From Yuzawa: How To Get To The Snow Monkey Park
As a stop on the Joetsu Shinkansen line running from Tokyo to Niigata, Echigo-Yuzawa is a convenient and popular destination for many international visitors. Providing access to the many nearby ski resorts in winter and Japan’s largest music festival – Fuji Rock – in summer, Echigo-Yuzawa is a convenient hub from where to explore Central Japan including the Jigokudani Monkey Park. On this page you will find the following information:
— Where is the Jigokudani Monkey Park?
— Directions to the Park from Yuzawa
— Accessing the Park via Nagano Station
— Recommended Accommodation in Nagano City
— Monkey Park General Information
— 25 Things to Do Around the Monkey Park & Where to Stay
— Tours and Charters from Yuzawa to the Monkey Park
One of Japan’s most famous ‘onsen’ (hot spring) towns, Yuzawa has over recent years become just as well-known for its multiple ski resorts. Readily accessible from Tokyo, the resorts of Yuzawa are hugely popular while in summer, Yuzawa is your gateway to events including Fuji Rock Festival and Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial. For suggestions of just what’s on offer, see our ’15 Things To Do Around Yuzawa & Where To Stay’ page.
Yuzawa is located on the boundary of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. As such, it is relatively nearby the Jigokudani Monkey Park yet the topography of the area and lack of direct public transport means it takes time to reach the monkey park from Yuzawa, with the easiest option including use of the Joetsu Shinkansen and Hokuriku Shinkansen Lines via Takasaki Station.
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.
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 around 90KM / 2-hours drive (despite being quite close geographically) from Yuzawa. 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 Yuzawa, it will be easiest to do so from 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.
DIRECTIONS TO THE PARK FROM YUZAWA
For those wanting to make the journey using public transport, reaching the monkey park from Echigo-Yuzawa is a three-stage journey requiring you to first get to Nagano:
1 / From Echigo-Yuzawa Station, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki Station – 25 to 30 minutes / JPY3,560.
2 / Once at Takasaki Station, transfer for the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Nagano – 40 to 50 minutes / JPY4,620.
3 / Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions below.
ACCESSING THE PARK VIA NAGANO STATION
Once at Nagano Station, you have two choices to reach the park – express bus or train*:
1 / Use the Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus directly from the station to the monkey park
2 / Take a train on the Nagano Dentetsu Line followed by a Nagaden local bus to the park
Starting from Nagano Station, the express bus costs JPY1,800 each way and takes 45 minutes (to the park) and 55 minutes (back from the park). In comparison, the express train from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station takes around 45 minutes and costs JPY1,290, followed by an 8 minute local bus ride, costing JPY310 – meaning that the option of an express train + local bus will cost a total of JPY1600 and take at least 55 to 60 minutes (depending on train and bus timetables). Please note, the Nagaden express bus, train and local buses are not covered by the Japan Rail (JR) Pass, JR East Pass or JR Hokuriku Arch Pass.
*Not sure which option is best of you? See our ‘How To Get To the Jigokudani Monkey Park’ main page for suggestions of what works best.
1 / USING THE NAGADEN EXPRESS BUS
The Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus operates from Bus Stop No.23, on the east side of the station. Simply line-up for the bus and once onward you buy your ticket directly from the driver – JPY1,800 each way – and cash only. To check the bus schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagaden Express Bus Timetable’ page.
2 / USING THE NAGANO DENTETSU LINE
Using limited express services on the Nagano Dentetsu Line, the journey takes approximately 45 minutes and costs JPY1290. Local services from Nagano to Yudanaka are only slighter cheaper – at JPY1190 – but take substantially longer and require passengers to transfer trains. As such, we always recommend using an express service to reach Yudanaka. For the train schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagano Dentetsu Line Timetable’ page.
Once at Yudanaka Station you need to jump-on a Nagaden local bus for the final leg of your journey to the park. Two local bus lines – the Kanbayashi Line and Shiga Kogen Line – head to stops nearby the monkey park. The ride is only around 8 minutes and costs JPY310 per adult and JPY160 per child. The ride back from the park takes a little longer – around 15 minutes – due to a different route and stops. Yudanaka is a small station and the buses operate from directly outside. You can’t miss them! For the local bus schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagano Dentetsu Local Bus Timetable’ page.
RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION IN NAGANO CITY
Given the time taken to reach the monkeys from Yuzawa, we recommend staying in Nagano City, from where you can explore destinations including Togakushi and the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. When staying in Nagano City, we recommend Hotel Kokusai 21. One of Nagano’s most established international hotels with a reputation built on attentive service, in-house services, Western-style amenities and English-speaking staff, Kokusai 21 is our recommendation for guests wanting the convenience, comfort and service of an international hotel in the heart of the city.
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.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND THE MONKEY 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 tips and suggestions of what’s on offer and the best area to stay when visiting the monkeys.
TOURS AND CHARTERS FROM YUZAWA TO THE MONKEY PARK
While we unfortunately do not offer any tours from Yuzawa to the Monkey Park at the moment, we are glad to offer private charter services to the Snow Monkey Park, as well as to many more destinations, starting from Yuzawa.
As you have read in this article, getting to the Monkey Park from Yuzawa is neither easy or cheap. For a door to door, easy service, it is better to hire a private charter and head straight to the park. We can also offer services to other popular destinations around Japan, or even pick you up from or drop you off at airports such as Haneda or Narita. Whatever destination you are interested in, please let us know and we will respond to you as soon as possible concerning availability and pricing.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:35 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
If you do happen to want to partake in a group Snow Monkey Tour, we offer a highly reviewed day trip from Nagano Station (and Hakuba in the winter months) that brings you around some of Nagano City’s highlights such as the historic Zenkoji Temple, before taking you to the Monkey Park for an afternoon of monkey business. By utilizing the Shinkansen, this tour is even possible as a day trip from Tokyo.
