NAGANO JAPAN

In anticipation of the borders opening in future and travel resuming under the cloud of COVID-19, one of the most important questions travellers can ask is, should I need it, what access will I h...

When considering your future travel to Japan, one of the biggest decisions is where to stay and what to expect once you arrive. Japan is one of the cleanest countries and hygiene-focused ...

At the time of writing, entry to Japan is still banned for many foreign passport-holders. There is however conversation about how and when entry bans will be lifted with a strong focus on opening...

As announced in our recent blog, our website has been updated to include a section dedicated to COVID-19 including pages intended to help you make an informed decision about travelling to Japan. ...

In response to the ongoing impact of coronavirus on global tourism, we have revised our website to include information and updates regarding COVID-19. From our homepage you can access our...

Snow Monkey Resorts is happy to advise that the Jigokudani Monkey Park has reopened and is again welcoming visitors. Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the park requests that visitors respect the ...

From all of us at Snow Monkey Resorts, we would like to give a big shout out to all of our guests who joined us in Nagano during winter 2019/20! Thanks to you we were able to have a successful winte...

As a precaution against the spread of coronavirus, the Jigokudani Monkey Park will be closed from this Saturday April 18th until Sunday May 15th 2020. It is possible that the date of re-opening will...

As March draws to a close it is certainly quiet in the Jigokudani Monkey Park. While the park remains open, visitor numbers are extremely low given current circumstances impacting travel to and from...

The impact of the coronavirus on daily life around the globe is now dramatic. We wish everyone well and please follow the advisories in your home countries and regions, to ensure your health and saf...

As the coronavirus continues disrupt daily life around the world, many are wondering about its impact in Japan and their plans to travel to Nagano. As included in our previous blog, the following we...

Recent concern over the spread of corona virus has understandably led to questions about the ability to travel to and from Nagano. The situation is changing on a daily basis therefore getting the mo...

We are now well into the second half of winter and life goes on, much as usual, at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. This year’s weather is much warmer than usual and from day-to-day, conditions at t...

Known as 'sakura', cherry blossoms are synonymous with Japan and are seen to embody the fragile beauty of life itself. As the weather warms in spring, the flowers bloom and Japan will emerge from th...

It’s no secret that the snowfall in Nagano this winter is much less than usual. Unusually warm weather patterns have led to higher than normal temperatures and as a result, lower snowfall. Many ski ...

Happy New Year from Snow Monkey Resorts! It's been a strange and frustrating start to the year here in Nagano and at the Snow Monkey Park. Temperatures remain unusually high for January with relativ...

Snow Monkey Resorts is collaborating with kisoji.com to bring you three model courses that explore central Nagano. The Kiso Valley is one of the more unexplored areas of Japan, but it is an ...

It's a typical November here at the Snow Monkey Park. The temperature is dropping quickly with strong hints of winter in the air. But before winter arrives, we are being treated to a typical Novembe...

We are now one month on from the typhoon which affected Nagano and it’s a good time to provide an update. While Nagano City was relatively unaffected, areas nearby experienced a significant impact a...

As already reported, the Snow Monkey Park has now reopened to the public and we are happy to the report, the monkeys have now returned! After an unusually long absence from the park after the typhoo...

Nagano has been in the news a lot this week given the impact of Typhoon Hagibis on the region. Sadly, the typhoon wrought considerable damage and many people have been affected. Our thoughts are wit...

Given the recent impact of Typhoon Hagibis on Nagano Prefecture, we are receiving many enquiries about the availability of our tours, access to the Snow Monkey Park, and ability to travel to and fro...

We are happy to announce that the Snow Monkey Park is open again and accepting visitors. Due to recent damage to the park and trail, visitors may encounter ongoing repairs. Please be careful to foll...

The Snow Monkey Park is again closed today - Monday October 14th 2019 - due to ongoing repairs required after Typhoon Hagibis left significant damage across Nagano. The trail leading to the park h...

Typhoon Hagibis has now passed Nagano. Unfortunately it has left a significant amount of damaes to the trail leading to the park and the park itself. Due to this damage, park staff have decided to...

Typhoon Hagibis is expected to impact on Nagano today and all residents have been advised to take necessary precautions to remain safe. For that reason, the Snow Monkey Park will be closed as heav...

As the middle of September arrives, the summer heat in Japan is finally fading, and fresh winds of autumn are cooling the country down after a long humid summer! Japanese autumn starts in early Septem...

Another September has rolled around at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and we are now feeling the first of the cooler autumn weather. Strolling to and from the park along the beautiful forest trai...

