The Jigokudani park is a famous hot spring area near Nagano. The name Jigokudani (地獄谷 lit.: “Hell Valley”) is due to the steam and boiling water bubbling up from the frozen ground.
It is famous for its large population of wild snow monkeys that come to the valley during winter when the snow covers the park. The monkeys descend from the steep cliffs and the forest to sit in the warm hot springs and return to the safety of the forests at night.
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Attractions of Jigokudani Park
Jigokudani park offers visitors the unique experience of seeing wild monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring.
The park is inhabited by a species of Nihonzaru (日本猿 lit.: “Japanese monkeys”), which are known as Snow Monkeys.
It is located in the natural habitat of this species, in the forests of the Jigokudani valley in Yamanouchi, not far from the towns of Shibu and Yudanaka.
The park has an artificial pool where the monkeys gather, just a few minutes from the park entrance.
The park has an information center in Japanese. However, there is an explanation about the alpha male system of the monkeys in English, as well as portraits of the alpha males.
The monkeys of Jigokudani Park
Although the park is open year-round, the monkeys are particularly photogenic when the area is covered in snow.
Generally, there is snow from December to March, and the best time to visit is between January and February.
The monkeys usually enter the bath, but they need some encouragement from the park staff throwing food into the pool.
Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed up close and usually ignore their human guests. It is prohibited to touch or feed the monkeys.
Visitors will likely encounter monkeys along the way to the pool. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite fun to observe their interactions.
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