Yamanouchi Reviews

You can see the monkeys bathing in the hot springs closer than expected.
Nearly half of those who came were like foreigners.

It requires a walk up the mountain to get here and it's worth it. Great experience to see the monkeys in the hot springs.

Unfortunately didn't see any monkeys using the onsens, but it was a beautiful trek through the forest to get there

A monkey is immersed in a hot spring, fantastic! When I went there were many Western and Chinese tourists. It's hard to walk on the snowy road for tens of minutes. Still, it is worth going to see a monkey enjoying the hot spring more than enough.

If you are close by and want a day off, e.g. from Snowboarding, go for it. It's nothing special. You need to walk on a small path in the woods for about 35min. The area or view is not really beautiful, it is really just the monkeys. Also you need to be lucky to see them swimming, often they just hang near the water.

I was impressed by the wild monkeys moving around and the hot springs. The little monkey is cute!

Cute monkeys. Nice walk leading up to the hot springs they are in. Nice day trip if in Nagano/Ilyama or nearby

Amazing place indeed! You can see the beautiful scenery with snow if you come here in winter. And if you lucky enough, you can actually see the monkeys enjoy the hot spring!! The monkeys there are quite cool and well mannered, as long as you don t break the rule there. I would be a great option if you go to this place in your schedule. ( Also, the road is really flat that even elderly can walk on the path easily.)

I really liked seeing the monkeys in their natural habitat

Monkey park full of wildlife monkeys it's a great spot for family and friends to visit

Although it is necessary to take a mountain road, it is worthwhile to see the cute snow monkeys. Just go to the time when the monkeys don t blisters and show us ~

We walk considerably from parking lot, but we can see bathing of rare monkey

You have to be joking. One made made pond the size of a very small swimming pool. Monkeys are fed & fenced in. Tourist trap!

Hell Tanino ape public park is a great place, the area where the park will not be great, from the parking lot to go past local park section of the road, the road there will be snow in the winter, it is recommended to be able to take part in snow shoes, if not, the trail also makes a good, careful to walk less likely to slip, snow can lead to some of the roads will be closed to traffic, Hells Canyon wild apes public garden is very special, there are a lot of monkeys, but when the cold monkey will go bath, cold weather is not only used to drink spring water, the monkeys are accustomed to many tourists to visit, but still much better not to disturb the monkeys

Awesome sceneries! The monkeys were quite tame and didn't really bother your presence. The walk towards the park was breathtaking

Admission 800 children 400 nice large number of bathing monkeys.

Loved cute monkeys, there is also a 2km walk to get there which is quite nice

I went in June. I didn't soak in the hot spring, but I enjoyed it. Immediately, I could see monkeys running under my feet, taking care of my children, fighting, and acting freely without worrying about them.

A lovely hike, some adorable, rowdy, wild, calm, real monkeys. And they have their own hot spring. It's a great visit!

Snow monkeys are very cute, watching them feel good after bathing
The nearby Korakuen can bathe with the snow monkeys, but the monkeys have a past.

Great attraction. Get there early before the monkeys head up the mountain to catch the sun.

Fantastic walk in the middle of the forest, which ends in a waterfall where the monkeys have a small onsen. The road has a distance of approximately 1,6Km with some flights of stairs. Be careful because if there is humidity or it has recently rained, a lot of mud is formed and the road can slip.

It was good to the the monkeys because they are so famous and its real that you see how they chill in the pool but if you think it is naturally how they live and you have to search them you are a little bit dissapointed because the people that work there give them Food and there is only one spot where you can enjoy one hour or two and thats all.you dont walk 4 hours for example and find always new places with the cute monkeys

It was a very nice walk up to the monkey park. Even though the path was icy and snow covered it wasn't bad to get to the park. It seemed like a rather long walk but it was good exercise. It helps that the weather was cold. There were a lot of people there so you have to share the path which is not apparent to some people there. Bring your camera or smartphone, there are a lot of photo ops with the monkeys or just the nice landscape. Just don't mess with the monkeys, they can get very vicious. Don't bring food. There were lots of signs but if course there are people that believe signs are for the next person. A woman who didn't read the sign had a monkey grab food from her backpack while she screamed and looked very foolish. Read the sign. It was a plastic wrapped food which the sign indicated that monkeys love. She lost her I've cream cone but luckily she didn't get scratched or bit. Read the sign. There are restrooms at the start of the hike and at the top of the trail. There are places to eat and get anti slip shoes and spikes slip ons. You can rent warm clothes and the shoes and spikes. There's a ramen place and snack places along with vending machines for drinks. The cost is about $60 per person. This includes the limo bus ride from the Nagano station to the park and back and the admission fee. It's about a 2 hour bus ride each way. Just get the bus/admission fee from the bus driver. Go to the East Bus station at the Nagano station. Just ask the driver and usually the bus has monkey park printed on the side of the bus.

