Is Snow Monkey Park Worth It? Fees and ¥3,000 Bus (2026)

The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑, Jigokudani Yaen-koen) is worth the trip if you can go between December and March: that is when the park says its wild monkeys bathe in the hot spring.^[3] Go if you want to see wild animals up close and can walk a forest path in snow. Skip it if you cannot walk on unpaved ground, or if you can only come in autumn, when the monkeys sometimes do not appear at all.^[1],[2]

Key facts

• Worth it for: wildlife and photography fans visiting from December to March, the bathing season.^[3]
• Admission: ¥800 for adults until the park revises its fees on December 1, 2026.^{[1] [1],[2]}
• Hours: 9:00–16:00 from November to March, 8:30–17:00 from April to October.^[1],[2]
• Walk: 35 minutes from the Snow Monkey Park bus stop, on a path with unpaved sections.^{[4] [4]}
• From Nagano: the Ex24 direct bus every 20 to 30 minutes from December 5, 2026, ¥3,000 one way.^{[6],[7] [8],[7]}

Is the Snow Monkey Park worth it, and when are the monkeys in the hot spring?

Yes, in winter. The monkeys bathe around December to March, when it turns cold.^[3] Even then, bathing is only one way they cope with the cold, so they are not in the water all day.^[1],[2]

The park is not a zoo. It draws wild monkeys with regular feeding instead of keeping them, so on some days no monkeys come at all, and in autumn their movements are especially hard to predict.^[1],[2] In spring and summer you can still see the troop, but do not expect bathing.

Check before you set out. Park staff watch the monkeys every day and post what they see on Facebook and X.^[3] Look at that post in the morning, before you buy a bus ticket.

How much does it cost and when is it open?

Until the fee revision on December 1, 2026, admission is ¥800 for adults (18 and over) and ¥400 for children from elementary to high school age, and children under 6 enter free with a guardian.^{[1] [1],[2]} These are the prices on the park’s fee table today; the new fees for the December to March bathing season are not on it. The park revises its admission fees from December 1, 2026, and has published the change in a notice on its own site.^[1],[2] If your visit falls on or after that date, the new fee applies.

The park is open 8:30–17:00 from April to October and 9:00–16:00 from November to March.^[1],[2] There is no fixed closing day, but the park may close without notice because of weather, the monkeys’ behaviour or a natural disaster. It asks visitors to reach the gate at least 30 minutes before closing time.^[1],[2]

How long is the walk from the bus stop, and what do I wear?

Plan on 35 minutes each way. That is the time the park gives from the Snow Monkey Park bus stop to the gate.^[4] The forest path, called the Yudo (湯道), runs about 2 km from Kanbayashi Onsen (上林温泉) to Jigokudani, takes about 30 minutes, and is mostly flat with some slopes.^[4]

Every route to the park has unpaved sections, stairs, slopes and steps, so wheelchairs and carts cannot be used.^[4] Wear proper shoes. The park recommends sneakers or trekking shoes, rubber or snow boots in winter, and light crampons to make the icy path safer.^[5]

Allow time for the whole visit. With 35 minutes on foot each way plus your time watching the monkeys, half a day from Nagano is a realistic plan (our planning suggestion). If you would rather sleep near the park, where to stay for the Snow Monkey Park compares Shibu Onsen, Yudanaka, Kanbayashi Onsen and Nagano as bases.

How do I get there from Nagano Station?

From December 5, 2026 to April 5, 2027, take the Ex24 express bus. Nagaden Bus runs it directly between Nagano Station East Exit and Snow Monkey Park every 20 to 30 minutes. Do not board the Ex23 express, which does not serve Snow Monkey Park.^[6],[7]

The alternative is the train. The park gives 38 minutes on the Nagano Electric Railway limited express from Nagano to Yudanaka (湯田中), then 15 minutes by bus from Yudanaka to the Snow Monkey Park stop.^[4] On both routes you finish with the walk.

The Snow Monkey Pass for Bus is the simplest choice in winter. Sold for December 5, 2026 to April 5, 2027, it covers the express bus both ways between Nagano Station East Exit and Snow Monkey Park plus one admission to the park, for ¥6,800 for adults (junior high school and over) and ¥3,400 for children (elementary school).^[9]

1. Buy the set ticket onlineBefore your trip

   Nagaden Bus asks Ex24 riders to buy the bus and admission set ticket on the web in advance. Same-day tickets at the Aruyo desk at Nagano Station East Exit may not be sold once web sales reach their limit, and you cannot pay on board.^[6],[9]

2. Queue at stop 24 at Nagano Station East ExitFrom 8:00

   The bus has a fixed capacity. You board in the order you queued, and if the bus is full you take the next one.^[6],[7] The first bus leaves at 8:00.^[7]

3. Walk to the park35 minutes

   From the Snow Monkey Park bus stop, follow the forest path to the gate.^[4]

4. Ride back to NaganoLast bus 17:00

   The last Ex24 leaves Snow Monkey Park at 17:00 and reaches Nagano Station East Exit at 17:55.^[7]

From Tokyo, the park gives the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano as fastest 79 minutes, so a day trip from Tokyo is possible with an early start (our planning suggestion).^[4] The Tokyo–Kanazawa Shinkansen guide explains the Hokuriku Shinkansen trains that stop at Nagano.

What are the rules at the park?

The monkeys are wild and there are no cages. The first rule is food: never show it to the monkeys and never give them any.^[5]

Do not touch or scare the monkeys, do not stare into their eyes at close range, and watch from a distance.^[5] Photos are allowed, flash included, but you may not put a camera into the bath or use a drone or a selfie stick.^[5]

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

No. Every route to the park has unpaved sections, stairs, slopes and steps, and wheelchairs and carts cannot be used.^[4] Bring a baby carrier instead.

Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the trip?

Only the Shinkansen part. The pass covers JR Shinkansen such as the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano, but on a private railway you pay the fare for the section you ride.^[10] The Japan Rail Pass review shows when the pass pays off.

Can I see snow monkeys in April?

You can see the monkeys, but the park gives the bathing season as around December to March, so bathing in April is not something to plan on.^[3]

What if no monkeys come on the day I buy the bus pass?

Nagaden Bus does not refund the Snow Monkey Pass for Bus when there are no monkeys at the park.^[9] Check the park’s daily post on Facebook or X before you buy.^[3]