Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop
The Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop is located at the entrance of the trail leading to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. Offering a range of services including winter rentals and English language information, luggage storage, along with monkey merchandise and souvenirs including official Snow Monkey Resorts products, the SMR Info & Gift Shop has you covered when visiting the park. Open from early October until late May, 9AM to 5PM, English-speaking staff can answer your questions on your way to and from the park including information about bus timetables and nearby attractions.
— Where is the Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop?
— Snow Monkey Goods, Luggage Storage, and Rental Service
— Information About the Walk to the Snow Monkey Park
— Where to Stay When Visiting the Park
— Tours and Charters to the Monkey Park
Rental snow boots and jackets are available for rent while cramp-ons are available for sale, essential items through winter when the temperature can drop below -10°C and the trail and path will be affected by snow and ice. Souvenirs available at the shop include original t-shirts and other clothing, hand-knitted snow monkey key chains and purses, toys, and local confectioneries and snacks. For visitors coming to the park between June and September, English information and the same merchandise can be found at nearby Enza Café.
WHERE IS THE SNOW MONKEY RESORTS INFO & GIFT SHOP?
The Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop will be easy to find for any visitors coming to the park. Located at the entrance to the trail leading to the monkey park, it literally can’t be missed! Every visitor walking in and out of the park will pass the Info & Gift Shop, making it an ideal stop for anyone needing rentals, luggage storage, monkey merchandise or a little assistance to get the most out of their visit.
Reaching the park can be done in a number of ways, most of which start from Nagano Station. While it is not difficult to access the park, it will require a number of transfers depending on the route you take, and so we suggest that you do some research before hand to ensure a smooth journey. For more details on how to reach the Monkey Park area, please see our ‘How to Get to the Jigokudani Monkey Park‘ page.
SNOW MONKEY GOODS, LUGGAGE STORAGE, AND RENTAL SERVICE
Our gift shop is your one stop destination for any and all Snow Monkey themed goods. With shirts, magnets, candy, bath bombs, tote bags, and more, you may end up needing an additional suitcase for your journey home!
Pictured below is one of our most popular items, the Snow Monkey Plushie! While you cannot take a real monkey home with you, with this plushie you can get the next best thing. Popular with kids and the young at heart, it also makes a great souvenir to give to family and friends who couldn’t visit the park.
We recommend that you buy gifts on the way down at our shop, to avoid having to carry bags up and down the trail. Please feel free to ask the in store staff any questions you may have about the items on display.
A range of confectioneries and snacks are also available including Nagano’s famous apple Kit Kats, grape Pocky, manju and cookies, and monkey candy. These are very popular gifts for visitors wanting to take something home that they can share with family and friends. Please note however that if you are buying food from the Info & Gift Shop, please ensure it is tucked-away in your bag and out of sight from the monkeys as they would love to get their hands of such sweet and savory goodness! Guests planning to buy food items that cannot be hidden – noting that the monkeys will be just as attracted to a plastic bag on the assumption that it has food – should wait until they are on the way out to buy it and ensure that their precious cargo doesn’t become the property of a sweet-toothed monkey!
The Snow Monkey Resorts Info & Gift Shop provides are range of services to ensure you have an enjoyable and easy visit to the monkey park. In the winter months, the trail to the park is usually icy and as a consequence also very slippery. Please do not underestimate the chances that you will fall – anyone, even those with experience walking on ice, could slip by accident. To ensure that everyone is prepared for the trek, our Info & Gift Shop offers cramp-ons for sale for JPY1,350.
In case you are concerned about getting your shoes wet and muddy, rental waterproof boots are also available. And if the cold is worse than you anticipated, do not hesitate to inquire about the rental jackets and snow gear on offer.
Please refer to the above image for the specific pricing details of each item. Please also be aware that not all shoe sizes, etc… can be accommodated and so in some cases we may be unable to rent items that are your exact size.
For those traveling with luggage, it will of course not be possible to walk up the trail while rolling a suitcase or carrying ski gear. For those situations, we are happy to hold your luggage while you walk for a small fee of only JPY500. On your way down, feel free to pick up your things again and head on to your next destination. And please always feel free to ask the staff any questions you have about bus timings, lunch options, etc… as they are always willing to help.
*Monkey Park Entry Tickets are only sold at the Park itself, and thus we do not offer them for sale at the Gift Shop.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE WALK TO THE SNOW MONKEY PARK
As touched on above, the walk to the Snow Monkey Park will require some special gear in the Winter months to ensure your safety. The total distance of the trail from start to finish is 1.6 km / 1 mile, and while it is not paved it is well maintained and mostly flat.
