Snow Monkey – Jigokudani Yaen Koen

Suddenly they became world famous show as “snow monkey”, who spend their days soaking in the natural hot springs, keeping warm from the harsh winter.
The reason why so popular and lovely, the Japanese macaque has a very human, naked, red face, and expressive eyes, looks really your grampa and newborn baby.

What and Where they are

Firstly the park has a lot of names, Snow Monkey park, Jigokudani, Yaen-Koen, Hell valley, etc. Official name is Jigokudani Yaen-Koen(地獄谷野猿公苑) meant to macaque park of Hell valley. The long name is hard to remember for foreigner, so we named them nickname “Snow Monkey” for tourist.  Only the name became popular, unknown this town name, Yamanouchi. Not user friendly designed, the train station name is “Yudanaka train station” (not JR), huge ski resort named “Shiga Kogen”, hot spring resort called “Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen”. Never known the name of town.

Nothing special but only here

Honestly, finding monkey is quite easy in Japan. Drive mountain or go hiking, result in a higher rate of meeting them on the road, trees, roof, orchard and your car.
Thus almost tourists in the park are foreigner, with big camera, school kids, Chinese group, day trip group from Hakuba.

Main bathing season will be late November-March, a monkey park flocks a huge number of tourists. You can guess which number is larger visitors or macaques!
However the best photogenic chance you get should be winter, and snow falling day.

Other season

Spring(April-May) could be lovely situation you can see, new baby born and begin running around. Getting forest green and warm, and noisy tourist away make them restful time.
They are bathing to get warm, not coming by too often in the summer, just pop in eating and back to the nest.
Autumn, they can get much food in the mountain and mating season. I don’t recommend to visit.

Why only the one bath

And they have been making trouble in many situation since always, are lack of popular touch of Japanese. In this town for example, they pick up fruits and damage crops, turn over foods at small store, leave some droppings on the road and historic accommodation.
To prevent such a situation, began to toss food in the park to round up monkeys away from orchard and town centre.

Wondering they trust only Jigokudani bathing without fear, though here Yamanouchi town has rich hot spring area, it means, whole Japan.
Despite of wild animal, sometimes danger, the relationship of monkey and park stuff are wonderful, they’re seemed to have loyalty what thanks to the colony, who live on his territory and demonstrate very original behavior.

Have a unique experience than you expect

I won’t hope you visit only the park, this town has more rich nature in all a year. Visit and stay the town of Yamanouchi for skiing, hiking and hot spring, and pop in Snow Monkey Park as one more special option.

The park is open daily;
April – October 8:30am to 5:00pm
November – March 9:00am – 4:00pm
Adult: 800yen / Child: 400yen

Best location stay