Getting to Snow Monkey Park: Train, Bus and the Last 1.6 km
From Nagano Station: Nagaden limited express to Yudanaka (about 38 min) plus a 15-minute bus, or the express bus towards Shiga Kogen (about 41 min). Then everyone walks. Winter parking closures, the bus-and-ticket bundle, and when a tour beats DIY.
No vehicle reaches the park gate. Every visitor, tour guest or not, walks the last stretch. Plan around that and the rest is straightforward.
From Nagano Station: two public routes
The park’s own access page lists two, both starting at Nagano Station (fastest Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo: 79 minutes):
- Train plus local bus. Nagaden line limited express to Yudanaka, about 38 minutes, then a local bus to the Snow Monkey Park stop, about 15 minutes. Yudanaka is the end of the line and the gateway to the onsen towns of Shibu and Yudanaka.
- Express bus. The Nagaden express bus towards Shiga Kogen from the East Exit stops at Snow Monkey Park in about 41 minutes. One seat, no change, which matters with cold children or luggage.
The official site also sells a park ticket bundled with the bus from Nagano Station, and from December 2026 the dated web ticket is cheaper than the gate (¥880 against ¥1,000). The ticket details are here.
The last stretch: walk, about 30–35 minutes
From the bus stop it is a short road walk to the trailhead, then the 1.6 km Yumichi forest walkway to the gate. The sign at the trailhead says about 25 minutes for the path; the park allows about 30 to 35 minutes from the bus stop. It is unpaved and gently uphill, and in winter it is packed snow and ice. The walk, with a map and what to wear, has its own page.
Winter: parking closures and the 16:00 close
Two winter rules catch drivers and late starters:
- Car parks close to private cars on weekends and public holidays from December to March, and over New Year. The park asks winter visitors to come by public transport.
- The park closes at 16:00 from November to March. Leave Nagano by late morning at the latest, so you are not doing the icy path in the dark.
In summer a taxi from Yudanaka Station can reach the Jigokudani car park, which cuts the walk to about 15 minutes. Some Yudanaka and Shibu lodgings run guest shuttles towards the trailhead; ask when you book a room.
When a tour simply wins
Add the pieces: two connections, a bus timetable, the walk, the 16:00 winter close and the new web-ticket queue on busy days. For a first winter visit, the guided day trip (4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138, Oct 2026) includes the park ticket, the transport, Zenko-ji Temple and lunch, and the arithmetic favours it. DIY remains entirely legitimate, and this page is the DIY manual.
For weighing the Nagano tour formats against each other in more depth, naganosnowmonkeytour.com compares the day-trip lineup from the Nagano side, including the options for skiers staying in Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen.
Questions people ask
How do I get to Jigokudani Monkey Park from Nagano Station?
Two public routes, both from Nagano Station. Take the Nagaden line limited express to Yudanaka (about 38 minutes), then a local bus to the Snow Monkey Park stop (about 15 minutes). Or take the express bus towards Shiga Kogen from the East Exit, which reaches the same stop in about 41 minutes. From the stop it is a 30 to 35 minute walk to the gate. Timings are from the park’s access page, October 2026.
Can you take a taxi to Snow Monkey Park?
Only part of the way. In summer a taxi from Yudanaka Station can reach the Jigokudani car park, which leaves about 15 minutes on foot. In winter the upper road is not an option and the car parks near the trail close to private cars on weekends and holidays from December to March, so a taxi drops you at the Snow Monkey Park bus stop area and you walk the forest path like everyone else.
Book the Day Trip
The top-rated Snow Monkey day trip — 4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138 (Oct 2026) with park admission, transport and Zenko-ji included. Free cancellation to 24 hours; winter dates sell out first.
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