Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 33 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide worth booking?
Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide is a 3.3-hour experience in Nagano, Japan, from $113 per person. It scores 79 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 33 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 79 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (33)
- Duration
- 3.3 hours
- From
- $113 per person
Jigokudani Yaen-koen is home to hundreds of “snow monkeys”, known as such because they spend their days soaking in the mountainous hot springs. In 1970 they appeared on the cover of Life magazine in the U.S. due to this
What you get
About this experience
Jigokudani Yaen-koen is home to hundreds of “snow monkeys”, known as such because they spend their days soaking in the mountainous hot springs. In 1970 they appeared on the cover of Life magazine in the U.S. due to this unique behaviour. Furthermore, in 1998, when the winter Olympic Games was held in Nagano, lots of athletes, media, and tourists from foreign countries visited. Monkeys don’t soak in the hot spring in the warm season because they bathe in order to prevent from the severe coldness in winter. Soaking in the hot spring is only one part of the monkeys’ life. You can also see them lazing or frolicking on the nearby mountain and forest.
What's included
Included
- Professional guide
- Round trip bus tickets from Yudanaka station
- All Fees and Taxes
- Foot Spa
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Private transportation
What you'll see and do
Yamanouchi Information Center
The tour starts from this station.
10 minutes here
Yamanouchi Information Center
This tourist information center is pretty small, but interesting and has quite good information for tourists. You can take a map or brochure for free.
Pass by without stopping
Jigokudani Funsen
Jigokudani Fountain is blowing high. Jigokudani means Hell Valley in Japanese, Jigokudani Fountain is designated as a national natural monument. The hot spring that gushes from the bottom of the river is a natural fountain that can be up to 20 meters high. It’s dynamic landscape is also great!
Pass by without stopping
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Located in the Yokoyu River Valley at an altitude of 850m, the Jigokudani Yaen Koen is known as "Hell Valley" due to the steep cliffs and steam emitting from the springs. It's buried in snow for a third of the year but is a paradise for the monkeys of Nagano area as they enjoy bathing in the hot springs to warm up.
40 minutes here · Admission included
If you're feeling a bit peckish while waiting for the bus to Yudanaka Station, we recommend grabbing some coffee or apple pie for takeout at this café here.
5 minutes here
Kaede no Yu
Known as ‘ashi-yu’ in Japanese, the foot spa can be used free of charge and offers simple relaxation when awaiting your train. Simply take your shoes and socks off, roll-up your pants and rest your feet in the thermal water. After a day of exploring the monkey park, it’s amazing how much this simple action refreshes your body and reinvigorates you for the journey ahead.
15 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Nagano
The guide will waiting for you at the ticket gate of Yudanaka station.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The guide will waiting for you at the ticket gate of Yudanaka station.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Trip Designer Inc.
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please join us wearing shoes that are easy to walk in and do not bring heavy baggage because you will walk the mountain paths
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 33 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Physical effort
2 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Traveler reviews
33 verified traveler reviews for Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Snow monkeys with Hori
What an awesome experience! Having a guide like Hori, made it so much better than if we’d done it by ourselves. His information and stories about the snow monkeys, the area and personal experiences were amazing. The monkeys themselves were not afraid to be close to us. A long but beautiful walk to get to them was so worth it! Thank you Hori, we loved every minute.
Response from the operator: Dear valued guest, Thank you very much for booking our Snow Monkey Tour and for sharing your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that Hori’s stories, local insights, and warm guiding made the experience even more special, and that the beautiful walk was so memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Japan! Best regards, Kyoko
via Tripadvisor
Fabulous snow monkey tour with our guide Tomio! He was knowledgeable about the Nagano area snow monkeys and Japanese culture. Aw
Fabulous snow monkey tour with our guide Tomio! He was knowledgeable about the Nagano area snow monkeys and Japanese culture. Awesome day!
