Have you ever heard of the Japanese macaque? These monkeys native to Japan often appear in traditional Japanese tales. Other than the human, they are said to be the farthest north living primates. They are world-renowned as the Snow Monkey as well.
Today we’ll be introducing Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture where visitors can observe the Japanese macaque up close all year long.
The park is especially fun in the winter, when you can see the monkeys bathing in onsen hot springs. It’s a very popular spot attracting tourists from all over the globe. In this article, we share how to enjoy the home of the Snow Monkeys, Jikokudani Monkey Park, to the fullest.
Jigokudani Monkey Park is located in Yamanouchi, a town in the northeastern region of Nagano. The area is known for its natural surroundings, onsen, and its various winter sports attractions.
Visitors to the park can see Japanese macaque in their natural environment without any bars in between, allowing them to learn what kind of animal the Japanese macaque is throughout the year. It’s said that such facilities are rare worldwide.
In general, monkeys around the globe don’t like to get wet, but as the macaque of Jigokudani inhabits an area of heavy snowfall, it’s said that they learned to bathe in the hot springs to keep warm. Their adorable behavior caught peoples’ attention and soon came to be known around the world.
Not all of the monkeys bathe in the water. Regardless of their power structure and relations, there are families who bathe and families that don’t. Only the ones who have been used to bathing since they were young grow up to continue the habit.
The park rules for visitors:
．Dont show or give food to the monkeys
．Dont touch the monkeys (even if they are close to you) – if they are that close carefully step away from them
．Dont stare into the monkey’s eyes – that indicates hostility
．No dogs, cats or other animals are allowed in the park
．Photos (including flash photography) and videos are allowed but do not place your equipment (or yourself) too close to the monkeys
．Dont use selfie sticks
For travelers who would like to visit this place, please check more information on Jigokudani monkey park facebook page, staffs update the news every day.
Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Official website and Facebook page
Opening hour:
Summer season(generally between April – October):8:30~17:00
Winter season(generally between November – March):9:00~16:00
Admission Fee (consumption tax included): Adult:800 yen, Child: 400 yen
Triplisher.com Recommend Course
・【Tokyo Tour Bus】With delightful lunch in rich content! Let’s go and meet the Snow Monkey!
Article: Matcha
Photo: Snow monkey resort, Jigokudani Yaen-Koen facebook page, Matcha