Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

No advance reservations exist. You simply purchase your admission ticket directly at the trail entrance window upon arrival.

Plan for two to three hours total from the bus stop. Walking the forest trail takes roughly 30 minutes each way, leaving an hour to watch the troop.

Wear waterproof hiking boots with deep tread. The packed snow turns into slick ice on slight slopes, so attaching strap-on spikes helps tremendously.

The Kyoto site is on an urban hillside where macaques are fed by staff. In contrast, this Nagano monkey park is an alpine river gorge where animals roam untamed and choose when to bathe.

Rolling suitcases are impossible on the snowy dirt path. Store your bags in the coin lockers at Nagano Station or the cafe near Kanbayashi bus stop.

Summer visits show plenty of monkey activity, but you will rarely see monkeys in hot pools when the weather is warm because they do not need thermal heat.

Never touch or feed the macaques. Keep at least three feet of distance, avoid staring directly into their eyes, and do not carry open snacks in your hands.