Winter (Dec-Feb) at the Jigokudani Monkey Park
Nagano’s reputation as one of Japan’s premier winter destinations is well-established. Host of the 1998 Winter Olympics and home to around eighty ski resorts, winter sees an influx of visitors from around the world. Draw to Nagano by its dramatic mountains, huge snowfall, hot springs and friendly atmosphere, there are lots of reasons to travel here in winter. On this page you will find the following information:
— Snow Monkey Park Operating Hours in Winter
— December in the Snow Monkey Park
— January in the Snow Monkey Park
— February in the Snow Monkey Park
— Winter Tours at the Monkey Park and More!
— 25 Things to Do Around the Park & Where to Stay
Hugely popular in winter, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is one of Nagano’s top attractions and one that can be easily combined with other great activities and destinations. Nagano boasts a huge number of ski resorts and hot spring towns making it Japan’s premier winter destination. We hope you choose to join us here in Nagano this winter!
For information regarding opening times, entry tickets and access please refer to our ‘Snow Monkey Park Information’ page, while our ‘The Snow Monkey FAQs’ page answers the most common questions when planning a visit. For a glimpse of what to expect in winter, keep reading below for information and pictures from each month of the season!
SNOW MONKEY PARK OPERATING HOURS IN WINTER
The Jigokudani Monkey Park operating hours are not the same year round, so it is very important to make sure that you double check the hours before visiting. The operations are split into two main periods, the green season of April – October, and the winter season of November – March. The green season operations are 08:30 – 17:00, while the winter season is 09:00 – 16:00. Thus, visitors in the winter months will need to abide by the winter season rules and will have to leave one hour earlier than green season guests. Please note that the park hours are subject to change on any given due to extreme inclement weather or other events which interfere with park operation.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN WINTER
December to March is the most popular time of year for visitors. Cold temperatures and heavy snow encourage the monkeys to spend a lot of time in the onsen or otherwise huddle together to stay more. The monkeys behaviour is winter is very reliable. Expect them to be in the park by opening at 9AM. They should remain in the park all day however it is always worth noting that they are wild animals, therefore their behaviour cannot be guaranteed. Days of heavy snowfall can affect when they come and go from the park.
The weather will be cold and the park and trail will be affected by snow and ice. Warm clothing and appropriate footwear are essential. It is always worth be prepared for the walk to the park in winter, and for that purpose rental boots and winter clothing are available at the Snow Monkey Resorts Gift & Info Shop.
Located just down the hill from the trail entrance, Enza Cafe is open everyday and serves a delicious and warming menu of both Japanese and Western favourites – the perfect stop before or after the walk to the monkeys to enjoy a sit-down meal, drink or takeaway snack.
Operating by reservation and located only a little further down the trail (near the Nagaden Express Bus Stop), Hotarutei is another recommended lunch option nearby the monkey park and offers classy Japanese Cuisine in a 170 year old, carefully renovated farmhouse.
From early-December onward, visitors can expect the first snow in the park with temperatures falling rapidly – expect a temperature of between 0°C to 10°C during the day – before late-December sees winter take hold with a likely daytime temperature of only 0°C or below. In January and February the temperature can get as low as -10°C to -15°C. For information regarding other seasons in the monkey park, please refer our ‘Snow Monkey Park Throughout the Year’ page.
DECEMBER IN THE SNOW MONKEY PARK
December is the first real month of winter, and will bring the first heavy snowfalls of the season to the monkey park. The monkeys, having finished their winter preparations, are ready to hunker down and wait out the spring thaw in their hot spring. Although they will still try to eat whatever they can, food is scarce and they rely on the body fat they built up in autumn to keep them going.
Expect temperatures between 5-10 degrees at the high for the month, with the latter half dropping even lower on occasion. An occasional warm spell may push the temperature above 10 degrees for a short time, but the nighttime lows will always be in the negatives, on average at least -5 if not lower. A thick jacket, warm/waterproof shoes, and crampons will be your friend in this season. Please remember that at the park you will mostly be standing and looking at the monkeys – thus, you will become chilled faster than you may imagine compared to when you are walking around.
The monkeys will be busy huddling together when not in the bath, making for an adorable site, especially when a few youngsters start a group hug to warm each other up. Adult monkeys can be seen cuddling up as well, although perhaps not as frequently, and the larger and older males the least of all. A monkey has to stay tough, even in the cold.
JANUARY IN THE SNOW MONKEY PARK
From January there is no doubt that winter is at its strongest, with deep snow blanketing the park and the trails being covered in thick layers of ice. This is the busiest time at the park, and also the time that most lives up to the famous images of the monkeys that are popular in the news. Snow is frequent, and the monkeys will be in the bath almost everyday without fail.
Expect highs of 5 degrees or less, with many days staying below zero morning to night. The nighttime lows can fall to as little as -15 degrees, making for a truly chilly environment and keeping the park frozen. The experience will be especially magical right after a big snow with fluffy Japanese powder snow covering the landscape and blowing around with gusts of wind. Please prepare for very cold conditions, with gloves, hats, and ear protection highly recommended.
Pictured above is the state the trail will be in; blanketed in snow and ice it can be difficult to walk on and is why we recommend crampons for your shoes, which are sold at the Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop. Often the ice will be several centimeters thick with further snow on top of it. We expect that it will take most people around 45 minutes one way to reach the park along the trail, so make sure to plan accordingly.
