Jigokudani Monkey Park

Attraction > Park

Jigokudani Monkey Park is a world wide famous place where Japanese Macaque monkeys soak in a hot springs. Images of these monkeys have even been printed in the National Geographic Magazine.  The "Monkey Park" is  part of the "Joshinetsu Kogen National Park", locally known as Shigakogen. "Jigokudani" means "Hell's Valley" in English and is due to the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the frozen ground.  Although the Snow Monkeys are well know, its not a simple feat getting to the area where they soak so depending on the day/time, there could be relatively few people or maybe only you there. However, on other occasions "groups" of tours come around and fill the area with many tourists.