Where To Stay Around The Jigokudani Monkey Park
The monkey park is located in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen, putting multiple guesthouses within easy walking distance. There are some great options in the village while nearby, Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen also offer some fantastic choices along with more distant options of staying in Shiga Kogen or Nagano City. On this page you will find the following information:
— Best Areas to Stay Nearby the Monkey Park
— 25 Things to Do Around the Monkey Park
— Snow Monkey Park General Information
— Tours and Charters to the Monkey Park
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 including visits 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.
BEST AREAS TO STAY NEARBY THE MONKEY PARK
When visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park, you really are spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation. In this section we will discuss accommodation options in each of the following areas:
Kanbayashi Onsen — Shibu Onsen — Yudanaka Onsen — Shiga Kogen — Nagano City
The park is located in one of a grouping three hot spring villages/towns that combine to offer numerous accommodation options including high-end, mid-range and budget options hotels and guesthouses. Many have their own hot springs and offer traditional ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) meal service combining for a true Japanese experience nearby the monkeys. Alternatively, many visitors head to the park as a day-trip from nearby Nagano City while in the mountains above the park, Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest ski resort and part of the larger Joshinetsu Kogen National Park – a great all-year-round destination from where it’s also easy to visit the the park. Let’s begin with the nearest accommodation to the monkey park:
KANBAYASHI ONSEN AREA / can access the park on-foot
The monkey park is located at the top of the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen. Within the village, a handful of traditional guesthouses offer some excellent accommodation, each with their own hot springs and all within walking distance of the park. Busy during the day thanks to the monkeys, the village is quiet at night making the option of eating at your guesthouse an attractive option. Both Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen can be reached in under 5-minutes drive, allowing guests to enjoy an evening meal and drink in those towns which have more going on at night. Only 20 to 25-minutes drive to Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, Kanbayashi Onsen is a good option for visitors wanting to enjoy a traditional hotel or guesthouse and some of the region’s best hot springs. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Kanbayashi Onsen Area’ hotel page. If staying there appeals to you, we recommend choosing:
HOTEL SENJUKAKU, KANBAYASHI
Hotel Senjukaku is one of the best hotel’s in the region within easy walk of the Jigokudani Monkey Park. A favourite hotel with members of the Japanese Royal Family, this elegant hotel is known for its exceptional service, traditional comforts, indulgent ‘onsen’ (hot springs) and outstanding ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) meal service. Guests can choose between Japanese rooms with on-floor ‘futon’ bedding or mixed rooms featuring traditional Japanese design and Western-style bedding. Several rooms also include their own hot spring bath with all guests having access to the hotel’s large indoor, outdoor and private ‘onsen’.
HOTARUTEI VILLAS, KANBAYASHI
Let Hotarutei’s 2 luxury private villas be your home away from home. They are ideally suited for families or groups of up to 6 guests to get away and unwind in comfort. Each villa is complete with a furnished kitchenette, 2 Western-style bedrooms, living room, bathrooms, washing machine, shower, and a private bath. Guests are sure to unwind and relax in the private open-air bath, indulge in the ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) meal service at the restaurant.
With the Snow Monkey Park within walking distance and other popular tourist destinations like Shiga Kogen Ski Resort and Shibu Onsen Town easily accessible, the villas serve as the perfect base for your adventures.
SHIBU ONSEN AREA / <5-minutes drive from the park or 25-minute walk
Shibu Onsen is a historic hot spring town blessed with numerous water sources feeding the many hotels and guesthouses concentrated within a small area. Most guesthouses have their own hot springs with town also boasting nine ‘public’ onsen that can be used free of charge by anyone staying overnight in Shibu. A quaint town with some good dining options and a couple of bars, Shibu Onsen has retained more of its hisotric character and charm then Yudanaka Onsen and has a lot more going on than Kanbayashi Onsen. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Shibu Onsen Area’ hotel page.
YUDANAKA ONSEN AREA / 5-minutes drive from the park or 45-minute walk
Spanning-out from Yudanaka Station – the nearest train station to the monkey park – Yudanaka Onsen offers a variety of accommodation ranging from high-end to budget. Local bus services run to the park along with Shiga Kogen Ski Resort from the station. Many hotels and guesthouses have their own ‘onsen’ (natural hot springs) and serve traditional ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) dinners allowing guests to completely unwind at the end of each day. Yudanaka doesn’t have the charm of Shibu and the town is showing its age but if that doesn’t bother you, its a good option for visitors prioritizing ease of access via the train station and lots of accommodation options. or accommodation listings, see our ‘Yudanaka Onsen Area’ hotel page. rooms also including a private bath and shower.