You really will be able to get very close to the monkeys, so close you can see their breath turning white in the cold air! Amazingly, at night the monkeys leave the hot springs to go sleep in the trees. Even in the cold of a winter night, with soaking wet fur, they are able to survive, proving just how effective their cold resistance is. Remember, the monkeys do not need the hot spring to survive – they only go in because they like it. Other monkeys throughout Japan without the same privilege are forced to spend their winters with no hot spring, at least until they finally catch on to what the trailblazing primates at the monkey park are doing to stay warm.
FEBRUARY IN THE MONKEY PARK
Although the last month of winter, the snow and cold in February show no signs of stopping. As mentioned in the above January section, the trail will be icy and frozen, and the park blanketed in thick snow. In fact February is generally snowier than January and remains one of the most popular months to visit the park.
Expect temperatures largely the same as in January, with highs between 0 and 5 and lows between -5 and -15. Wearing a good waterproof hooded jacket or bringing an umbrella to keep snow off of your head is a good idea to make sure that you don’t end up too cold and are able to enjoy your trip.
The monkeys will be by this point used to the cold and probably anticipating the return of spring, but they will still have a while to wait. As February turns into March, the weather may get slightly warmer but the snows will continue until April, finally completing the long winter at the monkey park. Please do remember that the monkeys will be at the park year round, and even if you cannot make it in February it is still worth a trip in other seasons.
WINTER TOURS AT THE MONKEY PARK AND MORE!
Host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games and home to around eighty ski resorts, Nagano’s winter credentials speak for itself. Winter is all about enjoying some of Asia’s deepest powder, best skiing and snowboarding, and all manner of fun in the snow. Here’s some of the best things on offer:
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:35 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
As Nagano’s No.1 rated tour and charter operator, we are happy to provide a variety of tours each winter combining a visit to the monkeys with the regions most unique attractions – starting with our always popular “1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple and Sake” Tour. In winter, we offer a free shuttle service to and from Hakuba allowing guests to join our most popular tour, with the option off pick-up in Nagano and drop-off in Hakuba (or the reverse order) including luggage transport.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun In Shiga Kogen | |
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| Period | December to March |
| Time | 08:45 – 17:30/18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Snow Monkey Park Area |
| Adult Rate | ¥21,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,300 |
Our “1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen” Tour operates from December until March and combine morning snow fun activities in Shiga Kogen with lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading into the monkey park. This is one of our most popular tours of the year, suitable for both children and adults.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Zenkoji Tomyo Lantern Festival | |
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| Period | February |
| Time | 10:45/12:15 – 19:50/21:00 |
| Meeting Place | Hakuba Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,300 |
In the first week of February, the Nagano Tomyo Festival runs for one week and brings the city’s most important cultural site, Zenko-ji Temple, into vivid light. First held in 2004 in commemoration of the 1998 Winter Olympics, the festival has quickly become a popular event on the city’s calendar. The festival consists of a week of nightly events, with the nighttime lighting of the temple an act of ‘tomyo’ or offering light to the Buddha and paper lanterns lining Nakamise Street. We provide tours combining a visit to the monkeys with all three festivals.
2 Day Tour
| 2-Day Snow Monkeys & Nagano Cultural Tour inc. Luxury Villa Stay | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | (Day 1) 09:35 – 16:30 (Day 2) ~11:00 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥95,000 |
If you want to stay overnight and enjoy an onsen just like the monkeys, this tour with a luxury villa stay included is the best way to do so. After visiting the monkeys, your guide will escort you to Hotarutei Villas, located within walking distance, and say their goodbyes for the night. You will be treated to a delicious Japanese dinner, and more importantly have access to the private onsen bath found in each villa. With two bedrooms each, these villas are also perfect for group or family vacations and allow everybody to relax in their own space.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Experience Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:15 – 18:15 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Matsumoto Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥23,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,900 |
If you have already seen the monkeys and are looking to experience traditional Japanese culture in Nagano, a trip to Matsumoto Castle and the post town of Narai-juku are a great way to do so. With some of Japan’s best preserved buildings on display, you will be amazed by the beauty and architectural prowess these national treasures possess. In winter, the snow and icicles on the rooflines will add to the scenery and make you feel like you are in a winter wonderland – just remember to bundle up!
We also offer charters to the Monkey Park (and other destinations around Central Japan) for travelers in need of transportation only. In addition, a wide array of private tours to the park and other destinations are available, perfect for bigger groups or those looking to go at their own pace.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND THE PARK & WHERE TO STAY
Often referred to as the Snow Monkey Park, you’d be forgiven for thinking the park is only open and the monkeys only venture there in winter. While it’s true they are most famous for their winter antics, the monkeys come to the park all year round and there are just as many reasons to visit in spring, summer and autumn. Located in the beautiful rural enclave of Yamanouchi and within easy reach of Nagano City, visiting the park can be easily combined with plenty of nearby destinations and activities, as a day-trip or multi-day visit. Our ’25 Things To Do Around The Jigokudani Monkey Park & Where To Stay’ page has lots of great tips and suggestions of what’s on offer throughout the year.
