Winter at Jigokudani: Zenko-ji in the morning, the monkeys at midday.
About 1 h 30 min each way from Nagano Station
Jigokudani Monkey Park is a park in the mountains of Nagano where, in winter, you can watch wild Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring. From Nagano Station you change from train to bus to an unpaved mountain path, so a big family of mixed ages needs to decide in advance where to wait and where to walk, or the time at the park gets short. This article sets out a day trip from a stay near Nagano Station, in time order.
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Getting thereFrom Nagano Station to the park: train, bus, then on foot
The answer: take the Nagano Electric Railway limited express to Yudanaka, a bus to Snow Monkey Park (the bus stop), and walk about 30–35 minutes from there.
From the official access page of Jigokudani Monkey Park and the times in Nagano Electric Railway's leaflet for winter 2025–26 (as of October 2026). The bus stop is called "Snow Monkey Park".
- Nagano Station → Yudanaka Station: about 38–44 minutes on the Nagano Electric Railway limited express (example: Nagano dep. 9:53 → Yudanaka arr. 10:37). You need a limited express fee on top of the fare.
- Yudanaka Station → Snow Monkey Park: about 10–15 minutes by bus (example: dep. 10:42 → arr. 10:52).
- You can also go straight from Nagano Station East Exit to Snow Monkey Park by express bus. According to Nagaden Bus (September 2026), from 5 December 2026 to 5 April 2027 the express bus to Shiga Kogen does not stop at Snow Monkey Park; instead, a direct bus to Snow Monkey Park runs from stop 24 at Nagano Station East Exit (about 50 min, every 20–30 min). The fare is ¥3,000 one way for adults and ¥1,500 for children, so 4 adults and 2 elementary-school children pay ¥15,000 one way. Seats are limited and it is first come, first served. You cannot pay on board, so buy a set ticket with park entry online in advance, or buy one at the information desk at Nagano Station East Exit (limited number).
- For getting from Tokyo to Nagano Station, see Tokyo and Haneda to Nagano with a family of 6. All our Nagano articles are in Nagano | Trip plan for large families.
In winter, go "Zenko-ji in the morning, Jigokudani at midday"
The answer: see Zenko-ji in the morning, then take a limited express in the 9 o'clock hour and you reach the park around 11:30. Do it the other way round, and missing one train home can mean missing the main hall's closing time (16:00 from December to February).
| Time of day | What to do |
|---|---|
| Morning | Go to Zenko-ji. The main hall opens 1 hour before the daily morning service, O-asaji (its time changes every day with sunrise) |
| 9 o'clock hour | Back to Nagano Station and the Nagano Electric Railway limited express to Yudanaka (example: Nagano dep. 9:53 → Yudanaka arr. 10:37). Change to the bus and reach the park around 11:30 |
| Midday | Watch the monkeys at the park. You cannot take out food in front of the monkeys, so eat before you enter the park, or on the way back in Yudanaka or Nagano |
| Around 13:00 | Leave the park and go from Yudanaka back to Nagano (example: Yudanaka dep. 13:50 → Nagano arr. 14:38) |
- In winter (November to March) the park is open 9:00–16:00. An early limited express gets you there before it opens, but if you do Zenko-ji in the morning, a train in the 9 o'clock hour is just right.
- Okaidan-meguri, the walk under the main hall's floor, is a pitch-dark passage. If a child is scared of the dark, split up: some go in, and an adult waits with them in the gejin (the wooden-floored front part of the main hall, free).
- You can do it as a day trip from Tokyo, but for 6 it is easier to stay a night in Nagano. For a place where 6 can share one room, see A family of 6 in a whole-house rental near Nagano Station.
Train return and park entry for 6: ¥22,000–22,600 from December
The amounts in this article are for 6 people: parents + 2 children (elementary school, about 6–12) + grandparents. The park has no senior discount, so grandparents pay the adult price too.
The answer: for 4 adults and 2 elementary-school children, the Nagano Electric Railway return (limited express fee included) is ¥17,600, and park entry is ¥5,000 at the ticket window or ¥4,400 with web tickets. The bus between Yudanaka Station and Snow Monkey Park is not included.
| Group | Entry at the window | Entry with web tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 5 (4 adults + 1 child) | ¥20,340 | ¥19,800 |
| 6 (4 adults + 2 children) | ¥22,600 | ¥22,000 |
| 7 (4 adults + 3 children) | ¥24,860 | ¥24,200 |
| Item | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Nagano Electric Railway, Nagano–Yudanaka (one way) | ¥1,660 | ¥830 (elementary school) |
| Nagano Electric Railway limited express fee (one way) | ¥100 | ¥50 |
| Park entry, at the window (from 1 December) | ¥1,000 | ¥500 |
| Park entry, web ticket (from 1 December) | ¥880 | ¥440 |
- If your family is made up differently: junior high school students pay the adult fare on Nagano Electric Railway. Children not yet at elementary school ride Nagano Electric Railway free, up to 2 for each adult or elementary-school child with a ticket (from the 3rd, the child fare applies). Park entry is the child price up to high school, and under-6s are free (when with a guardian).
- Park entry goes up on 1 December 2026. Until 30 November it is ¥800 for adults and ¥400 for children at the window.
- The price of the "SNOW MONKEY PASS", which bundles train, bus and park entry, has not yet been published for winter 2026–27 (children are 6 to 12).
