Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park Day Trip from Tokyo or Nagano (Winter 2026–27)

Updated October 2026. Fees, hours and ticket rules checked on the park's official site; fares from JR and Nagaden

Some links on this page earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. How that works.

Japan's bathing snow monkeys live at Jigokudani, a steep valley 850 m up in northern Nagano. From Tokyo it's a long but doable day trip: shinkansen to Nagano, a bus or train toward Yamanouchi, then a half-hour forest walk. This winter, entry goes up on December 1, 2026, and people with online tickets get in first.

Best months to see the snow monkeys in snow

The park says its monkeys use the hot spring baths from December to March, when it's coldest. Bathing is how they keep warm, not a show. On mild days fewer monkeys get in, and on very cold, snowy days some stay in for a couple of hours.

For snow on the ground, January and February are the safest bets; early December and late March can go either way. Check the park's live camera and its daily monkey updates on X and Facebook before you set off. These are wild animals, fed by staff to draw them in, and on some days few turn up. Tickets aren't refunded if that happens.

Crowds matter too. The park's winter calendar rates every day from December to March as busy. It marks weekends, December 25, December 28–January 11, February 11–12, February 22–23 and March 22 as very busy, and some parking lots close to visitors on those days. Go on a weekday if you can. Our Japan in winter and Japan in February guides cover the rest of the season.

Snow monkey park hours, fees and web tickets for 2026–27

Until November 30, gate prices are ¥800 and ¥400. Hours are 9:00–16:00 from November to March and 8:30–17:00 from April to October. The park opens every day but can close without notice for weather, and it asks you to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing. The gate takes cards and e-money, not QR-code payments.

• Web tickets are date-specific and go on sale three months ahead on the park's Webket site (English available, registration required).
• Priority: from December to April, web-ticket holders go first. Without one you may have to wait, and on the most crowded days you may not get in.
• Rules: don't feed, touch or stare at the monkeys, and keep your distance. Flash photos are fine, but selfie sticks, drones and putting a camera into the bath are banned. No pets, including assistance dogs.

How to get to the snow monkey park from Tokyo

1. Tokyo to Nagano: Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki, Hakutaka or Asama), fastest 79 minutes. A reserved seat costs ¥8,450 one way in regular season, so about ¥16,900 round trip.
2. Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park bus stop: either the Nagaden express bus from Nagano Station's East Exit (41 minutes), or the Nagaden train to Yudanaka (about 40 minutes by limited express, ¥1,660 plus a ¥100 limited express fee) and then a 15-minute local bus.
3. The walk: about 35 minutes from the bus stop, most of it the 1.6 km forest trail.

Allow about three hours each way. The gate closes at 16:00 in winter, so aim to be on a shinkansen by 9:00.

Snow Monkey Pass for Bus: Nagaden Bus sells the round-trip express bus and park entry as one set, ¥6,800 for adults and ¥3,400 for children in winter. Buy it from the machines at the "Aruyo" information center (1F, Nagano Station East Exit), or, for travel from December 5 to April 5, 2027, on the park's Webket site from 90 days ahead. Seats are first come, first served, and the park warns that with an entry-only ticket you may not get on a full bus. The pass isn't valid on the local buses from Yudanaka.

Snow monkey day tour or do it yourself?

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

For most first-timers the group tour is simplest: one bus from Shinjuku, entry handled, a guide on the trail. The trade-off is a 12-hour day in a group of up to 46 people with fixed timings.

Check snow monkey tour dates on Klook (opens in a new tab)

Already in Nagano? See the small-group snow monkey and Shibu Onsen tour on Klook (opens in a new tab). Traveling as a family or group? Compare the private day trip from Tokyo on Klook (opens in a new tab).

What to wear on the snow monkey trail

The trail is unpaved, and in winter it's packed snow and ice. The park recommends rubber or snow boots and simple crampons bought before you go. Strollers and wheelchairs can't manage the steps and uneven ground.

• Waterproof boots with deep tread, plus slip-on ice cleats
• Thermal layers and a windproof jacket: you heat up on the walk, then stand still at the pools
• A hat, touchscreen gloves and a power bank

The full checklist is in our Japan winter packing list.

Adding Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka

Yudanaka, at the end of the Nagaden line, and neighboring Shibu Onsen are old hot-spring towns 15 minutes by bus from the trail. Shibu is known for its nine public bathhouses, but the nine-bath circuit is for overnight guests only (your inn lends you the key). Day visitors can use just one, No. 9, Shibu Oyu: 10:00–17:00, ¥800 for adults and ¥500 for children. Buy a ticket at the tourist information center or a nearby inn, and a designated shop or inn unlocks the door. There's no soap or shampoo, and it occasionally closes for a day.

Staying a night lets you be at the gate when it opens at 9:00. In winter the way in is the forest trail from the Snow Monkey Park side; the Shibu-side Jigokudani parking lot closes for the season.

Does a JR Pass or Hokuriku Arch Pass help?

Only for the shinkansen. Nagaden trains and buses are private and aren't covered by any JR pass.

• Japan Rail Pass (7 days, ¥50,000): the Tokyo–Nagano round trip, about ¥16,900, covers roughly a third of it. Worth it only as part of a longer itinerary; see is the JR Pass worth it.
• JR EAST PASS (¥35,000 for 5 consecutive days): covers the Aomori, Sendai, Nagano and Niigata areas, so it only pays off with more long rides.
• Hokuriku Arch Pass (¥35,000 for 7 days): for foreign visitors entering as "Temporary Visitor". It covers the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Tsuruga, including Nagano, plus Thunderbird trains to Osaka. It makes sense if you're traveling Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, then Kyoto or Osaka anyway. Compare the Hokuriku Arch Pass on Klook (opens in a new tab).

Snow monkey park questions

Can you visit the snow monkeys as a day trip from Tokyo?

Yes. It's about three hours each way, and the park closes at 16:00 in winter, so start early. The Shinjuku bus tour takes about 12 hours.

Do I need to book snow monkey park tickets in advance?

It's strongly advised in winter. From December to April, web-ticket holders get priority, and without one you may wait or be turned away on the busiest days. Tickets open three months ahead and cost less online (¥880 vs ¥1,000 for adults from December 1).

Do the monkeys bathe all year?

No. The park says they use the hot spring from December to March, when it's coldest. The rest of the year they rarely bathe, and in autumn they may not come to the park every day.

How much does the trip cost from Tokyo?

Doing it yourself, about ¥23,700 per adult: ¥16,900 for the shinkansen round trip plus ¥6,800 for the Snow Monkey Pass for Bus at its winter price. Food and any bath are extra.

Related guides

• Christmas in Japan 2026: Illuminations, Christmas Markets, KFC and Cake
• Renting a Car in Hokkaido: Permits, Winter Driving, Costs and Routes
• Japan in December 2026: Weather, Illuminations, Events and What to Book
• Japan in February 2027: Weather, Snow Festivals, Plum Blossoms and What to Book
• Luggage Storage in Japan: Coin Lockers, Shinkansen Rules and Forwarding
• Mt. Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo: Bus, Train or Guided Tour? (2026)

Save this guide for later

Pin it so it’s there when you sit down to plan.