Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Japan

JIGOKUDANI YAENKOEN 地獄谷野猿公苑

LOCATION: Yudanaka Shibu Onsen, Yamanouchi town, Nagano prefecture, Japan
DISTANCE: About 33km from Nagano city, 7km from Yudanaka station, 2.5km from Shibu Onsen
HOURS: Summer (April-October) 8:30am-5:00pm | Winter (November-March) 9:00am-4:00pm

The heavy snow covers the ground for 4 months a year. This place is only accessible via a narrow 2 kilometer footpath through the forest. It is famous for the wild Japanese macaques (snow monkeys). The monkeys are fed by park attendants everyday so you can see them in the hot springs all year round.

It's 1.6km hike to the monkey park. It's not an easy hike, especially if it's raining or snowing, as it's very icy and slippery uphill (about a 45 minute walk). Be sure to wear proper shoes or you can rent a cramp-on as well. There are a very narrow ramp on the left.

Entrance is on top of the hill, there are a small gift shop and toilets in the building. Then you walk down to the river, where the monkeys are feeding, playing, and bathing in the onsen. While we were there it snowed heavily, there was a layer of snow on my eyelashes at times!

There are literally hundreds of monkeys running up the snowy slopes, in the river and bathing in the onsen. They looked so relaxed. Remember NO food is allowed near the monkeys as they will try to take it from you!

Shibu Onsen

Shibu Onsen

Japan

Shibu Onsen is a very quiet and quaint little town. The main street comprising a few old style shops, ryokans, restaurants, bath houses, and temples. There are 9 public onsen, one each for men and one for women. 

The residents here were very friendly. Bought some pottery at a small shop called "Yamamoto". The owner didn't understand English so I tried to use very limited Japanese to communicate with her. At the end she even gave us 4 apples as souvenirs. So sweet!

It was very cold and snowing heavily in January. The best thing was the atmosphere you can feel by going around the main street. Where else can you find Onsen egg for 50 yen?!

Ryokan Aburaya Tousen あぶらや燈千

Stayed in Aburaya Tousen for one night after visited the snow monkey park. The open aired private bath was spacious. We were frozen and exhausted from all the travel and the snow monkey park prior, spent the rest of the day soaking in the hot tub was the best!

Dinner

We had a delicious 9 course dinner. The food itself was meticulously decorated and it tasted as good as it looked.

The amazing snowy river and mountain view of the town in the morning.

Breakfast

We chose a Japanese style breakfast. There was even a chef who cooked the eggs for us right there.

Daio Wasabi Farm

Daio Wasabi Farm

Japan

The Daio Wasabi Farm is near Matsumoto (about 25 mins drive from the city). It's one of Japan's largest wasabi farms. Taking a quick trip from Matsumoto after seeing the Matsumoto castle was a great stop to see how wasabi is grown.

Here you can freely walked around the farm and sample all the different wasabi related products such as wasabi ice cream, wasabi croquette, wasabi lollipop, etc.

Wasabi plants growing in a fresh running stream. The wasabi is grown under black tarps to protect it from the sun and the crop is watered by spring water. It takes 2 years for the wasabi to mature.

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle

Japan

The Matsumoto castle is a National Treasure of Japan, which is one of the only twelve remaining original castles in Japan.

Massive stone walls and a moat filled with carp and swans.

The castle was built in 1504. It has been perfectly preserved and is in excellent condition. 

You need to change into slippers to walk through the castle. The wooden structure has very steep stairs and very low ceilings, making climbing up and down a bit challenging.

The views are wonderful over the city and the surrounding mountains.

Tsumago-juku

Tsumago-juku

Japan

Tsumago is known one of the historic Post Towns on the old Edo road over a hundred years ago (present-day Tokyo to Kyoto). I knew about this town from a poster awhile back, and decided to visit on this trip to japan.

It has retained the old town feel, with cables and wires all hidden underground. The residents using the buildings with their 3-part creed: "Don't Sell, Don't Lend, Don't Tear Down." They really try their best to recreate the ambiance of the Edo Period.

Handmade Soba (buckwheat Noodle) with a firmness of texture and fullness of flavor. Gohei Mochi (sticky rice on a skewer) is made from white rice and pounded into a sticky cake, coated in a sweet sauce, and aromatically cooked over a flame.

The down has plenty of cafe's, souvenir shops, restaurants, and museums. I loved exploring the little shops with different crafts and snacks.