Paradise of monkeys – Jigokudani Yaen Koen(NAGANO)

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The only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs.

The Jigokudani Yaen-koen (altitude 850 meters) is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River sourced from Shiga-Kogen of the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in northern part of Nagano prefecture.

Because of the very steep cliffs and the steam coming off the springs in everywhere, ancient people called this valley ‘Jigokudani (Hell valley)’ .Also it is buried in snow almost one third of the year. Even that kind of severe environment here is a paradise on earth for monkeys to live in.

The troops of wild Japanese macaque (they are popularly known as snow monkeys) inhabit here naturally through the ages.Since the establishment of Jigokudani Yaen-koen in 1964, it has been a worldwide popular place for watching the bathing monkeys in a hot spring and for ecological observation of researchers or photographers,and some of them who visited here have accomplished certain results in the area.

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Snow monkey and Kamakura snow hut tour(1day)
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Snow monkey and Kamakura snow hut tour(2days)
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In 1970, a photograph of bathing monkeys was appeared on the front page of LIFE and was reported by the world media.

And during the period of Nagano Olympics (1998), many people from the games visited here, such as athletes, Olympic officials and news media. Jigokudani yaen koen captured public attention with these topics.

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Courtyard By Marriott Hakuba
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Hotel Hakuba
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The Japanese macaques, well known as snow monkey (hereinafter called ‘monkeys’), inhabit all part of Japan except Hokkaido and Okinawa.

What should we do when we want to see the monkeys?

Do you go to a zoo? Yes, you can see monkeys in a zoo, but it is impossible to see their pristine actions such as high level sociality in a troop with the monkeys in a small zoo cage.
Then, do you go to mountains? Actually it is difficult to find monkeys in mountains because of deep forests and steep cliffs. Even if you luckily find them, they keep enough distance from you and run away quickly.

The best way to watch wild monkeys is to visit the Jigokudani Yaen-koen. Our objective is to provide a place where everybody can watch closely monkeys’ biology in a natural environment.
There are no fences between monkeys and us. We can enter and see their world under natural condition.

Want to see monkeys?

Want to see monkeys?Shall we take part in our tour?

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Courtyard By Marriott Hakuba
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Hotel Hakuba
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