From Nozawa Onsen: How To Get To The Snow Monkey Park
Located 50KM to the north-east of Nagano City, Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort is one of the most popular ski resorts in Japan. Nozawa is located relatively close to the Jigokudani Monkey Park however limited public transport options make it a little tricky to get to, making the option of a tour to the park attractive to many visitors. On this page you will find the following information:
— Where is the Jigokudani Monkey Park?
— Directions to the Park from Nozawa Onsen
— Accessing the Park via Nagano Station
— Monkey Park General Information
— 25 Things to Do Around the Monkey Park & Where to Stay
— Tours & Charters from Nozawa Onsen to the Monkey Park
Offering a great mix of terrain – particularly well-suited to snowboarders – and a lively village, Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort is firmly established as a favourite for international visitors. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Japan or seasoned winter veteran, we definitely recommend checking-out Nozawa.
While most international visitors know it as a ski resort, Nozawa boasts a 1300-year history as a natural hot spring town. Known as ‘onsen’ in Japanese, Nozawa is blessed with numerous natural sources of water that long ago established its reputation as a place of healing. Enjoying an onsen while in Nagano is one of most enjoyable experiences possible and it is this heritage, which is now driving Nozawa Onsen’s reputation as a place of refuge and retreat in green season.
For any visitor to Nozawa, combining your time there with a visit to the nearby Jigokudani Monkey Park is well-worth the effort. Despite the two locations being quite close, there is only one direct bus from Nozawa each day in winter making a private tour or charter an attractive option for many visitors, charter, we’ll be happy to assist!
WHERE IS THE JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK?
The Jigokudani Monkey Park – often referred to as the Snow Monkey Park – is just under 35KM / 50-minutes drive to the south of Nozawa Onsen and 35KM / 50-minutes to the north-east of central Nagano City. Open every day, the monkeys come to the park through the year making it one of Nagano’s most popular attractions. When heading to the park from Nozawa using public transport, there is only one direct bus service each day during winter. Outside of winter, accessing the park by public transport requires you to head to Nagano Station, from where an express bus runs directly to Kanbayashi Onsen – where the park is located – or alternatively, use the Nagano Dentetsu railway to Yudanaka Station – the nearest train station to the park – and from there, take a local bus to the park. The park is located in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen, which itself is located in the wider region of Yamanouchi – a region including the park, multiple hot spring villages, Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, the smaller ski resorts of Kita-Shiga Kogen and Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. Within easy reach of Nagano City, visiting the monkey park as a day-trip is easy while also providing lots of reasons to stay in the area on a multi-day visit.
DIRECTIONS TO THE PARK FROM NOZAWA ONSEN
For visitors heading to the monkey park from Nozawa, there was previously a direct bus operating between the two locations. As it only ran once a day in each direction, the timings were rather inconvenient but the service was still nonetheless the best and easiest option.
However, this bus service has been discontinued due to the ongoing shortage of drivers in Japan, and we are not sure of when, if ever, it will be reopened. This means that the best options currently available to reach the park directly from Nozawa are to use a private charter service, or take a taxi.
ACCESSING THE PARK VIA NAGANO STATION
For those guests looking to save money and use public transportation, you have the option of making the journey via Nagano Station – however it is notably longer and less convenient than going from Nozawa by private vehicle. This option is really only good for visitors who want to visit the park on the day they are leaving Nozawa i.e. returning to Tokyo and cannot use the early bus from Nozawa, or have a reason to go through Nagano before heading to the park. It is possible via a three-step journey:
1 / Take the bus or taxi from Nozawa to Iiyama Station
2 / Take the train from Iiyama to Nagano Station
3 / Take another bus or train from Nagano to the monkey park
From Nozawa, you first need to head to Iiyama Station using either the Nozawa Onsen Liner (express bus) – approximately 25 minutes and JPY700 per adult / JPY350 per child – or a taxi. Buses operate frequently in winter to service demand.