Located within three hours of Tokyo, Azumino is just such a region - a place of quiet villages, farms and orchards, temples and shrines - set against the stunning backdrop of the Northern Alps. Ea...

August has been a hot and at times wet and wild month in the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. In the middle of summer, the winter days of cold and deep snow seem like a dream and for visitors to the p...

It’s a little later than usual – let’s face it, a whole lot later than usual! – but here, finally, is our July photoblog for the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Summer has arrived at the park and in ...

As Nagano's No.1 tour and charter operator we are always looking for ways the experience we provide our guests on our tours. Awarded a 2019 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award as one of the Top 10...

As recently featured, Shiga Kogen is not just Nagano’s but also Japan’s largest and highest ski resort. With 79 ski runs serviced by 51 chairlifts and gondolas, Shiga offers the largest expanse of...

As host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano is home to around 80 independent ski resortsand blessed with some of the best powder in the world. Whether you are visiting Nagano for the first time o...

Nestled high above the Snow Monkey Park within the beautiful surrounding of Joshinestu Kogen National Park, there is a ski resort which is Nagano’s sleeping giant and the next big destination for ...

June in Japan is known as the rainy season and as such, is always a little wet, wild, and unpredictable. The days are steadily getting warmer and humid, punctuated by downpours as the springtime c...

Snow Monkey Resorts is happy to announce our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour has been recognized as one of Japan’s best tour experiences winning a 2019 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Cho...

Winter is never far away – or at least never out of mind – here in Nagano. With the past winter having come late but then refusing to call it quits, and ultimately blessing us with a massive amoun...

As Nagano’s No.1 tour operator, Snow Monkey Resorts continues to welcome new and old friends into the region, as more and more people discover the seasonal beauty of Central Japan. There’s never a...

  *The illumination event scheduled for December 2019 has been moved to February 22nd to March 1st 2020. As a result, our tour will operate on the same days in February and March 2020. It ...

May has been another great month in the Snow Monkey Park with the introduction of the first baby monkeys of 2019! At first slow to emerge as their nervous mums inch back into the park, it's now ba...

We are very happy to announce that the first babies of 2019 are now being welcomed to the Snow Monkey Park! Expectant mothers give birth from late-April to early-June each year, making spring one ...

It’s funny. It doesn’t seem so long ago that the snow still had a hold on us and the monkeys (just like us), were shivering away in the last clutches of Nagano’s beautiful but long, cold winter. N...

As everyone knows all too well, Japan's cherry blossom season is upon us! Starting in Fukuoka and moving north toward Kyoto, then most notably to Tokyo, the blossoms of Snow Monkey area in Nagano are ...

Some may think that spring skiing - from April to May - is no way near as good as peak ski season in Japan, when the mountainous landscape is covered by the best snow in the world– Japanese powder...

Hotel Kokusai 21 is conveniently located for access to a number of attractions in central Nagano City, including Zenko-ji temple, the Gondo district, and Uruoikan (the city center’s only hot sprin...

March is always an enjoyable time in the Snow Monkey Park and a great time to visit Nagano`s most famous furry residents! It`s a time of two seasons, with the first days of spring wrestling with t...

Springtime in Japan means one thing – cherry blossoms! With the weather quickly warming and people turning their attention to this year`s blossom forecast, we are happy to announce our new 1-Day Takat...

It's been a strange old winter here in Nagano and at the Snow Monkey Park. The usually reliable snowfall came as late as anyone can remember but when it did eventually arrive, it fell in abundance...

As host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Nagano remains proud of its Olympic legacy and since 2004 has commemorated its most celebrated winter with its annual 'Tomyo' Lantern Festival. Running fr...

Spring in Japan brings beautiful weather and a welcome end to the cold of winter. As the weather warms and winter clothing is shed, the spirits lift and the world seems fresh and new again. A popu...

Happy New Year from everyone at Snow Monkey Resorts and let's jump into the new year with our first photoblog of 2019! While the snow was late this year January has delivered with its reliable dumps o...

Nagano is home to most of Japan's highest mountains, spread across three mountain ranges that collectively make-up the Japanese Alps. This dramatic landscape offers visitors some of the most impressiv...

As host of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano's winter credentials speak for themselves. Blessed with some of the best powder in the world, stunning mountain ranges and more than 30 independent resorts,...

With the snow now falling in Nagano we are gearing up for another big winter and with that, we are happy to offer our popular 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen Tour from December 22...

