On this page you will find the most convenient methods to get to the Snow Monkey Park from Mount Fuji, Japan’s most recognzable and iconic landscape. Standing 3776 meters, it is the country’s tallest mountain and an active volcano. Strikingly beautiful, the mountain lies around 2.5 hours to the west of Tokyo and beckons visitors to leave the capital and begin their exploration of Central Japan including the Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Many visitors travel to the area around Mount Fuji just to witness the grandeur and beauty of the mountain while others commit to climb it. Surrounding Fuji, numerous attractions and activities make the region one of the most popular destinations outside of the major cities, drawing countless Japanese and international visitors each year. For suggestions on what's on offer in the area, see our '30 Things To Do Around Mount Fuji & Where to Stay' page.
Standing by itself, Mount Fuji is just one of the high mountain peaks that define Central Japan and the grand introduction to a region we hope you will want to explore more, including the Jigokudani Monkey Park. Though both in Central Japan, the mountain and the monkey park are separated by a large distance and there is no direct public transport between them. Japan’s excellent public transport system makes the journey in multiple steps however when looking to visit both the mountain and the monkeys, making use of a private charter is a great option, allowing you to combine your visit to Mount Fuji and the monkeys with other regional attractions and activities – see below for details.
Based in Nagano and operating all year round, we are the region’s No.1 tour and charter operator. Our group tours run throughout the year, including multiple tours to the monkeys. We can also arrange private tours and charters to the park along with any destination in the region, and as a registered travel agent, we can package transport, accommodation and more together so you save and get the most out of your time at the park, Nagano and beyond – scroll to the bottom for details.
Important Winter Update: Upcoming Entry Changes at the Snow Monkey Park
Planning your visit to the Snow Monkey Park for December, January, February, or March?
For the 2026/2027 winter season, the Snow Monkey Park has introduced an advance online ticketing and timed-entry system for the upcoming peak winter season. All visitors planning an independent trip to Jigokudani Yaen-koen (Snow Monkey Park) must navigate the new mandatory online ticketing system and strict winter parking restrictions.
Peak Season Entry & Parking Restrictions
- Mandatory Online Tickets: During peak times—primarily winter (Dec–Mar) and major domestic holidays like New Year, Golden Week, and Obon—visitors must present a date-specific advance ticket QR code to be admitted to the park after walking the trail. Walk-ins face long waits or total entry denial at the ticket check-in counter at the bottom of the trail.
- Civilian Parking Bans: Nearby parking lots are completely closed to private vehicles on peak winter weekends and public holidays. Public transport or guided tours are strongly recommended. Travel via public transportation is being encouraged by the Snow Monkey Park.
How to Book Independent Tickets Online
- Booking Portal: Tickets must be purchased through the official Webket Reservation System (English toggle available).
- Account Required: You must create and register a Webket account before buying.
- Booking Window: Tickets open 90 days in advance at midnight JST.
- Entry Timeslots: When booking, you must select your specific date and arrival window.
For more details on how to go about placing your reservation for tickets to the Snow Monkey Park, please see our How to Purchase Snow Monkey Park Tickets in Advance webpage.
The best way to secure your winter entry to the Snow Monkey Park? Book a guided tour or private charter with Snow Monkey Resorts.
By booking one of our curated snow monkey tours, or private charter services, you can travel with complete peace of mind. Here is how booking with us ensures a seamless experience during the peak season while the snow monkey park adjusts to its new policy:
- Guaranteed Park Entry: We secure reserved ticket allocations for our guests, completely bypassing the complex online booking system and ensuring guaranteed access.
- Direct Transportation: Skip the hazardous winter roads and vehicle bans—our private vehicles drop you off directly near the park trail.
- Hassle-Free Experience: Enjoy an all-inclusive itinerary complete with a local English-speaking guide, organized logistics, and optional seasonal activities like sake tasting or snow fun.
Best Selling
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
Don't need a guide? We can transport you to and from the park with seamless logistics from areas such as Nagano Station, Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Matsumoto, and more!
NAGANO STN → SNOW MONKEY PARK (3HR)→ NAGANO STN
- Duration:
- 4-5 Hours
- Spots:
- Nagano, Snow Monkey
Where is the Jigokudani Monkey Park?
The Jigokudani Monkey Park – often referred to as the Snow Monkey Park – is around 35KM / 50-minutes to the north-east of central Nagano City and approximately 275KM / 5-hours drive north of Mount Fuji. Open every day, the monkeys come to the park through the year making it one of Nagano’s most popular attractions. When heading to the park using public transport from Fuji, you have several options that will get you to Nagano Station, from where an express bus runs directly to Kanbayashi Onsen – where the park is located – or alternatively, you can take the Nagano Dentetsu railway to Yudanaka Station – the nearest train station to the park – and from there, take a local bus to the park. Both options take around 50 to 55-minutes in total to get here. The park is located in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen, which itself is located in the wider region of Yamanouchi – a region including the park, multiple hot spring villages, Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, the smaller ski resorts of Kita-Shiga Kogen and Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. Within easy reach of Nagano City, visiting the monkey park as a day-trip is easy while also providing lots of reasons to stay in the area on a multi-day visit.
