Takayama is one of the most popular destinations in Central Japan and a stop on many visitors itineraries as they pass through the region. Also located in Central Japan, the Jigokudani Monkey Park lies some distance from Takayama meaning it takes time to travel from one to the other. But thanks to Japan's fantastic public transport network, that journey is easy to make. On this page you will find the most effective ways to get from Takayama City to the Snow Monkey Park:
When people talk about the beauty of Takayama and encourage you to visit, they are speaking of the city’s beautiful historic centre. Known as the 'Sannomachi', the historic centre of the city lays claim to being one of Japan’s best remaining examples of an Edo Period town. Takayama is also a great food town, famous for its indulgent Hida beef, local ramen and many other treats.
For these reasons, though small and somewhat distant from the major tourist destinations of Japan, Takayama has quickly become popular with international visitors. From Takayama, destinations including the World Heritage-listed villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, Kamikochi, Matsumoto Castle and of course, the Jigokudani Monkey Park are readily accessible. For suggestions on what's on offer, see our '25 Things To Do Around Takayama & Where To Stay' page.
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?
As of August 2026, 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 175KM / 3.5 to 4-hours drive north-east of Takayama. Open every day, the monkeys come to the park throughout the year making it one of Nagano’s most popular attractions. When heading to the park using public transport from Takayama 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 there – and a total journey time of around 5 to 6-hours from Takayama. 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 Takayama
To reach the monkey park from Takayama is a three-stage journey. You must first get to Nagano via either Matsumoto or Kanazawa. From Nagano, you then make the onward journey to the park. Either route allows you to combine your visit with either of those two lovely cities. We recommend making the journey via Toyama - total journey time of between 5 to 6-hours to the park depending on transfers. It takes a little longer than going via Matsumoto - which is shorter journey time of 4 to 5-hours to reach the park - but more stages of the journey are covered by the Japan Rail (JR) Pass making it cheaper for anyone holding that pass. But in the end, any of these routes will get you to Nagano Station from where you can head to the park:
VIA TOYAMA
1 / From Takayama Station, take the Limited Express Hida service to Toyama Station. Taking approximately 90 minutes / JPY 3,420 The line is popular with tourists, so if you have the chance to book ahead it can be helpful.
2 / At Toyama Station, transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Nagano Station.
Multiple services connect the two cities each day, taking between 45 to 65 minutes / JPY6,760-JPY7,290 (depending on which service you choose).
3 / Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions below.
VIA MATSUMOTO
1 / From Takayama Station, the Nohi Bus company operates multiple services each day to Matsumoto. The bus departs from the Takayama Bus Terminal, located next to Takayama Station, and takes approximately 2.5 hours / JPY4,400 one-way.
2 / At Matsumoto Station, transfer to the Limited Express Shinano bound for Nagano Station. Regular services run throughout the day and take approximately 50 minutes / JPY 3,160 to reach Nagano. Local trains are also available for JPY 1,230, and take between 65-85 minutes.
The daily train schedule can be found on our 'Limited Express Shinano Line Timetable' page. This line/service is covered by the Japan Rail (JR) Pass.
3 / Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions below.
VIA KANAZAWA
1 / From Takayama Station, the Nohi Bus company operates multiple services each day to Kanazawa. The bus departs from the Takayama Bus Terminal, located next to Takayama Station, and takes approximately 2 hours / JPY4,200 one-way.
2 / Once at Kanazawa Station, transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Tokyo via Nagano. Using the Kagayaki service, the journey will take 66 minutes and costs JPY 9,120 (reserved seats only) or using the Hakutaka service, it will take 90 minutes and cost JPY 8,640 (non-reserved).For the daily schedule, please refer to our 'Hokuriku Shinkansen Timetable' page.
3 / Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions below.
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 Takayama, 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 Takayama to the Snow Monkey Park
Due to the distances involved, we unfortunately do not have any tours directly from Takayama to the Snow Monkey Park. However, we do offer charter services that pick you up from Takayama and can take you straight to the Monkey Park Area.