The snow has finally arrived in the monkey park and with it, the monkeys are straight back into onsen as they welcome another cold season and many new visitors this winter! The photo above was take...

Newly opened Japanese restaurant Hotaru-tei in the Kanbayashi Onsen area is the place to go if you're looking for a local food experience in a traditional setting. The restaurant, located only 10 minu...

*Please note that in 2019, this service has been extended to now be available all year round for guests joining us in Nagano City. Up-to-date information can be found at: 1-DAY SNOW MONKEYS, ZENKO-JI ...

*Please note, the illumination of the temple - scheduled for December 2019 - has been moved to February 22nd to March 1st 2020. As a result, our tour will operate on the same days in February and Marc...

With the temperature steadily dropping and the clouds puffing-up and rolling-in, the question many people ask is when will it start snowing in the monkey park?   Affectionately known as...

Autumn is reliably the least reliable season in the Snow Monkey Park as the monkeys trade their beloved hot spring for the promise of food and love in the forest. October through November is matin...

When heading to Nagano from Tokyo, the shinkansen - often referred to as the 'Bullet Train' - is by far, the fastest and easiest way to get here! Taking between 80 and 110 minutes (depending on whic...

Nagano and the surrounding regions that make-up central Japan are a place of natural beauty, typified by high mountain peaks, and deep culture found in its historic towns, temples and castles. Often o...

As Japan’s largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen offers an expansive area of terrain to explore and some of the most beautiful powder landscapes to carve and slash your way through each winter. At an impr...

Consisting of 18 ski areas - some large, some small - Shiga Kogen is Japan's largest mountain resort spread through the peaks and gullies of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. The expansive resort is l...

Autumn has arrived and with that, the temperature is dropping and the landscape is shifting in color and hue. It's a beautiful time of year to visit the Snow Monkey Park and through early-October, the...

With around 80 ski resorts, Nagano spoils winter visitors with choice! Among those resorts, Shiga Kogen is not only Nagano's biggest area of interconnected ski fields, but it also tops in the list as ...

With winter fast approaching it's time to get serious and decide where you're headed! The big question for many people coming to Japan is which region best fits their needs - Nagano or Hokkaido? Both ...

Unless you're flush with cash and time and can afford to be here for an extended period during winter, skiers and snowboarders headed to Japan are faced with one big decision before they even get here...

Sales of "Snow Monkey Pass" for 2018 Green Season finishes today (Sep 30th). For winter season, it will be re-sold from the beginning of December (Dec 1st, if it will be as has happened in the past...

Nagano is synonymous with apples. Ripening to perfection each autumn, fruit-picking directly from local orchards is an enjoyable (and delicious!) activity that can be done with family and friends with...

Snow Monkey Resorts is excited to announce our award-winning 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour is now available to guests based in Hakuba this winter, with a daily shuttle servic...

Another month has slipped-on by and with that, summer has ended and the early hints of autumn are in the air. With the summer heat having faded away, days have regularly been punctuated by drizzle and...

Nestled within an expansive mountain range known for its beauty and deep powder snow, Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest ski resort and one of the host venues for the 1998 Winter Olympics. The resort offe...

Just ten minutes from JR Nagano Station via the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, Iiyama is a rural hub known for the quality of its vegetables and fruit - most famously, apples! Each autumn, fruit-picking di...

The snow monkey region is famous for its numerous 'onsens' (natural hot springs) that bubble to the ground throughout the mountains. Mainly found in the town of Yudanaka, Shibu, and Kanbayashi Onsens,...

Many visitors headed to this region see the famous Snow Monkey Park as the primary destination and don't allocate time to explore other sights nearby the park. Given the global fame of the hot spring-...

Summer in Japan is synonymous with heat, humidity, and more enticingly, festivals! While ‘matsuri’ (festivals) take place throughout the year and for countless (often obscure) reasons summer is the se...

August is a busy time in the Snow Monkey Park as the resident macaques enjoy the late summer warmth, preoccupied with their constant grooming, foraging, and swimming. This year’s baby monkeys a...

As we have recently highlighted, there are many reasons to visit the Snow Monkey Park in summer. The monkeys continue to come to the park in good numbers, there are far fewer visitors than in winter, ...

When planning your ski or snowboard trip to Japan there are lots of things to take into consideration for choosing your destination of choice. Of all the questions you might ask when choosing a resort...

For those thinking of visiting the Snow Monkey Park in summer, there's one big reason - or should we say, many small, adorable reasons - to do so, baby monkeys, lots of them! Since April, we ha...

