The Route at a Glance
≈ 2.5–3.5 hrs end to end
1
Step 1
Choose Your Starting Point
varies
Every route to the snow monkeys converges at Nagano. Only the first leg differs, and how long it takes depends entirely on where you begin.
Full details
From Tokyo, the Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Nagano in 80 to 100 minutes, fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. From Osaka, allow about four hours via Nagoya and the Limited Express Shinano, or via Tsuruga and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From Kyoto, the same two routes run about three and a half hours. From Nagano itself you are already at the start line, roughly ninety minutes from the monkeys. Each origin has its own full guide with times, fares and transfer detail.
2
Step 2
Get to Nagano
1.5–4h
Nagano Station is the hub. Both onward options to the park leave from the East (Zenko-ji) exit, signposted in English.
Full details
The Hokuriku Shinkansen serves Nagano directly from Tokyo. From western Japan the usual route is the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya and the Limited Express Shinano, which runs roughly hourly and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass in ordinary cars. Coin lockers on the Nagano concourse are worth using, because the final approach to the park is a forest trail and a poor place for a suitcase.
3
Step 3
Nagano to Yudanaka
45–70m
Transfer to the Nagano Dentetsu (Nagaden) line to Yudanaka, the last stop, in 45 to 70 minutes depending on the service.
Full details
The Nagaden platform sits directly beneath JR Nagano. It is a private railway, so the Japan Rail Pass does not cover it and you buy a ticket at the station. Limited express services are faster for a small surcharge; local trains stop more often and cost less. Neither requires a reservation. Through winter a seasonal express bus also runs direct from Nagano to the trailhead, which skips this transfer entirely when it is operating.
4
Step 4
Yudanaka to the Trailhead
10–15m
A local bus or short taxi covers the final stretch from Yudanaka to the Kanbayashi trailhead.
Full details
Buses meet most train arrivals. A taxi covers the same ground quickly and is worth splitting between three or four people. Seasonal fares vary, so check the posted price rather than budgeting a fixed figure. Many ryokan in Shibu and Yudanaka will run guests to the trailhead on request.
5
Step 5
The Forest Walk and Admission
30–40m
A signposted forest path of 1.6 km (about 1 mi) leads from the trailhead to the park entrance. Admission is paid at the gate.
Full details
The walk takes most people 30 to 40 minutes at an unhurried pace and climbs gently the whole way. In winter it is packed snow and ice from end to end, so proper boots matter more than anything else you carry. There is no vehicle access beyond the trailhead, which is deliberate: the park is a conservation site, not a drive-up attraction.
6
Step 6
Timing, and Whether to Stay Over
The monkeys bathe most reliably in the cold of the morning, before the tour buses arrive.
Full details
The park opens at 9:00 in winter and 8:30 in other seasons. Arriving at opening gives you the coldest air, the most reliable bathing and the quietest viewing area. From Tokyo a day trip is long but workable at roughly twelve hours door to door. From Osaka or Kyoto it is not sensible, and an overnight in Shibu or Yudanaka turns the journey into two comfortable days instead of one punishing one. Check the last departures from Yudanaka before you set out either way.
ARRIVAL
Jigokudani Yaen-koen (Snow Monkey Park)
6845 Hirao, Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano 381-0401, Japan
Good to know
Every route converges at Nagano — only the first leg differs
The Japan Rail Pass covers the shinkansen, never the Nagano Dentetsu
A seasonal winter express bus runs Nagano direct to the trailhead, skipping Yudanaka
No vehicle access past the trailhead — the last 1.6 km (1 mi) is on foot
Arrive at opening: coldest air, most reliable bathing, no tour buses
Winter means packed snow and ice on the trail, so bring proper boots
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on timing, the Japan Rail Pass, alternate routes, and where to stay.
Related guides
The Park and Monkeys
Snow Monkey Park
Wild macaques bathe in a hot spring in the Nagano mountains. Nowhere else on earth do monkeys do this.
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to See Snow Monkeys
January and February for snow and steam. June for newborns. The monkeys are there every day of the year.
Plan Your Visit
1-Day Snow Monkey Itinerary
It works, but only with discipline. The 8:00 AM shinkansen, two hours with the monkeys, home by dinner.
Plan Your Visit
What to Wear in Winter
The valley drops to −15 °C (5 °F) and the trail is packed ice for a mile. Boots matter more than your coat.
Verified by The Japan Onsen Society
Verified July 7–16, 2026
Route compiled and verified by The Japan Onsen Society, August 2026. No single operator publishes an end-to-end route to Jigokudani, so this itinerary is assembled from the operators of each leg and checked against current timetables.
1. 長野電鉄 (Nagano Electric Railway) — the Nagano to Yudanaka leg and fares.
2. JR Central (JR東海) — Tokaido Shinkansen and the Limited Express Shinano.
3. JR West (JR西日本) — Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Limited Express Thunderbird.
4. 地獄谷野猿公苑 — park hours, admission and access.
5. Go! NAGANO — Nagano Prefecture official tourism.
