Jigokudani Monkey Park

What is Jigokudani Monkey Park?

There is “Jigokudani Monkey Park” in the valley.
At an altitude of 850m, in winter, more than 1m of snow accumulates.
It is located at the very back of Jigokudani Onsen where the minimum temperature is below -10 ℃.

Although it is partitioned as a facility, it is an environment where Japanese monkeys can freely enter and leave without fences.
Monkeys live in forests with a radius of several kilometers and come here for food.

Wild Japanese macaques actually live in deep mountains.
It is a precious place where you can observe the Japanese monkeys that live in groups.

Very popular with foreign tourists

 

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Chris M Brockさん(@chrismbrock)がシェアした投稿 – 2018年 5月月17日午後11時50分PDT

During the 1998 Nagano Olympics, many tourists from all over the world, including athletes and other officials, visited.
It is a famous tourist spot in the world that has become a hot topic in overseas media.

It is a very popular tourist spot when more than half of the visitors are foreign tourists.
Especially in winter, the Japanese monkeys entering the hot spring are called “snow monkey”.
There are many Australian tourists visiting together with ski tourism.

Monkeys entering a hot spring look just like a human

 

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MY METHOD Japanese Languageさん(@mymethod.japan)がシェアした投稿 – 2019年 9月月3日午前5時31分PDT

It was the beginning of a curious puppy bathing in the open-air bath at the inn at the time of its opening.
Later, a monkey-only open-air bath that was 4m long and 10m wide was created from the hygiene aspect.

It seems to enter a hot spring to overcome the cold enough to accumulate snow.
It ’s just like a human being.

Feeding is strictly prohibited

“Jigokudani Yaen-Koen” considers feeding as a “means to keep monkeys in a state where they can be observed”.
It is not a feeding show.
The feeding time is not announced because it is not constant depending on the monkey’s condition and season.

In addition, we do not sell food to ensure that human beings are not attacked by monkeys and to ensure that their original ecology is not impaired.
The feeding of tourists is also strictly prohibited.

There are also some prohibited items such as “Do not touch monkeys”.
Monkeys are indifferent to tourists.
Because it is known that tourists do not feed and do no harm.
So you can observe up close.

Korakukan, a long-established hot spring inn where you can mix with monkeys

 

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@_yucarina_がシェアした投稿 – 2018年 2月月26日午前1時08分PST

Korakukan is only 50 meters away from the Wild Monkey Park.
A long-established inn founded in 1864, the current owner is the seventh generation.

There are two types of baths, one for men and one for men, one for mixed baths, one for women, and one for private family baths.
In winter, wild monkeys gather in the open-air bath.
This is the only open-air bath in the world where you can bathe with monkeys.