Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park is a popular day trip for our guests from overseas. The world famous snow monkeys look so cute as they blissfully soak in their onsen bath, and winter is the best time to see the snow monkeys with snow.
We are happy to drop guests off at Togura Station for the 25 minute train ride to Nagano Station to catch the 45-minute express bus to the monkey park trailhead. The 30-minute forest walk to the park entrance can be slippery but the gift shop at the trailhead rents rubber boots.

For this winter, some guests have mentioned lines to buy tickets at the park entrance so we suggest getting an early start. Also, buying the 2-day Snow Monkey Pass at the subway ticket counter under Nagano Station's Zenkoji Exit would not only let you skip the park's purchase line and save a few yen, but it also saves you the hassle of trying to figure how/ when/ where to pay for the transportation between Nagano Station and the trailhead.
When you go, please say 'hi' to the monkeys for us. 🙂