Response from the operator: Dear Anna, Thank you very much for joining our Snow Monkey Tour! It’s great to know that Tamio’s knowledge of the Nagano area, the snow monkeys, and Japanese culture made your day such a memorable one. We truly appreciate your kind review and hope to welcome you again! Best regards, Kyoko
via Tripadvisor
Fabulous snow monkey tour with Tomio
The snow monkey tour with Tomio was awesome! We learn so much about the Nagano area and the snow monkeys. His English was great and he really customized the tour for us ... throwing in a sake brewery tasting.
Response from the operator: Dear Anna, Thank you very much for another review!It’s great to hear that Tamio’s knowledge, excellent English, and customized touches—like the sake brewery tasting—made your day so memorable. We truly appreciate your kind review and hope to welcome you again! Best regards, Kyoko
via Viator
Tamio was brilliant
I travelled Solo and the guide Tamio an affable older gentleman was very pleasant, knowledgeable and was even able to help me buy my Shinkansen tickets. The snow monkeys were exactly as expected though I understand got lucky with the weather as they don't soak in certain conditions. All and all a fantastic experience. One note it is a hike to get to the monkeys so I can only recommend this experience to those comfortable with hiking about 2 miles (one there and one back approximately) on rough uneven and in the snow icy and slippery trails.
Response from the operator: Dear valued guest, Thank you very much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that Tamio made your solo visit enjoyable and that his knowledge and support added to your day. We’re also glad the weather allowed you to see the snow monkeys as expected. We truly appreciate your kind feedback and hope to welcome you again on a future adventure in Japan! Best regards, Kyoko
via Tripadvisor
Useless like having no tour guide
The tour guide was late she showed up 10 minutes late. Her picture was 10 year younger than the actual one in person. She was the worst tour guys I every had with Vistor in 20 plus years I have used Viator in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Australia , New Zealand and Many more countries through out my 20 years using Viator. She was the worst ever. We could have easily just gone online and bought the entrance tickets and train & bus ride. First she didn’t wait for us and raced forward without even looking back and had to run to catch up with her my girlfriend lagged further behind and told her she is the tour guide and needs to stay with my girlfriend to make sure she was okay. She then after one hour stay with her then she didn’t and told me she need me . I told her I have to keep moving forward and she needs to make sure she was okay then she need med her inhaler so I went back to give it to her but it took me awhile since I sprain my ankle a few days ago and was walking slower than normal but a steady pace. We had only 20 minutes at the monkey hot springs but it was enough since they were not swimming in the hot springs but climbing and playing around the rocks tell they all came running to the park ranger who was feeding them that afternoon around 2:30-3pm. She the. Said lets go before they feed the monkey and we started our climb back down she told us not to use the bathroom up there since the one nicer down below but she quickly left both my girlfriend and I and charged ahead not even looking back she was a good 10-15 minutes ahead of me and 20 -25 minutes before my girlfriend there was k my us I. Her tour now I know why. She probably got some other bad reviews! She charge ahead to go to the bathroom and I could see she disappeared in the building but as I was approaching she came out drinking her water! She never once during the 3 hours of we needed some water. So the cost of the tickets was less than $50 each so the was paid over $200 for nothing! There was no other tour guide and about 75 to over 100 people walked up the trail without any guide. She did not say one word about the monkeys or history or nothing she was so useless the tour was 100percent waste of money we could do it by our self she didn’t stay with us so it was like we didn’t even have a tour guide plus she could even spend 50 cent for water to give us. Wow what is Viator doing hiring such a bad terrible tour guide. Never again!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3.3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $113 to $30000
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 12
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 79
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Nagano.
How much does Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide cost?
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Prices start at $113 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Nagano usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide take?
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Plan for about 3.3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Nagano is not rushed.
Is Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 79 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 33 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Nagano, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3.3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide?
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Around 12 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Nagano can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Nagano and add a light layer if any part of the 3.3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Nagano within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Nagano?
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On Outty we rank every Nagano experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle, 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano, Izakaya Food Tour in Nagano. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Nagano?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Nagano?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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