In Summer the trail will pose no special challenge to anyone of a normal fitness level, although the trail may be muddy after rain and so shoes which you do not mind getting dirty are always recommended. However, in Winter the trail will typically be covered in snow and ice and will frequently be very slippery. For this reason, we always recommend bringing or purchasing cramp-ons for your shoes to help avoid any potential injuries. The trail will take around 25 minutes to walk in Summer, but may take over 35 minutes in Winter so please plan your trip accordingly.
Additionally, there are no public toilets along the trail. There is a toilet near the entry, attached to the parking lot. The next toilet from here is the toilet at the park itself, after the 1.6 km walk. As the toilet at the park often has long lines, we recommend using the toilet at the bottom of the trail before heading up.
For more information about the walk to the park, please see our ‘Information About the Walk to the Snow Monkey Park‘ page.
DINING OPTIONS AT THE MONKEY PARK
Visitors the the park can enjoy a couple of great dining options starting with Enza Cafe. Located immediately before the trail entrance, Enza Cafe serves both Japanese and Western dishes, coffee and other drinks including craft beer and more – the ideal place to grab a snack or sit down for a meal or drink before or after heading into the park.
Enza’s menu includes delicious chicken ramen, sushi, fried chicken and french fries, coffee, hot chocolate, refreshing soft drinks and juices, and alcoholic beverages. Most menus can be taken out, but please note that food and drinks cannot be taken into the park so if you’re after takeaway, do so when departing the park otherwise your tasty little snack is likely to become the property of one of the monkeys!
The cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating and a relaxed, open-plan design which encourages you to take your time at the park. For visitors headed there through spring to autumn, Enza’s large terrace is an ideal spot to enjoy a meal and drink – especially beautiful in autumn as the large ‘momoji’ above the terrace turns deep red.
Further down the hill and nearby the bus stops, Hotarutei offers visitors the nearest fine-dining experience to the monkey park Housed in a converted 170-year old farmhouse.
Hotarutei serves an indulgent menu of tempura, wagyu beef, hot pot and sushi in a tranquil atmosphere. Particularly beautiful as the snow falls in winter, we recommend Hotarutei to any visitor looking to enjoy a more traditional Japanese meal during their time at the monkey park.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING THE PARK
Visitors to the monkey park are spoiled for choice when it comes to nearby accommodation. Located in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen and a short drive from the larger Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen, the park can be enjoyed while staying at one of the area’s many guesthouses, many of which have their own hot springs, or further afield in Shiga Kogen or Nagano City. The above mentioned restaurant, Hotarutei, also offers two luxurious villas each equipped with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchenette, and their own private onsen. Our ‘Where To Stay Around The Jigokudani Monkey Park’ page lists the best areas to stay, our recommendations and accommodation listings.
TOURS AND CHARTERS TO THE MONKEY PARK
As Nagano’s No.1 tour operator, we are proud to offer multiple tours that combine a visit to the Snow Monkey Park with other fun local activities. No matter the season, we can help you make the most of your time in Nagano. Whether with your family or friends, or on your own, we are sure to have something that suits your needs!
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:35 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Our most popular offering is our “1-Day Tour: Snow Monkey Park, Zenkoji Temple and Sake in Nagano“. Guests on this delightful excursion will first be treated to Sake Tasting and a guided tour of the historic Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, including lunch at a nearby restaurant.
With the first half of the tour complete, you will then depart for the Monkey Park on our private tour vehicle. Once you have arrived your guide will lead the way up to the place the Monkeys call home, before you once again board the bus and return to your starting destination.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun In Shiga Kogen | |
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| Period | December to March |
| Time | 08:45 – 17:30/18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Snow Monkey Park Area |
| Adult Rate | ¥21,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,300 |
For those guests coming in the Winter, we also offer the “1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen“, combining exciting snow activities such as sledding and riding snow scoots with a visit to the Monkey Park. Lunch is also included, making for the perfect day trip for anyone looking to experience what winter in Nagano is all about!
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano | |
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| Period | April |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:30/18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Another unforgettable tour is our “1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano“. Including two of Japan’s most amazing natural spectacles, the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms and the hot-spring loving monkeys of Jigokudani, this offering is the easiest way to enjoy a relaxed spring day in Nagano.
Private Tour
| [START FROM NAGANO CITY] 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 Nagano City |
| Price | ¥122,000 ~ / group |
For those who want a more customized experience, we also offer private tours of the Snow Monkey Park and nearby attractions such as Zenkoji Temple. For more information, please click the link above or send us an inquiry describing your ideal itinerary.
CHARTER A VEHICLE TO THE SNOW MONKEY PARK!
For those interested in private charter services, we would be pleased to provide a vehicle and propose an itinerary to suite your needs! Please see our charter page and send us your trip details so we can can start planning your journey together.