Once at Iiyama Station, you then need to head onto Nagano Station. Again, you have two options:
1 / Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Nagano Station – 11 mins / JPY1,390, or
2 / Take the local Iiyama Line bound for Nagano Station – 45 mins / JPY550
Once at Nagano Station, you have two choices to reach the park – express bus or train:
1 / Use the Nagaden Snow Monkey Express Bus directly from the station to the monkey park
2 / Take a train on the Nagano Dentetsu Line followed by a Nagaden local bus to the park
Starting from Nagano Station, the express bus costs JPY1,800 each way and takes 45 minutes (to the park) and 55 minutes (back from the park). In comparison, the express train from Nagano Station to Yudanaka Station takes around 45 minutes and costs JPY1290, followed by an 8 minute local bus ride, costing JPY310 – meaning that the option of an express train + local bus will cost a total of JPY1,600 and take at least 55 to 60 minutes (depending on train and bus timetables).
Not sure which option is best of you? See our ‘How To Get To the Jigokudani Monkey Park’ main page for suggestions of what works best.
1 / USING THE NAGADEN EXPRESS BUS
The Nagaden Snow Monkey Express operates from Bus Stop No.23, on the east side of the station. Simply line-up for the bus and once onward you buy your ticket directly from the driver – JPY1,800 each way – and payable by cash or credit card equipped with the tap to pay feature. To check the bus schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagaden Express Bus Timetable’ page.
2 / USING THE NAGANO DENTETSU LINE
The journey takes approximately 45 minutes and costs JPY1,290. Local services from Nagano to Yudanaka are only slighter cheaper – at JPY1,190 – but take substantially longer and require passengers to transfer trains. As such, we always recommend using an express service to reach Yudanaka. For the train schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagano Dentetsu Line Timetable’ page.
Once at Yudanaka Station you need to jump-on a Nagaden local bus for the final leg of your journey to the park. Two local bus lines – the Kanbayashi Line and Shiga Kogen Line – head to stops nearby the monkey park. The ride is only around 8 minutes and costs JPY310 per adult and JPY160 per child. The ride back from the park takes a little longer – around 15 minutes – due to a different route and stops. Yudanaka is a small station and the buses operate from directly outside. You can’t miss them! For the local bus schedule, please refer to our ‘Nagano Dentetsu Local Bus Timetable’ page.
SNOW MONKEY PARK GENERAL INFORMATION
Open every day of the year, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is one of Nagano’s most popular destinations. Our ‘Snow Monkey Park Information’ page has everything you need to know including opening times, prices, the park rules, FAQs and more. We hope you enjoy your visit with our favourite furry friends.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND THE MONKEY PARK & WHERE TO STAY
Often referred to as the Snow Monkey Park, you’d be forgiven for thinking the park is only open and the monkeys only venture there in winter. While it’s true they are most famous for their winter antics, the monkeys come to the park all year round and there are just as many reasons to visit in spring, summer and autumn. Located in the beautiful rural enclave of Yamanouchi and within easy reach of Nagano City, visiting the park can be easily combined with plenty of nearby destinations and activities, as a day-trip or multi-day visit. Our ’25 Things To Do Around The Jigokudani Monkey Park & Where To Stay’ page has lots of tips and suggestions of what’s on offer and the best area to stay when visiting the monkeys.
TOURS AND CHARTERS FROM NOZAWA ONSEN TO THE MONKEY PARK
As you have read above, getting to the Monkey Park from Nozawa Onsen is unfortunately neither cheap, easy to understand, or quick. For that reason, we recommend a private charter or a private tour as the best way to reach the park from Nozawa. You can even store your luggage on our bus and get dropped off back at Nagano Station to catch the Shinkansen to Tokyo!
Private Tour
| [START FROM NOZAWA/MADARAO] Private Snow Monkey Tour | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 to 17:15 ~ 18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Any location in Nozawa Onsen/Madarao Kogen |
| Price | ¥170,300 ~ / group |
Our above private tour is just what your group will need to reach the park in ease from Nozawa – and not just the park, but other fun destinations as well! Including a visit to the charming town of Obuse, the historic Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City, and a Sake Brewery, this tour is both enjoyable and educational. With lunch in a 170 year old farmhouse also being on the menu, you are sure to come away pleased.
If you aren’t looking for a guide, only transportation, we still have you covered with our private charter service! Our fleet of clean and well maintained vehicles is ready and waiting to bring you to the Monkey Park from Nozawa at whatever time you would like. The options are not limited to the Nozawa – Monkey Park route either, as we can bring you to and from most locations around Central Japan and Tokyo, including Narita and Haneda International Airports. Please see the link above for more information on pricing and availability.
