View Japanese macaques in their natural mountain habitat

Jigokudani Yaen-Koen (Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park), nestled in the Yokoyu River Valley in the northern reaches of Nagano Prefecture, is home to wild troops of Japanese macaques. The valley is located at an elevation of 850 meters and is surrounded by deciduous forests. Snow blankets the valley for four month out of the year.

Each season brings a new way to appreciate the macaques. Infants are born and reared from April to June and can be seen frolicking in the verdant woods throughout the summer. In the autumn, the macaques forage for fruits and nuts to prepare for the coming winter. Winter in the valley is undoubtedly cold, but these resilient primates huddle together to keep warm, and rely on buds, bark, and even mineral-rich soil for food. No other primate besides humans can endure such conditions. You may be able to see macaques bathing in hot springs to keep warm this time of year, but note that this is more of an occasional occurrence. Japanese macaques usually do not like to get wet.

The macaques are truly wild. Jigokudani Yaen-Koen has no fences or barriers to prevent them from roaming between the park and their natural mountain habitat. Their protection and preservation are paramount, so visitors are not permitted to feed them or handle them.