Foreign visitors are dramatically increasing! Why Japanese macaques of Nagano Prefecture is popular among foreigners?

Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture where Shiga Highland and Yudanakashibu hot spring village are located is a mountainous region where Japanese macaque live. It is very cold in winter and one third of the year is covered with snow. Japanese macaques living in “Jigokudani (Hell Valley)” area of Yamanouchi Town are famous as “Monkey go into hot spring” in both domestic and oversea. Also, they are called as “Snow Monkeys”.
The photograph of Japanese macaque go into hot spring was posted on the cover of American photographic magazine in 1970 and introduced by medias of each county after Nagano Winter Olympic in 1998. Also, the photograph of “Snow Monkey” win a Grand Prix of international photo contest in 2006, and it became well known all over the world. Tourists from abroad are increasing year after year and today, this is popular sightseeing spot that half of its visitor is foreigner.

Jigokudani Monkey Park 

Jigokudani Monkey Park is being maintained so that you can observe the ecology of Japanese macaques throughout the year. Since the wild Japanese macaque often came into the open-air hot spring where humans go into, in 1964, local people made the world’s first open-air hot spring for monkey.

Japanese macaque of Jigokudani Monkey Park go into hot spring because they have to stand extreme cold in winter, so when it gets warmer, they will not actively go into hot spring. However, unlike ordinary zoo, it is appealing that you can see wild Japanese macaques closely. Japanese macaques never afraid of humans. They recognize that they won’t get harmed by tourists and tourists never feed them. So, they will not offend human unless there is much to do.

Shibuno Jigokudani Funsen (Shibuno Hell Valley Spring)

There is “Shibuno Jigokudani Funsen (Shibuno Hell Valley Spring)” which is the natural monument of Japan. The phenomenon of steam and hot water blowing up is scared as hell from ancient time. It is also the origin of the name of Jigokudani.

Access to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

From Tokyo

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Nagano Station by Hokuriku Shinkansen.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Tsuruga Station by JR Tokaido Main Line (limited express). Transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at JR Tsuruga Station and get to JR Nagano Station in 1 hour and 50 minutes. Alternatively, it takes about 50 minutes by Tokaido Shinkansen from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Nagoya Station. At JR Nagoya Station, transfer to the JR Chuo Main Line (limited express) to JR Nagano Station in about 3 hours.

At JR Nagano Station, transfer to the Nagano Dentetsu Nagano Line (limited express) and it takes about 40 minutes to Yudanaka Station. Get off at Yudanaka Station. It takes about 15 minutes from Yudanaka Eki bus stop to the Snow Monkey Park bus stop. 35 minutes walk from the Snow Monkey Park bus stop. * 15 minutes by taxi from Nagano Detetsu Yudanaka Station to Jigokudani Parking Lot. About 15 minute-walk from the Jigokudani parking lot to the Snow Monkey Park.