Jigokudani Yaen Koen and the valley of snow monkeys
Published on 09/05/2026 at 14:27 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jigokudani Yaen Koen is a wild macaque park in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, set in the valley of the Yokoyu River. Its most familiar image is the contrast between forested rock walls and the hot spring pool visited by the monkeys.
Jigokudani Yaen Koen in the Yokoyu valley
The park sits in the Jigokudani valley, inside Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, with the river running through a narrow gorge. The setting gives the place its name: Jigokudani means “hell valley”, a reference to the steaming landscape and steep sides.
Altitude 850 metres is part of the park’s identity, and the valley keeps the site tied to its mountain setting. Yamanouchi Town appears in the park’s address, placing it in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture.
A park founded in 1964
The site was established in 1964, and that date belongs to its modern identity as a place for observing wild Japanese macaques. The park’s Japanese name, Jigokudani Yaen Koen, is the form used on the ground and in English-language references.
Established in 1964 gives the place a clear historical anchor, while Jigokudani Monkey Park is the English name most visitors encounter. The macaques remain wild animals, and the park is an observation site rather than a zoo enclosure.
Hot spring water and macaques
The visual focus is the pool where macaques gather in winter, often against snow and rising steam. The scene combines rock, water, fur and winter vegetation without any built backdrop competing for attention.
Wild monkeys bathing is the image most closely linked to the site, and the park’s name has become closely attached to that behaviour. The hot spring lies inside a mountain valley, so the setting remains as important as the animals themselves.
Visiting Jigokudani Yaen Koen: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The park is in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, in the valley of the Yokoyu River. Access runs via Yudanaka Station and the roads and bus routes serving the Shibu and Kanbayashi Onsen area.
- The approach includes a walk through mountain terrain. The route has slopes, and the site sits at altitude in a valley landscape.
- The official language is Japanese and the currency is the yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Jigokudani Yaen Koen on social platforms
These links open searches for Jigokudani Yaen Koen on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Jigokudani Yaen Koen
Where is Jigokudani Yaen Koen?
It is in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, in the valley of the Yokoyu River. The park sits within the mountain landscape of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park.
What does a visit involve?
The route reaches the park through mountain paths and valley terrain. Inside the park, the main sight is the macaques around the hot spring water.
What makes the place distinctive?
The setting joins a steep valley, a hot spring and wild Japanese macaques in one place. The park’s name and its 1964 foundation remain central to its identity.
