The Walk to Snow Monkey Park: Distance, Time & What to Wear

Q: "How long is the hike to Monkey Park?"

"Plan on 30 to 35 minutes each way from the Snow Monkey Park bus stop. The forest trail itself is about 1.6 km; the park\u0026rsquo;s own access page counts about 2 km and about 30 minutes for the whole Yumichi trail. It climbs gently with some steps. In summer, if you drive or take a taxi to the Jigokudani car park instead, it is about 15 minutes on foot. In snow, add ten minutes and walk slowly on the ice."

Q: "How long do you need at the Monkey Park?"

"Most visitors spend about an hour at the pool. With the walk both ways, budget two and a half hours from the bus stop and back. In winter the park closes at 16:00 (November to March), so start the walk by 14:00 at the latest; 9:00 to 17:00 hours apply from April to October. Staff post on the park\u0026rsquo;s social accounts each morning about how many monkeys came down, which is worth checking before you set off."

Q: "What should I wear to Snow Monkey Park in winter?"

"Waterproof boots with real grip. The park itself recommends rubber or snow boots in winter and sneakers or hiking shoes in the warmer months. The trail is packed snow and ice for most of the winter, so slip-on spikes or light crampons make a real difference; shops in the area sell and rent them. Add layers, gloves and a hat: you stand still at the pool for an hour, and that is when the cold gets in."

Q: "Can you take a stroller or wheelchair to Snow Monkey Park?"

"No. The park says plainly that neither approach is accessible to wheelchairs or carts: both are unpaved, uneven and include steps. Carry small children in a sling or carrier, and keep both hands free on the ice. There is no vehicle access to the gate for anyone."

Q: "Can you see the snow monkeys without a tour?"

"Yes. Take the express bus or the train and local bus from Nagano Station to the Snow Monkey Park stop, walk the trail, and pay at the gate or with the dated web ticket. A tour adds timed transport and, on the group day trips, the ticket. Neither option shortens the walk: everyone does the last stretch on foot."

No car, taxi or tour bus reaches the gate of Jigokudani. Every visitor, on a tour or not, walks the last part through the forest. It is a pretty walk and not a hard one, but it is the part of the day people misjudge, especially in winter.

Distance and time

From the Snow Monkey Park bus stop, a short road walk takes you to the trailhead, then the Yumichi forest trail runs to the park gate. The forest section is about 1.6 km; the park’s own access page counts the whole trail at about 2 km, about 30 minutes. Allow 30 to 35 minutes each way from the bus stop, more in deep snow.

In summer there is a shortcut for drivers: the Jigokudani car park, reached on a narrow logging road from Shibu Onsen, leaves about 15 minutes on foot. That road is closed completely in winter, and the car parks near the trail close to private cars on winter weekends and holidays, so from December to March everyone uses the forest trail.

What the path is like

Unpaved, gently uphill, with some steps, uneven ground and short climbs (the park’s description). It follows the Yokoyu valley through cedar forest, with the steaming river and the old Korakukan inn coming into view near the end.

Winter (December to March): packed snow and sheet ice. This is when people fall. Take it slowly and use the handrails where they exist.
Spring and autumn: mud after rain, leaves, the best colours.
Summer: easy going. The park warns about snakes, bees and prickly plants beside the trail, so stay on it.

What to wear

Season	Feet	The rest
December to March	Waterproof snow or rubber boots, plus slip-on spikes or light crampons	Warm layers, gloves, hat. You stand still at the pool for an hour
April to June, October to November	Hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers	A light waterproof; mornings are cold in the valley
July to September	Sneakers or hiking shoes	Insect repellent, water

Spikes are sold and rented by shops in the Kanbayashi area; buy them before the trail, not at the gate. Fashion boots with smooth soles are the single most common mistake we hear about.

Who will find it hard

Wheelchairs and pushchairs cannot use either approach. The park says so directly: unpaved, uneven, with steps.
Small children are fine on foot in summer; in winter carry them in a sling and keep your hands free.
Anyone unsteady on ice should think about a late-March or green-season visit, when the path is easy, and accept that the monkeys will probably not be bathing (which months they do).

Tour or not, you walk

A guided day trip does not shorten the walk. What it does is get you to the trailhead at the right time, carry the park ticket on the group trips, and keep an eye on the 16:00 winter closing so nobody does the icy path in the dark. If winter navigation is the part you would rather not manage yourself, the top-rated day trip from Nagano (4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138, Oct 2026) includes the ticket, transport, Zenko-ji Temple and lunch.

Check the day trip

Doing it yourself? The buses and trains from Nagano are here, and in winter buy the dated web ticket first.

Questions people ask

How long is the hike to Monkey Park?

Plan on 30 to 35 minutes each way from the Snow Monkey Park bus stop. The forest trail itself is about 1.6 km; the park’s own access page counts about 2 km and about 30 minutes for the whole Yumichi trail. It climbs gently with some steps. In summer, if you drive or take a taxi to the Jigokudani car park instead, it is about 15 minutes on foot. In snow, add ten minutes and walk slowly on the ice.

How long do you need at the Monkey Park?

Most visitors spend about an hour at the pool. With the walk both ways, budget two and a half hours from the bus stop and back. In winter the park closes at 16:00 (November to March), so start the walk by 14:00 at the latest; 9:00 to 17:00 hours apply from April to October. Staff post on the park’s social accounts each morning about how many monkeys came down, which is worth checking before you set off.

What should I wear to Snow Monkey Park in winter?

Waterproof boots with real grip. The park itself recommends rubber or snow boots in winter and sneakers or hiking shoes in the warmer months. The trail is packed snow and ice for most of the winter, so slip-on spikes or light crampons make a real difference; shops in the area sell and rent them. Add layers, gloves and a hat: you stand still at the pool for an hour, and that is when the cold gets in.

Can you take a stroller or wheelchair to Snow Monkey Park?

No. The park says plainly that neither approach is accessible to wheelchairs or carts: both are unpaved, uneven and include steps. Carry small children in a sling or carrier, and keep both hands free on the ice. There is no vehicle access to the gate for anyone.

Can you see the snow monkeys without a tour?

Yes. Take the express bus or the train and local bus from Nagano Station to the Snow Monkey Park stop, walk the trail, and pay at the gate or with the dated web ticket. A tour adds timed transport and, on the group day trips, the ticket. Neither option shortens the walk: everyone does the last stretch on foot.

The Walk to Snow Monkey Park, and What to Wear