SHIGA KOGEN AREA / 20 to 60-minute drive from the park (or depending on exact destination and season)
Sitting within Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, Shiga Kogen is the largest and highest ski resort in Japan, boasting Nagano’s longest season – typically running from late-November until well into April or even as late as May. Shiga is also the nearest ski resort to the monkey park, making it a good option for visitors wanting to combine their visit to the monkeys with some of Nagano’s best skiing and snowboarding. The vast resort roughly corresponds with Shiga Kogen Highlands. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this is an important and beautiful alpine landscape that offers as many reasons to visit from spring to autumn as it does in winter. Accommodation is dotted through the resort over a wide area, making it somewhat confusing for first-time visitors to choose where to stay. Our ‘Where To Stay In & Around Shiga Kogen?’ page breaks the resort down into smaller accommodation areas and who they suit best. When heading into Shiga Kogen from the park, you will first come to the Sun Valley, Maruike and Hasuike areas – a 20 to 25-minute drive in winter or only 15-minute drive in green season, while the more distant areas of the resort including Okushiga, Kumanoyu and Yokoteyama can take as long as 50 to 60-minutes to reach in winter but only 30-minutes in green season. No matter what time of year that you’re headed there, we recommend:
HOTEL GRAND PHENIX, OKUSHIGA
Hotel Grand Phenix Okushiga is the premier hotel in Shiga Kogen, combining European-style accommodation and comfort with traditional Japanese service, outstanding facilities, and ski in/out convenience. Guests will be stuck by the hotel’s European character with many of the materials and design imported from the continent and imbuing the Grand Phenix with cozy atmosphere with old-world trimmings. The hotel’s spacious lounge with open fireplace is a notable and much-loved feature of the Grand Phenix, an ideal space to look-out upon the surrounding scenery and directly onto the Okushiga ski fields in winter. Offering multiple types of rooms, fine dining, a spacious lounge with open fireplace, relaxing men’s and women’s communal baths, sauna and heated indoor swimming pool, Grand Phenix affords guest the highest quality stay available in Shiga Kogen Ski Resort.
KITA-SHIGA KOGEN / 30 minutes by car
Located around an hour from Nagano Station, Kita-Shiga Kogen is one of the nearest and most accessible ski areas from Nagano City. Almost unknown to international visitors and most certainly overlooked, the four resorts in the area attract few foreign visitors but remain very popular with locals, who come each winter to enjoy great snow conditions.
T HOTEL RYUOO, KITA-SHIGA KOGEN
Where adventure meets comfort. With abundant snowfall, breathtaking mountain views, and excellent facilities, T Hotel Ryuoo offers the perfect choice for where to spend your winter vacation. The luxury hotel is located right next to the entrance of Ryuoo Ski Park in Kita-Shiga Kogen, so you can make the best use of your time enjoying the 14 different ski courses. Whether you are traveling alone or in a group, there is an ideal room or suite that will exceed your expectations of comfort and style.
NAGANO CITY AREA / 50-minutes drive from the park
Many if not most visitors headed to the park using public transport will do so via Nagano Station – only 45 to 50-minutes away by express bus and 50 to 60-minutes away using train followed by local bus. Nagano City boasts lots of accommodation options, most of which are centred around the station. Other train lines, tours, local buses and taxis all operate from the station making the area around it, the most convenient place to stay when exploring the region. The area immediately around the station has plenty of large hotels catering to international visitors. Prices for accommodation are typically good with many hotels offering Western-style rooms and amenities, in-house restaurants and English-speaking staff. Around 15 to 20-minutes walk from the station, the area around Zenko-ji Temple has smaller guesthouses including many ‘shukubo’ (temple lodgings) in the surrounding streets. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Nagano City Area’ hotel page. 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. Within easy walking distance of the station and the city’s most popular attractions and dining areas, Kokusai 21 offers unmatched comfort, convenience and professional service in the heart of Nagano.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND THE MONKEY PARK
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’ page lists some of the best things on offer throughout the year. We hope that we can entice you to visit!
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, how to get there and more. We hope you enjoy your visit with our favourite furry friends.
TOURS AND CHARTERS TO THE MONKEY PARK
As Nagano’s No.1 tour operator, we are proud to offer multiple tours that combine a visit to the Snow Monkey Park with other fun local activities. No matter the season, we can help you make the most of your time in Nagano. Whether with your family or friends, or on your own, we are sure to have something that suits your needs!
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 |
Our most popular offering is our “1-Day Tour: Snow Monkey Park, Zenkoji Temple and Sake in Nagano“. Guests on this delightful excursion will first be treated to Sake Tasting and a guided tour of the historic Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, including lunch at a nearby restaurant.
With the first half of the tour complete, you will then depart for the Monkey Park on our private tour vehicle. Once you have arrived your guide will lead the way up to the place the Monkeys call home, before you once again board the bus and return to your starting destination.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun In Shiga Kogen | |
| Period | December to March |
| Time | 08:45 – 17:30/18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Snow Monkey Park Area |
| Adult Rate | ¥21,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,300 |
For those guests coming in the Winter, we also offer the “1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen“, combining exciting snow activities such as sledding and riding snow scoots with a visit to the Monkey Park. Lunch is also included, making for the perfect day trip for anyone looking to experience what winter in Nagano is all about!
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano | |
| Period | April |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:30/18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Another unforgettable tour is our “1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano“. Including two of Japan’s most amazing natural spectacles, the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms and the hot-spring loving monkeys of Jigokudani, this offering is the easiest way to enjoy a relaxed spring day in Nagano.
Private Tour
| [START FROM NAGANO CITY] Private Snow Monkey Tour | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 to 17:15 ~ 18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Any location in Nagano City |
| Price | ¥122,000 ~ / group |
For those who want a more customized experience, we also offer private tours of the Snow Monkey Park and nearby attractions such as Zenkoji Temple. For more information, please click the link above or send us an inquiry describing your ideal itinerary.
CHARTER A VEHICLE TO THE SNOW MONKEY PARK!
For those interested in private charter services, we would be pleased to provide a vehicle and propose an itinerary to suite your needs! Please see our charter page and send us your trip details so we can can start planning your journey together.
