English Information, Luggage Storage & Rental Services
The Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop provides are range of services to ensure you have an enjoyable and easy visit to the monkey park.
One of the most popular destinations in Nagano, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is located at the end of a 1.6km / 1 mile forest trail, accessed in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen. Standing right next to the trail entrance, the Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop is virtually impossible to miss!
Open from early October until late May (exact dates of operation vary from year-to-year) from 9AM to 5PM, English-speaking staff are on-hand to assist with your visit including general information about the monkey park, transport options from the park, and nearby restaurants including Enza Café and Hotaru-tei.
To access the park, you must first walk along a picturesque 1.6km / 1 mile forest trail. This path is well-maintained and mostly level with a staircase at the end leading into the park itself.* The walk typically takes 20 to 25 minutes however in winter, when the trail becomes affected by snow and ice, the walk is more likely to take 30 to 40 minutes. It can also be extremely cold with temperatures regularly below 0°C and possibly dropping below -10°C.
During the winter months the path can become very slippery and it is easy to fall so please proceed with caution at all times.
Dressing appropriately for these conditions including good quality shoes or boots is essential during winter. For visitors who don’t have appropriate winter clothing or footwear, the SMR Info & Gift Shop provides a range of rental services including snow boots (JPY800) and winter jackets (JPY500). Rental boots and jackets are subject to availability on the individual day and cannot be booked in advance.
Cramp-ons (metal spikes that attach to the sole of your shoe or boot) are available for purchase (JPY1350) along with winter clothing including hats and gloves. For visitors carrying luggage that would be cumbersome to take along the trial and into the park, the Info & Gift Shop will happily look after it for you with their left baggage service (JPY500 per item).
The SMR Info & Gift Shop also has your covered for all your monkey needs with official SMR merchandise – also available through our online shop!
Please note, the Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop is open from early October until late May. If you are visiting the park outside of those months and would like some assistance or to get your hands on some monkey merchandise, nearby Enza Cafe – a 1 minute walk from the Info & Gift Shop – stocks the same products and English-speaking staff are on-hand to assist you.
*Please note, entry tickets for the Jigokudani Monkey Park are purchased at the end of the trail i.e. at the park entrance. Tickets cannot be purchased at the SMR Info & Gift Shop.
