The Japanese Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani in Nagano

Note: remastered version of our original 2014 Japanese Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani - 地獄谷野猿公苑 - 4K Ultra HD Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPxrseYWfds

Jigokudani Yaen-koen, known for its many onsen (hot spring baths), is located in the Yokoyu valley of Nagano prefecture. Like the humans that come to bathe, there is a large population of Japanese Macaques (“snow monkeys”) that also bathe in the hot springs.

First opened in 1964, Jigokudani Yaen-koen and more precisely Jigokudani Onsen Korakukan ryokan (a Japanese traditional Hotel) continues to be a popular place to enjoy the onsen, as well as watching the snow monkeys in their natural habitat.

Should you plan to visit Jigokudani Yaen-koen and its snow monkeys, be sure to visit during the winter. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to hike through the forest to get there, so be prepared. It is worth the “trip.”

An extended version of this video is in the work and will soon be available.