It was a much better place than I had imagined. Wild Japanese macaques do not flirt with humans and live comfortably, and their ecology can be observed up close. Only monkeys entering the hot springs are attracting attention, but I think it is wonderful that humans can enter the habitat of wild Japanese macaques without causing any harm.

This place is a very unique tourist destination. In the winter hundreds of red-skinned monkeys go down to warm themselves in hot spring baths. Closely we can see their behavior both individually and in groups.

I went in late autumn, but the monkey wasn't taking a bath. Unlike humans, it doesn't seem to enter until the temperature drops.

Tucked away in the mountains approximately 25 minutes on foot. The hike to the place was very nice even in the hot summer: lots of shade in the forrest and a cool stream alongside most of the hike.

Great fun for kids and not very crowded outside the core travel times.

Must visit there if you go Nagano in Autumn, Winter or Spring Season. They will be welcome all of you :)
Recommended "Snow Monkey 1 day pass", can buy this pass at Nagano Station (Dentetsu Train Line), all included unlimited Express Bus, Unlimited Train, Local bus and Free Admission to Snow Monkey Park.

Monkey was cute.
The way to the Wild Park Monkey ... I think that I can not walk unless I hug my child with a hug holding cord.

I watched a person walking in a stroller or the like in the period of snow, is not it impossible? I tought.
Everything, the stairs are at the end of the mountain road ... (: )

Impressive to see the monkeys so close. Many people, however.

Great monkeys and beautiful in Summer. Way more worth it in Winter likely. Monkeys did not use the onsen.

Very beautiful landscapes, the monkeys are free and you can see how they play with you, it is not very big so it can be quick, just to relax a little, if you bring children it is a good family activity!

It s a nice walk in the snow train to get there in the winter. Bring boots, and weather gear, it gets cold. The park itself is small, get there early to take advantage. It gets crowded and becomes a tourist trap quickly. Also eat before you get there, thers no snacks once you arrive.

I. saw. monkeys. taking. a. bath.
Sounds weird when I write it out, but it was awesome, you see them in their natural habitat

The animals are free and not tied to fences or cages.

They walk around freely as if you were not there.

The supervisor is very careful to ensure that the rules are met.

Do not feed and touch! OK then!

Admission was about 800 yen / person + 500 yen parking fee.

"Park" closes at 17 o'clock.

Was a very nice day with many new friends!

Really cold weather in mid-Jan, 45min hike where some routes along the way are quite slippery. But great snowy views and seeing the snow monkeys enjoying their onsen.

Lots of monkeys but very few decided to take a swim! Great guide.

Not easy to reach, so cold monkeys will soak in hot springs

Fun visit hard walk in winter. Lots of ice and quite slippery. Huge amount of people when we visited so a bit of patience is required.

After 45 minutes of steep ascent, you come to a river and find many free-living macaques, you must not feed and touch them. If you want, they can pass by on their own.

Pleasant experience, even in summer without snow. We take a nice walk in the forest to get there. Then there is a small jeyser, then the park itself with its mutually delusional monkeys. Lots of adorable baby monkeys during our visit. My kids loved it.
Our hotel (Hotel Omodaka in Yamanouchi) dropped us off and picked up for free at the parking lot: super practical for distracting between two baths in the hot springs.

Monkeys scamper amongst the human invaders, minding there own business as tourists peer quizzably thru their cell phones.

I must admit I usually hate these kind of tourist spots where you can see "wild" animals. For example, the stupid deer at Miyajima are just frickin annoying as hell. But I actually really enjoyed seeing the snow monkeys. We got a perfect day, there was a light fluffy snow falling and it was cool to watch the monkeys interact with each other and basically ignore all the people. They're clearly intelligent and very social. If I had to be a monkey, I think I'd want to be one of these. Coupled with the fantastic onsen experience we had at Shibu (Kokuya), I would highly recommend that anyone come here. My guess is that winter is best.

Snow monkeys are so cute. Can spend hours just watching them play in the hot springs. The walk through the forest was amazing

Went there during August and saw the cute monkeys playing with each other while others were taking the time to relax in the sun. Highly recommended and if you travel by train the Monkey Pass is a good deal as you are able to use the Nagano-Tram for the whole day as well as local busses. The monkeys live completely free and you will have many chances to capture the perfect shot. The way to the Park through the forest is calming and pretty beautiful. I will definitely have to come back during winter to see it again.

The weather is beautiful here. We focus on the view along the way to eat.
Local Nagano Beer I will be happy to see the monkey.

