Aside from blossoming flowers, Mt. Fuji with snow cap, sushi, torii gates and temples, what else is there to see during cherry blossoms season in Japan? I suggest ride the bullet train and travel to Nagano Prefecture to meet the popular NatGeo-worthy snow monkeys. Here's one:
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| baddest snow monkey of them all |
Name of the park: Jigokudani Yaen-Koen (Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park)
Location: ６８４５ Hirao, 山ノ内町 Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture 381-0401, Japan
Website: http://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/
Means of Transportation:
a. bullet train to Yudanaka Station and bus ride to Kanbayashi Onsen
b. bullet train to Nagano Station and bus ride to Kanbayashi Onsen
Travel time: from Tokyo Station, it takes at least 3 hours to reach the park
Park's entrance fee: ¥500 / head
Hiking time from the entrance: 20 to 25 minutes, route is not difficult but proper gear during winter, pre-spring and rainy season is a must
NOTES:
- all those who will ride the train from Nagano Station going to Yudanaka Station will have to ride Nagano Electric Railway Ltd. Exp., which is NOT COVERED by JR Pass
- if you are not riding the train from Nagano Station, then take the bus called Nagano Dentetsu Bus also not covered by JR Pass
- check the weather first before going to Yudanaka; it seems to rain a lot there
- if you do not have the proper gear for deep snow, the shop, near the entrance of the park, rents shoes and jackets
- Nagano station has coin lockers while, Yudanaka station does not have since it's a small train station
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| Nagano Station's coin lockers found at the West Exit |
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| Nagano Prefecture's cherry blossoms |
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| Nagano Prefecture's cherry blossoms |
Best transportation to reach the Snow Monkey Park is by Nagano Dentetsu Bus (Nagaden) from Nagano Station. It stops at Kanbayashi Hot Spring. For more details on how to reach the Jigokudani, kindly see this site:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6027.html
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| Yudanaka Station |
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| huge map in front of Yudanaka Station |
On the other side of Yudanaka Station, there is an onsen for tired and freezing feet. It's a nice experience if you wish to try. There is a Lawson Store nearby, where you can buy umbrella, raincoat etc. as well as a restaurant that serves food until 11 or 12 midnight. Most of the restaurants around Yudanaka Station close early.
We booked a room at Yudanaka Hotel for ¥8,300. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from Yudanaka Station, has tatami matted floors (ryokan style), onsen for women but not huge enough, free Yukata (Japanese attire) in each room, luggage storage, does not accept credit cards but most importantly they have free shuttle bus GOING to Jigokudani. Outside the hotel, there is a ramen house nearby and is open until 10:00 PM only.
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| ryokan style room at Yudanaka Hotel |
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free Yukata attire for those
who will stay at Yudanaka Hotel |
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while looking for Yudanaka Hotel,
this cherry blossoms greeted us |
Checked out at 8:00 am and left our things at the hotel reception. They will allow it without additional cost. We waited for the free mini shuttle bus going to Jigokudani and left at exactly 8:30 AM with just 6 people. Be sure to be early to secure a seat because the mini bus only takes at least 10 to 12 people. It was a 15 min ride and the driver will drop you off at the parking lot of Kanbayashi Onsen. From that parking lot, you have to walk uphill for about 5 minutes passing Enza Cafe and you'll see this sign ahead:
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| entrance to the park, the hiking starts here |
A hike of 1.6 km is required. It starts off with several stairs and the rest is a rolling damp trail. It is not a difficult route. A 5 year old kid, who loves nature and animals, will manage to reach the park in approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Note that the trail is covered with snow around January to March. One must wear the proper clothing/gear, since it seems to rain a lot in Yudanaka. The place is not friendly to a PWD but I always believe that helping hands are far more powerful than a menacing road.
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| stairs to climb from the entrance of Jigokudani |
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| start of the rolling trail after the stairs |
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| do not cross the bridge, just head straight |
Upon entering the park, follow these rules:
- Do not touch, tease, joke around or scare the monkeys.
- Dogs, cats or other pets are NOT allowed in the premises.
- Stay calm and do not panic if the monkey hangs on to you or your bag.
After seeing the bridge, head straight to the road until you reach the stairs. Climb the stairs and at the end, you'll find the window where you will pay for the entrance fee of ¥500. After paying, you still have to walk for several minutes until you reach the onsen. You will encounter monkeys as you walk by.
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| he was shocked, I was too |
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| view of the japanese macaques' onsen from afar |
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| the onsen for the monkeys |
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| seems like he is the king |
We enjoyed the place for more than 2 hours. It's 12PM and we do not have anything in our itinerary anymore. Originally, Nagano prefecture is not part of our Japan trip hence, it was a sudden decision to visit the place. It was not well thought of that's why we didn't have anything planned after the snow monkeys and we didn't bring any clothes appropriate for snow.
My friend and I dropped by the gift shop near the entrance of the park. We met the owner Naomi, who speaks good English and knows a lot about the area. We chatted for several minutes while buying some snow monkey park gift items and thoughtlessly asked if there is a place nearby that is not expensive where we can play in the snow. She laughed and said "wait a minute". Naomi immediately picked up the phone and called someone. Naomi said that she called Ryuo Ski Park. A van will pick us up for free at Enza Cafe (store near her gift shop) in 30 minutes. It will drop us off back to our hotel as well. She arranged our next destination for free -- Ryuo Ski Park.
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| Ms. Naomi and her gift shop |
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| cafe near the entrance of Jigokudani |
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| inside Enza Cafe and the coffee tastes fantastic |
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| ride the ropeway to reach the ski park |
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| ropeway cable car |
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| slide down |
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| friendly Aussies that we met at Enza Cafe and joined us at Ryuo Ski Park |
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| snowball fight with the Aussies |
The van that we rode for free waited for us and drove us back to Yudanaka Hotel. The view along the way is cool because you can see huge plantation of cherry blossoms. I will definitely go back to Nagano and this time I will make sure that I am prepared.
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