You can avoid the difficulty of reaching the Snow Monkey Park area on public transport by instead using our charter service. With a fleet of well maintained vehicles and skilled drivers, you can travel in safety and style with us. While the drive to the Monkey Park area is long, it is not very different from the options available when using train services, and is thus a good option for an easier journey, especially when carrying luggage. Alternatively, we could drop you off in Nagano to spend the night before heading to the Monkey Park the next day.
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 do happen to stay overnight in Nagano, we highly recommend taking our 1-Day Tour of the Snow Monkey Park and Zenkoji the next day. If you are looking for the best way to see what the Nagano city area has to offer, this is it - with a visit to the historic Zenkoji Temple, a tasty lunch, and a trip to the Monkey Park, this tour takes the hassle out of travel and leaves you to enjoy the finer things in life.
Tours and Charters from Takayama to Other Popular Destinations
Although our name is Snow Monkey Resorts, Snow Monkey Park tours are not all that we have to offer! We can also help you with your vacation in Central Japan more broadly, including a number of tours and charters from Takayama.
Best Selling
1-Day Tour from Takayama: Explore Scenic Old Japan in Takayama and Shirakawa-go
- Spots:
- TakayamaShirakawago
- Pick-up:
- Takayama
- Drop-off:
- KanazawaTakayama
As our main offering in the Takayama area, this tour will take you through Takayama's historic downtown as well as to the mountain village of Shirakawa-go, famous for its thatched roof houses and deep snow in the winter months. You can even choose between continuing to Kanazawa after the tour, or returning to Takayama, making it perfect for moving around the area with ease.
Recommended
1-Day Tour from Takayama: Hida's Hidden Gems - Hida Folk Village, Limestone Caves and the Shinhotaka Ropeway
- Spots:
- TakayamaShinhotaka
- Pick-up:
- Takayama
- Drop-off:
- Takayama
This tour from Takayama instead takes you into the surrounding countryside and mountains, perfect for those with an adventurous spirit. With a trip to a cave, a ropeway ride up a mountain, and even a bear sanctuary, this tour lets you go to places that most visitors to Takayama will never reach.
Our charter services are also available to take you from Takayama to the next place on your list, door to door for your ease of travel. With so many amazing areas around Takayama, such as Kanazawa, Toyama, and Nagano itself, we are sure that you will enjoy your next stop wherever it is!
Frequently Asked Questions about Getting from Takayama to the Snow Monkey Park
No, there are no direct public transport routes between the two locations. You must first travel to Nagano Station—typically by transferring through Toyama, Matsumoto, or Kanazawa—and then take onward transit to the park.
Traveling by public transport takes approximately 5 to 6 hours from Takayama to the park. If you drive or book a private charter, the journey takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours.
We recommend traveling via Toyama. You can take the Limited Express Hida train from Takayama to Toyama (90 minutes), transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano (45-65 minutes), and then catch the express bus or local train to the park.
Portions of the trip are covered if you route through Toyama. The Limited Express Hida and Hokuriku Shinkansen accept the JR Pass. However, the Nohi Bus services (via Matsumoto or Kanazawa) and the Nagaden transport from Nagano to the park are not covered by the pass.
If you are visiting during the peak winter season (December to March) or major domestic holidays, yes. The park has introduced a mandatory advance online ticketing system via Webket. You must secure a timed-entry ticket up to 90 days in advance.
It is highly restricted. During peak winter weekends and public holidays, civilian parking lots near the park are completely closed to private vehicles. You must use public transport, an organized tour, or a permitted private charter.
From Nagano Station, you can either take the Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus directly to the trailhead (advance online booking required) or take the Nagano Dentetsu Line train to Yudanaka Station, followed by an 8-minute local bus ride to the park.
Due to the long distance, there are no direct group tours from Takayama. However, you can book a private door-to-door charter from Takayama, or travel to Nagano Station and join a group tour departing from there.
While technically possible, doing a 10 to 12-hour round trip via public transit makes for a very exhausting day. We highly recommend spending at least one night at a hotel in Nagano City.
The Jigokudani Monkey Park is open every day of the year. While the monkeys are most famous for their snowy winter baths, they inhabit the valley year-round and can be seen during the spring, summer, and autumn months as well.