With summer now in full force and temperatures predictably high, the opening of Nagano City’s newest restaurant is particularly well-timed. Monzen Terrace Enya is located within the historical and pic...

Summer has arrived at the Snow Monkey Park with the usual heat and humidity you'd expect. While the days can be a little hot, July is a great time to visit the park. The monkeys have been coming in bi...

Summer is here. The weather is hot and humid, cicadas are buzzing, and the mountains are lush and green. The deep snow and cold of winter are now distant memories, indeed it’s difficult to imagine tha...

One of the most famous attractions is Nagano Prefecture is the Snow Monkey Park. If you are coming to see the snow monkeys in their own habitat and want to get a place to stay overnight, we have a rec...

The cuteness has continued unabated here at the Snow Monkey Park through June, as the seasons babies continue to emerge and we move into Japan’s rainy season. The days are punctuated by bursts of sun ...

Backcountry skiing is one of the great attractions at any resort for advanced skiers. Bursting through pristine snow and the beauty of the forest is an adrenaline rush that gets you hooked. However, b...

May has been a month of unremitting and undeniable cuteness at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. As the weather continues to warm and move we steadily into the Japanese spring, we continue to welcome b...

*Please note that in 2019, this service has been extended to now be available all year round for guests joining us in Nagano City. Up-to-date information can be found at: 1-DAY SNOW MONKEYS, ZENKO-JI ...

We recently (and happily) reported that the first baby monkeys of the year had been cited in the Snow Monkey Park. At that time we hadn't yet been able to capture our first photographs of these adorab...

A visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park is one of Nagano's most enjoyable experiences. For most people, the journey will begin at Nagano Station from where they have the option of heading to the park ...

As dedicated publicists of the Jigokudani Snow Monkeys, we are always excited when our favourite furry residents make international news. Over the past few weeks they have been making headlines follow...

Spring is one of the best times of year to visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park for one very important (and exceptionally cute) reason – baby monkeys! April and May are the months during which expectant m...

A visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park is one of Nagano's most enjoyable experiences. For most people, the journey will begin at Nagano Station from where they have the option of heading to the park ...

The blossoms are now coming into full bloom across Nagano including at Yamanouchi and Kanbayashi Onsen - home to our favorite furry residents, the snow monkeys!  The small and quiet streets of Kanbaya...

(2019/4 updated) Scheduled shuttle service for Nagano station is also available now.   If you're in need of accommodation in Nagano City and want a hotel that conveniently located, Hotel Ko...

In Japan the season of spring is heavily celebrated. The most famous habit the Japanese display is sitting under colorful cherry blossoms and just watching the blossoms bloom while drinking a beer, et...

Winter is officially with the last bits of snow disappearing in the Park. With the changing of the seasons the opening times of the Snow Monkey Park have changed as well. The opening times of t...

The month of March has seen a rise in temperature. Some days really feel as though we're in spring already. Other days though, it's snowing and the monkeys are hiding from the cold in the pool or in b...

Nagano Prefecture is home to the majority of Japan’s highest mountain peaks and an abundance of snow. Just ask the locals, they’ll tell you the snow here is world class!   As host of t...

The beginning of February was still very cold and saw quite a few monkeys taking a bath or rummaging around for barley. The monkeys in the two photo's below were exactly doing that; digging in the sno...

It's a new year and a new monkey season! The Snow Monkey Park is now completely covered by snow. As you can see by the photo directly below, the snow is not only in the park, but also on the tr...

Japan Rail offers a range of passes to international visitors that offer fantastic convenience and savings. While the full Japan Rail (JR) Pass is well-known and well-used by foreigner travelers in ...

Senjukaku is celebrating their 90th year and has decided to provide an extra service to those coming to stay at the ryokan. In order to get to Senjukaku, you'll have to travel from JR Nagano Station t...

The season has turned, it`s now December, and the long-awaited snow season has arrived to the area! We would like to keep you posted about the current snow situation of Shiga Kogen - the largest and h...

Nagano City has a great many hotels, being the capital of Nagano Prefecture and the capital of the 1998 Olympics. One favourite hotel we'd like to introduce is Hotel Kokusai 21, one of the most high-c...

*Please note that in 2019, this service has been extended to now be available all year round for guests joining us in Nagano City. Up-to-date information can be found at: 1-DAY SNOW MONKEYS, ZENKO-JI ...

The rangers of the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park have changed the Park opening times from 8:30 to 17:00 to 9:00 to 16:00. This because of the shorter days. The monkeys have a habit of coming down...