- Zenko-ji's naijin ticket (the inner sanctuary of the main hall and Okaidan-meguri) is ¥800 for adults and ¥100 for elementary-school children, so ¥3,400 for 6.
Train return and park entry for 4 adults and 2 elementary-school children (web tickets, from December 2026).
The bus between Yudanaka Station and Snow Monkey Park is extra.
The path is unpaved and takes about 30 minutes: use the toilet before you set off
The answer: there are no toilets on the mountain path of about 2 km from Kanbayashi Onsen to the park. It is unpaved, with slopes, steps and stairs, and wheelchairs and carts cannot be used.
1. Toilets by the bus stop Nagano Electric Railway guide
Use the toilets by the bus stop or at the car park at the start of the path (the map in Nagano Electric Railway's guide for winter 2025–26 shows toilets there). Once you are on the path, the next ones are inside the park.
2. Wellies or snow boots in winter Park official site
There is a lot of snow in winter, and icy patches are very slippery. The park recommends wellies or snow boots, and simple crampons. Trainers and leather shoes are dangerous.
3. Plan on not pushing a pushchair Judged from the park's official site
Wheelchairs and carts cannot use the path, so plan on not being able to push a pushchair, and carry little ones in a baby carrier. With grandparents, allow longer than 30–35 minutes.
The monkeys bathe from about December to March, and some days they do not come
The answer: the monkeys get into the hot spring from about December to March, and they are not in it all day. Some days not a single monkey comes to the park.
- The park draws the monkeys with feed. Even so, they are wild, so there are days they do not come. Check the park's "monkey attendance forecast" the day before.
- In winter (December to April), people with web tickets get priority entry. It is busy in winter and you may have to wait to get in. You buy a web ticket once you have fixed the day you will visit (the park's official site does not say whether you also pick a time slot).
In front of the monkeys: "don't show, don't touch, don't get too close" Park official site, "Notes for visitors"
Do not show or give food, do not touch or startle the monkeys, and do not stare at them from close up. Agree these 3 things with the children before you start walking. Selfie sticks and drones are not allowed. If a baby monkey comes up to you, you move away. For the rules, including what to do if you meet a bear, see If you meet wild monkeys or bears in Japan.
If you would rather leave the changes to someone else, there are day tours
The answer: families who would rather not juggle train and bus changes and times can choose a day tour that covers Jigokudani and Zenko-ji. Even on a tour, you walk the unpaved path to the park (about 30 minutes).
Do Jigokudani and Zenko-ji on a day tour
The tour price, how children are charged, the meeting point and whether it runs in winter: check these on the booking page before you book.
The meeting point is Nagano Station (you can also join from Hakuba). Check price, availability and details on the booking screen.
For a day of just playing in the snow the next day: Togakushi Ski Resort
The answer: Togakushi Ski Resort, one local bus ride from Nagano Station, lists a kids' park and a crèche for children on its official site.
- Kids' park: planned from late December 2026 to mid-March 2027, open only on weekends, public holidays and long holiday periods. 9:30–16:00, ¥500 per person, and you can go in and out on the day (sled hire is ¥500 extra; free for lift pass holders).
- Crèche: weekends and public holidays only, for preschool children from 18 months. ¥4,000 for half a day, 8 places, and you must book by phone at least 2 days before.
- Opening days and prices are the "planned" figures on the official site (checked on 17 October 2026). Check bus times and fares before you go.
- For a place near Nagano Station where 6 can share one room, see A family of 6 in a whole-house rental near Nagano Station.
Honest caveats (5 things we could not confirm)
These are things we have not been able to verify, so we do not assert them.
Winter 2026–27 times
The train and bus times in this article are examples from Nagano Electric Railway's guide for winter 2025–26. This winter's timetable is not out yet.
The bus fare between Yudanaka Station and Snow Monkey Park
We could not confirm the winter fare for the bus from Yudanaka Station, or the price of the express bus and park entry set ticket, so they are not in the total for 6.
This winter's SNOW MONKEY PASS price
The price of the pass that bundles train, bus and park entry has not been published for this winter, so we have not said whether it works out cheaper than buying separately.
Whether you can use a pushchair
The park's official site says nothing about pushchairs. Wheelchairs and carts cannot use the path, so we have written on the basis that you cannot push one.
Tour prices and details
We have not confirmed the day tour's price, how children are charged, the meeting point or whether it runs in winter, so check the booking page.
A day with the Jigokudani monkeys (big family) FAQ
Can we do Jigokudani as a day trip from Tokyo?
You can, but for 6 it is easier to stay a night in Nagano. From Nagano to the park takes about 1 h 30 min each way, and the park closes at 16:00 in winter.
Should we buy web tickets for winter?
It is safer to. In winter (December to April) people with web tickets get priority entry, and they are ¥120 cheaper per adult and ¥60 per child than at the window.
Are there days the monkeys are not in the hot spring?
Yes. They bathe from about December to March, and not all day. Some days not one comes, and in the winter 2025–26 guide, the set pass (SNOW MONKEY PASS) was not refunded even if no monkeys appeared.
Can we get to the park with a pushchair?
Do not plan on pushing one. The mountain path to the park is unpaved with slopes, steps and stairs, and wheelchairs and carts cannot use it. Carry little ones in a baby carrier.
📍 One of the articles in our Nagano trip plan (Nagano | Trip plan for large families / all tickets and experiences articles)