Wonderful to be able to walk up-to the pools and see the Monkeys playing in the water. Expected it to be larger but there are walks outside of the park you can do.

It's worth to see the adorable snow monkeys although we didnt see them bathing in onsen, perhaps because summer is too hot for onsen even for monkeys. Be mindful though when walking in the forest like environment, we saw a tiny snake on our trek and some big clolored lizards. The climb during summer is pleasant, we started around 8:30 and took us about 30 minutes walk to the park entrance, the monkeys was not around when we arrived but we decided to wait (we came for them anyway) after about 30 minutes, they started to arrive. Such a joy to watch them do their thing.

Be careful, easy to slip and fall during icy winters.
The road is frozen in winter. Some people slipped, fell, hit their heads, and were carried by ambulance. Be sure to wear non-slip shoes.
A few years ago, a souvenir shop at the entrance to the road sold spikes around shoes. I don't know if it's for sale now. be careful!

The footage of monkeys immersed in hot springs in the snow is famous. They are surprisingly nostalgic for humans, or they are well disciplined with a sense of distance and no harm. I came near by car, but many foreigners visited on foot from below. I want to see the monkeys in the hot springs.

Theyre so great ! Cute and the little buggers can run straight up to you

A natural attraction, it is recommended to wear dirt-resistant cloth shoes! If you can, it s best to go in the snowy season in winter. If it s not cold, the snow monkeys won t go to the bath

Monkeys are walking everywhere. Million times begger than seeing them in zoo

Although I like that everyone can see monkeys up close and take beautiful photos, I'm against intervening with wildlife. The employees of park feed and actually signals the monkeys with whistles, so that they know that food is served. The monkeys don't appear to be wild but more semi-wild, dependent on the food from the park.
But the photos are amazing from there.

Lovely walk in the snow to see the monkeys in the hot spring. Not much else to say, it is just that fantastic.

Again while exhaling white breath, where you want to go to see walking down the snow-covered road

Monkeys rarely entered the hot springs because it was not winter.

The snow monkey is so cute~ moved. After the meal is finished at noon, the snow monkey is willing to take a hot spring, but fortunately, I also saw it.

Magical Japan experience.
It s literally a park, by the way; not just an onsen pool of monkeys.

1. Parking: get there early or park near the museum not too far away.

2. To get to the park: you have to walk / hike for 15-20 mins.
It s a nature reserve area. They won t let you eat inside or throw trash away on the trail and park.

3. You ll get to the entrance area and there is a gift shop/bathroom/rest area.

4. Entrance fee: 800 yen per person.
You will then walk for a few more minutes before you get to the area full of monkeys.

You can get real close to the monkeys. They are used to human beings, BUT don t get too close.
(You don t really need a far-zoom lens for your DSLR to get close shots of the monkeys).

There are park rangers / security that will tell you not too get too close or bother them.

There is no time limit to be there so the earlier you get there, the better.

Tuesdays are their holidays.

Watch out for monkey poop.

The monkeys were really cool... And I hope they will still be around for the next few generations!

The park and trail are really well kept. (Good job Japan) so please
Buying something at the gift shop really helps with this business I think, so please support :-)

Amazing feeling to be able to get so close to the monkeys and observe their daily life. The scenery is beautiful and serene. We were also lucky enough to be there during feeding time and it was ballistic, they all went running towards the food. Most of the time they lounge around and groom each other. The little monkeys are just adorable and playful with visitors, although you shouldn t reach out to them still. We went in the summer, the monkeys are still out and about, just not soaking in the pool. It was just as amazing and worth it to go during the summer. The way to the park is around 30-45 minutes and there are short parts with sets or higher incline. Overall though, it s not bad at all.

Stunning scenery with fresh snow in April-which I was told is a rarity. Snow monkeys were roaming about, in onsen, and walking around the paths. Was a wonderful morning stroll.

Famous place where you can see monkeys in an onsen. It's best to visit here in winter.

Great place for family, make sure you are dress warm! Monkeys pretty well behave, great place to eat at, Enza Cafe have their apple pie!

this is a very long walk from where the bus drops you off or you park, however, it is really worth it. See in the monkeys hanging out in the hot spas is unique.

Beautiful view on the road, walk into the park need about 40 minutes, so prepare at least 3 hours for spending time. also I suggest you to wear a pair of comfort boots, because some places are slippery and incline.

Thankful to have seen so many Macacs in the wild but get so close. Don t bring food or drink inside the grounds, but cafe limited outside with some souvenirs. Bring walking shoes even in summer and shoulder seasons 1.6km walk with steep part at start and end, all worth it.

Really great. The monkeys stroll quietly among the tourists.

Only when the cold snow blizzeth
Monkey did not enter the hot spring