Direction to the Park from Fuji
There is no direct route using public transport from Mount Fuji to the monkey park. Making the journey will require visitors to make multiple transfers and ultimately, go through Nagano City via Matsumoto or Omiya in greater Tokyo. We recommend doing so via Matsumoto. The train services are more suited to travelers with luggage and doing so allows you to incorporate other destinations and activities in Central Japan into your itinerary, rather than head back into the crowds and congestion of Tokyo.
VIA MATSUMOTO
1 / From either Kawaguchiko Station or Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Station, take the Fujikyu Railway Line to Otsuki Station - 45 to 65 minutes / JPY1,170 to JPY1,770 (depending on which service you choose).
2 / Once at Otsuki Station, take the Limited Express Kaiji service to Kofu Station – 35 minutes / JP1,620 – and switch to the Limited Express Azusa bound for Matsumoto Station – 60 to 75 minutes / JPY3,560*.
3 / From Matsumoto Station, take the Limited Express Shinano bound for Nagano Station.
Regular services run throughout the day and take approximately 50 minutes / JPY2,370 to reach Nagano. Additionally, the local train running between Matsumoto and Nagano can be used for JPY1,170 and takes between 60-80 minutes.
4 / Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions below.
*It should be noted that some Limited Express Azusa services stop at Otsuki Station, allowing visitors to head directly to Matsumoto – 100 minutes / JPY4,220. If one of these services lines-up with your travel itinerary feel free to use it however due to limited number of Azusa services stopping at Otsuki Station, most visitors will need to use the Limited Express Kaiji service to Kofu Station and then transfer to the Limited Express Azusa bound for Matsumoto.
VIA OMIYA (IN SAITAMA/GREATER TOKYO)
1 / From either Kawaguchiko Staiton or Mt Fuji (Fujisan) Station, take Limited Express Fuji Excursion service on the Fujikyu Railway Line to Shinjuku Station – 110 minutes / JPY4,130*.
2 / From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line or JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line Rapid service to Omiya Station – 30 minutes / JPY480**.
3 / From Omiya Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano – 55 to 75 minutes / JPY6,780 (depending on which service you choose).
4 / Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions below.
*Please note, there are a limited number of Fuji Excursion services each day. If there is no convenient Fuji Excursion service, you will need to take another service on the Fujikyu Railway Line to Otsuki Station and transfer to the Limited Express Kaiji service to reach Shinjuku.
**This is a regular train service and likely to be crowded. Handling luggage on this line can be challenge, another reason we recommend making the journey via Matsumoto.
Accessing the Snow Monkey Park from Nagano Station
Once you arrive at Nagano Station, you have two primary public transit options to reach Kanbayashi Onsen (the park's base). Both take roughly 45 to 55 minutes to reach the trailhead village, dropping you off a 5 to 10-minute walk from the actual forest trail entrance.
Option 1: Visiting the Snow Monkey Park via Express Bus
The Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus runs all year round, with added services during the peak winter ski season. To check the bus schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagaden Express Bus Timetable’ page
- Location: Departs exclusively from Bus Stop No. 24 outside the Nagano Station East Exit. (Note: Bus Stop No. 23 is now dedicated solely to Shiga Kogen and will not stop at the park).
- Duration: Takes just over 40 minutes to the park trailhead (55 minutes for the return leg).
- Ticketing & Boarding (Important Update): Pay-as-you-go boarding is no longer permitted. Advance booking is strictly required to board the bus.
- How to Purchase: Independent travelers must book their tickets online in advance through the Webket Reservation System, which opens 90 days prior to departure and requires selecting a specific timeslot. Alternatively, standard tickets or the Snow Monkey Pass can be purchased at the "Aruyo" ticket office near the East Exit. However, same-day station purchases are highly unlikely during peak seasons, so online booking or arriving with a pre-arranged tour is strongly recommended.
Option 2: Visiting the Snow Monkey Park by Train and Local Bus
You can also take the Nagano Dentetsu Line from its underground station at Nagano Station to the terminal at Yudanaka Station.
- The Train: We highly recommend using the Express Service (~45 minutes). Local services take substantially longer and require a train transfer.
- The Local Bus Transfer: Once you step out of Yudanaka Station, jump directly onto a Nagaden local bus for an 8-minute ride to the park. Look for either the Kanbayashi Line or the Shiga Kogen Line.
For the train schedule from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station, please see our ‘Nagano Dentetsu Line Timetable’ page and for the local bus schedule from Yudanaka Station to the Snow Monkey Park, please see our ‘Nagano Dentetsu Local Bus Timetable’ page..
Option 3: Group Tours & Private Charters
Best Selling
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
For a stress-free, premium experience, you can join an organized group tour or book a private charter directly from Nagano Station.
