Snow Monkey Park in Winter: Getting There on Your Own or on a Guided Tour

You can reach Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Yamanouchi (Nagano) on your own from Tokyo by shinkansen (bullet train) to Nagano, then a local train and bus or an express bus, and finish with a walk of about 30 minutes on a snowy mountain path. In winter (November to March) the park is open 9:00–16:00, admission rises to ¥1,000 for adults from December 1, 2026, and the official site says the monkeys use the hot spring from December to March.

Opening hours and admission (2026)

According to the park's official guide page, the park is open every day of the year. Hours are 9:00–16:00 in winter (November to March) and 8:30–17:00 from April to October. The park asks visitors to arrive no later than 30 minutes before closing.

A notice dated September 20, 2026 says admission goes up from December 1, 2026:

• Adults (18 and older): ¥800 → ¥1,000 at the gate, or ¥880 as a web ticket.
• Children (elementary to high school): ¥400 → ¥500 at the gate, or ¥440 as a web ticket.
• Under 6: free, with a guardian.

There is no senior discount. Credit cards and e-money are accepted at the gate, but QR code and barcode payments are not.

Why a web ticket matters in winter

The park started online ticketing in August 2026. Its notice says every web ticket is for a set date and can be bought up to 3 months ahead. Without one you may have to wait to enter, and on crowded days visitors without a web ticket may be turned away. The top page adds that from December to April, web ticket holders get priority entry.

The same notice asks winter visitors to use public transportation. Parking is limited, and some parking lots close over the New Year holidays and on weekends and public holidays from December to March, when snow and ice make the road dangerous. Its winter calendar marks most weekends and the New Year days as "extremely crowded."

Getting there on your own from Tokyo

The park's access page gives this route: Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano (about 79 minutes on the fastest trains), then the Nagaden (Nagano Electric Railway) limited express to Yudanaka (about 38 minutes), then a bus to the "Snow Monkey Park" bus stop (about 15 minutes), and a walk of about 35 minutes. The other way from Nagano is the express bus toward Shiga Kogen from the East Exit of Nagano Station, about 41 minutes to the same bus stop. For shinkansen tickets and whether a rail pass is worth it, see Japan Rail Pass and shinkansen tickets.

Adding up those official times, the trip from Tokyo is almost 3 hours each way before waiting and transfers. With winter closing at 16:00, a day trip works best if you leave Tokyo early in the morning.

Nagaden fares and the Snow Monkey Pass

• Paying as you go: Nagaden's fare table lists Nagano to Yudanaka at ¥1,660 for adults (fares revised on December 1, 2025). The limited express ticket costs ¥100 for adults for any distance; a reserved seat is ¥300.
• SNOW MONKEY PASS (train): sold by Nagaden at station ticket machines. It covers 1 day of unlimited Nagaden rides including the non-reserved limited express, a round trip on the local bus between Yudanaka Station and the Snow Monkey Park bus stop, and park admission. The price shown for April 1 to September 30, 2026 was ¥4,800 for adults; the winter 2026–27 price was not on the page when we checked, so look at the page before you go.
• Snow Monkey Pass for Bus: Nagaden Bus sells a round trip on the express bus from Nagano Station East Exit plus park admission. The winter price, from December 5, 2026 to April 5, 2027, is ¥6,800 for adults (junior high school and older) and ¥3,400 for children (elementary school). It is sold online and at the "Aruyo" bus information office on the 1st floor of the East Exit of Nagano Station; same-day tickets there may sell out when online sales reach their limit. It is a different ticket from the train pass, and it is not refunded if no monkeys appear.

The walk: about 30 minutes on a snowy path

The park's first-time visitor guide says you must walk about 30 minutes on an unpaved path from the parking lot or bus stop. The access page describes the forest path as about 2 km, with stairs and slopes. In winter the park recommends rubber boots or snow boots, and suggests buying simple crampons (slip-on ice grips for shoes) before you go; we did not find an official rental. Wheelchairs and carts can't be used on either path.

For warm layers and shoes that grip, see what to wear in Japan in winter.

When the monkeys bathe

The first-time visitor guide says the monkeys use the hot spring from December to March, when it is coldest. The guide page adds that they are not in the water all day, every day. The monkeys come to the park because staff feed them there, but the park says some days they don't appear at all, and that in autumn they move around more and less predictably. The park posts a weekly monkey forecast and a live camera on its site.

The park's rules

From the park's caution page and guide page:

• Food: don't show or give the monkeys any food.
• Touching and noise: don't touch or yell at the monkeys. They are wild, not pets.
• Eyes: don't stare closely into a monkey's eyes; staring with an open mouth can look like a threat. If baby monkeys come close, step away.
• Cameras: photos and videos are allowed, and so is flash. Selfie sticks, drones and putting a camera into the bath are not.
• Pets: no animals, including guide dogs and hearing dogs.
• Children: hold young children by the hand.
• Bathing: people may not bathe with the monkeys.

The park says people who break the rules may be asked to leave.

On your own or on a guided tour?

• On your own is good if you're happy changing at Nagano Station, want to choose your own time at the park, or want to stay nearby. Buy a dated web ticket or a Nagaden pass and leave early.
• A tour is good if you'd rather not handle transfers in the snow, or you're short on time. Before booking, check what is included: admission, the walk (no vehicle goes to the park, so every visitor walks the path), and the time you get at the park.
• Either way: the walk, the weather and the monkeys are the same. Bring boots and crampons, and check the forecast that morning.

The area is also known for hot spring towns and ski resorts. See skiing in Japan for Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba (Nagano), the best onsen towns in Japan, and onsen manners before your own soak. If you're also visiting Matsumoto (Nagano), see Matsumoto Castle.

Last reviewed: October 26, 2026. Fees, pass prices and winter parking rules can change each season; check the park's and Nagaden's official pages before you go.