The Kanbayashi route to the Snow Monkey Park is open from today! This is good news for bus and train travelers, as this route is the closest and easiest one to the Park. After the typhoon on th...

If you didn't bring any snow gear with you to Japan, no worries! Like most of the ski resorts in the world, Shiga Kogen also has a plenty of items to rent/sell for visitors. But the question would b...

Nagano is in the midst of a typhoon at the moment which makes traveling to the Park not safe enough to open. The heavy rainfall could even cause small-scale landslides. Thus, for safety reasons the Pa...

When the first snow starts falling from the sky in November, the ski slopes of Shiga Kogen start their preparations for the winter season. Skiing in the largest ski resorts of Japan is possible very e...

Approximately 45km to the east of Nagano City, Shiga Kogen can be readily accessed using public transport. Most people will start their journey from Nagano Station or from the nearby monkey park or ...

When visiting Nagano City, many people choose to stay around the central precinct surrounding the station. It has the greatest concentration of accommodation, restaurants and bars and of course, i...

A shift in power has occurred within the Jigokudani monkey troop. Togura 95, who has been in power for the past 6 years, has been displaced by Tomamu 96. This has caused the balance of power to shift....

It's summer! It's getting hot in the Snow Monkey area (though still relatively cool compared to places like Tokyo and Kyoto) and the Jigokudani monkeys are feeling the arrival of summer. They've taken...

The Boss of the Jigokudani Monkey troop (named Togura 95, nicknamed Little Black because of his dark fur) hasn't been seen for almost three weeks now. It is not unusual for male monkeys to separate fr...

The month of June has begun and brought with it whole new monkey behavior. The new-born baby monkeys of the Jigokudani Snow Monkeys have become a little bit more confident, finally pulling away from t...

The Shiga Kogen Highlands are most know know as the region that holds the largest ski resorts of all of Japan. Loads of people come to enjoy skiing and snowboarding down the mountains. In summer howev...

It's beginning to get warm in Japan, with all the snow on the mountains slowly but surely melting to finally make the high peaks accessible hiking paths. The behavior of the monkeys has changed wi...

If you love fireworks than the Ebisu-ko Fireworks festival in Nagano City is the perfect event for you to go to. It is one of autumn's biggest and most prestigious festivals with over 15,000 firew...

Close to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is a little town called Shibu Onsen. Shibu Onsen is famous for its long history with hot springs (onsen in Japanese). From 600 AC., many Japanese have traveled...

Even though this region is called the Snow Monkey area, we have more than six months without snow. Our Spring, Summer, and Autumn all have their own attractions. In this article we will expand on the ...

It is spring in the Jigokudani area and with the new greens of nature, new life is born to the monkeys. The first baby was reported to be born a week ago, towards the end of April. Usually the ...

The blossoms are finally blooming in the town of Yamanouchi, the town closest to the Snow Monkey Park. Here are a few photo's to give you an impression of the colorful trees.   Here you...

When you ask people to name three things that define Japan they usually name Mount Fuji, geisha, and cherry blossoms. Nagano Prefecture is quite far from Fuji and we would advise you to go to Kyoto to...

Snow Monkey Park situation updated (January 22nd 2017) The onsen pipe line has been fixed yesterday late afternoon and the snow monkey park is back to regular business today. There are tons of snow...

Now that we’ve covered the basics of getting to Nagano on the shinkansen including the different JR Pass options available to you, let’s tackle how to actually buy tickets and use the train. This pa...

New Year is only a few months away and we have had a few questions about the Snow Monkey Park during New Years. Fret not: the park opens during their usual opening hours. Easy answers out of the way, ...

Autumn is only just starting, but here in Japan's mountainous region winter will come sooner than you think. Some of you reading this might be in the process of planning your trip to the snow monkeys ...

Summer is the time of year when it's hot and humid, and it's the best time of the year to be in Japan. When hearing hot and humid most people are likely to think it's better to stay indoors where ther...

This year there were 40 Japanese macaques born in the Jigokudani Monkey Park. This is double the amount compared to most years. Seeing as the Japanese macaques only give birth once every other year, t...

  The town of Yamanouchi, also referred to Yudanaka or the Snow Monkey town, has a new Japanese dining restaurant right in front of Yudanaka Station called "GOEN". They bring you a variety...

As you may have noticed, the Snow Monkey Resorts has just had a makeover. We are proud to present the new Snow Monkey Resorts website with newer and more advanced features. Information such as tim...