- The Convenience: This option bypasses the hassle of coordinating bus timetables or train transfers. Vehicles pick you up directly at the station and drive you straight to the closest vehicle drop-off point.
- What's Included: Most group tours bundle your park admission tickets, a professional English-speaking guide, and often a traditional lunch or a visit to nearby Zenkoji Temple into a seamless itinerary.
- Private Charters: If you are traveling with family, a large group, or heavy luggage, private door-to-door vans and mini-buses offer completely customizable schedules, allowing you to explore the park and surrounding onsen towns entirely at your own pace.
NAGANO STN → SNOW MONKEY PARK (3HR)→ NAGANO STN
- Duration:
- 4-5 Hours
- Spots:
- Nagano, Snow Monkey
Recommended Accommodation in Nagano City
Given the distance and time taken to reach Nagano from Mount Fuji, we recommend staying at least one night. When staying in Nagano City, we recommend:
HOTEL KOKUSAI 21
Located between Nagano Station and Zenko-ji Temple, Hotel Kokusai 21 is the city’s most established international hotel. Known for its blend of modern amenities and attentive Japanese service, Kokusai 21 offers guests spacious Western-style rooms with private bathrooms, multiple in-house restaurants including daily breakfast service and English-speaking 24-hour reception.
Hotel New Nagano NeXT
Travellers looking for affordable yet modern and comfortable accommodation in the centre of Nagano City should look no further than Hotel New Nagano NeXT, just a 2 minute walk from Nagano Station. Completely refurbished in 2020, the 115 room hotel offers four room types – single, double, twin and superior twin – each featuring comfortable bedding, private bathroom, TV and Roomcast with ability to access streaming services and lots of touches more typical of a hotel well above its price range.
Snow Monkey Park General Information
Open every day of the year, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is one of Nagano’s most popular destinations. Our ‘Snow Monkey Park Information’ page has everything you need to know including opening times, prices, the park rules, FAQs and more. We hope you enjoy your visit with our favourite furry friends.
20 Things to Do Around the Monkey Park and 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 ’20 Things To Do Around The Jigokudani Monkey Park & Where To Stay’ page has lots of tips and suggestions of what’s on offer and the best area to stay when visiting the monkeys.
Tours and Charters from Mount Fuji to the Monkey Park
We are proud to offer charter services and private tours connecting Mt. Fuji with the Snow Monkey Park and beyond. Whether you need a guide or not, our vehicles are ready to go wherever you are located to pick you up and bring you to the Monkey Park. We of course also have room for luggage on board, removing the hassle of having to carry heavy luggage on and off trains all day on your way to Nagano. If you are in need of this service, please contact us using the link above for more information.
Best Selling
1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
- Spots:
- NaganoSnow MonkeyHakuba
- Pick-up:
- Nagano CityHakuba
- Drop-off:
- Nagano CityHakuba
If you can make it to Nagano on your own, we would be glad to have you along on the above group tour! Visiting Zenkoji Temple - Nagano's biggest cultural highlight - and the famous Snow Monkey Park, this tour is designed to include some of the biggest draws in this region. Also including Sake Tasting and Lunch, all transport on this tour is covered by our vehicles leaving you to relax and enjoy the ride.
Frequently Asked Questions about getting to the Snow Monkey Park from Mt. Fuji
No, there is no direct bus or train between the two destinations. Because they are separated by about 275 kilometers, making the journey requires multiple transfers and takes around 5 hours in total. We highly recommend booking a private charter for a seamless trip.
We recommend traveling via Matsumoto to avoid the crowds of Tokyo and more easily handle luggage. From Kawaguchiko or Mt. Fuji Station, take the Fujikyu Railway to Otsuki, switch to the Limited Express Kaiji to Kofu, catch the Limited Express Azusa to Matsumoto, and finally take the Limited Express Shinano to Nagano Station.
Yes, if you are visiting during the peak winter season (December through March) or major domestic holidays. The park has introduced a mandatory advance online ticketing system via Webket. Walk-ins face long waits or denied entry during these times.
It is highly discouraged. During peak winter weekends and holidays, civilian parking lots near the trail are completely closed to private vehicles. It is strongly recommended to use public transport or book a guided tour.
Once at Nagano Station, you can either take the Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus directly to the trailhead (around 40 minutes), or take the Nagano Dentetsu Line train to Yudanaka Station and transfer to a local bus for an 8-minute ride to the park.
No, pay-as-you-go boarding is no longer permitted on the express bus. Independent travelers must book their tickets and select a specific timeslot in advance through the Webket Reservation System.
Yes! Booking one of our curated group tours or private charters guarantees your park entry, bypassing the complex online booking system. We provide direct transportation, so you can skip the winter parking bans and public transit transfers entirely.
Given the 5-hour travel time from Mount Fuji, we highly recommend staying at least one night in Nagano. Nagano City offers excellent accommodation options like Hotel Kokusai 21 and Hotel New Nagano NeXT, providing a great base for your visit to the monkeys and surrounding attractions.