The best months to visit Snow Monkeys are Dec – Mar. Monkeys bathe in hot springs in winter.
Quick facts
When to go
Wild Japanese macaques soaking in steaming hot springs while snow falls around them, one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on Earth.
Dec – Mar is the busiest window in Snow Monkeys, so accommodation and flights go first. Book ahead. The shoulder weeks either side are usually quieter for the same reason.
Getting Around in Snow Monkeys
- Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo to Nagano, 1hr 20min, ¥8,200 (covered by JR Pass)
- Nagaden Express Bus: Nagano Station to Kanbayashi Onsen, 40min, ¥1,500 each way
- The 1.6km forest trail from the bus stop to the park is the only access: there is no vehicle access to the park itself
For month-by-month detail, itineraries and costs, see the full Snow Monkeys travel guide.
Timezone: JST (UTC+9) (No DST)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Snow Monkeys?
The best months to visit Snow Monkeys are Dec – Mar (Monkeys bathe in hot springs in winter), which makes for the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing and getting around. For what a trip costs day to day, see the Snow Monkeys budget breakdown.
