, we recommend grabbing some coffee or apple pie for takeout at this café here.

    5 minutes

  • Kaede no Yu

    Known as ‘ashi-yu’ in Japanese, the foot spa can be used free of charge and offers simple relaxation when awaiting your train. Simply take your shoes and socks off, roll-up your pants and rest your feet in the thermal water. After a day of exploring the monkey park, it’s amazing how much this simple action refreshes your body and reinvigorates you for the journey ahead.

    15 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Please join us wearing shoes that are easy to walk in and do not bring heavy baggage because you will walk the mountain paths
  • A maximum of 8 people per booking
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants

Free Cancellation

June 19100% refund
June 20No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.8

17 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    15
  • 4 stars
    1
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    1
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 15 reviews with 5 stars

Fabulous Experience

Published on Apr, 2025

Our Viator Tour Guide Hori was excellent. He was thoroughly knowledgeable about the Fabulous Snow Monkeys, professional and so interesting to talk with. He even found us the 3 day old new baby with its mother. Our experience with the snow monkeys was once in a lifetime and it was magic watching them interact, bathe in the pool, play, cuddle, vie for food, etc. This is an experience no one should miss if they have the chance.

Great experience.

Published on Apr, 2025

Such a great experience. Our guide had a wealth of experience and knowledge, happy to share and answer any questions. Ever thought it rained there was no pressure to hurry. It was a little late in the season but still good to see the monkeys.

Snow monkeys with a knowledgeable local guide.

Published on Mar, 2025

Our wonderful guide Hori met us on the train from Nagano to Yudanaka, having provided clear instructions the day prior. Excellent advice on footwear and clothing was sent by Hori prior to the excursion and was spot on, meaning we had a very comfortable day even with the cool temperature and light snow. The visit to see the snow monkeys was greatly enhanced by Hori's knowledge of the history and geography of the area and lives of the monkeys. Hori is professional and friendly and we had a fantastic time. The monkeys are amazing to watch and come very close to you. It is such a treat to see free and wild monkeys so well treated and able to come and go as they allow visitors to observe their lives. Thank you Hori, we highly recommend this trip as well as the one to Obuse if you have time for both.

Fantastic tour

Published on Feb, 2025

What an amazing experience, our guide Teddy was so friendly, contacted us in the morning and helped us with our travel arrangements to the meeting place, he also spoke perfect English, along the track to the monkeys Teddy gave us lots of interesting facts about the monkeys and the area and then we met the monkeys, the most fantastic sight, worth every penny!

Snow monkeys in a natural hot bath

Published on Jan, 2025

Teddy was a brilliant guide, and the monkeys are such a great sight. The walk was easy but beautiful. The snacks on the way up are delicious; it was snowing when we visited and a hot tea and roast sweet potato were welcome!

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