Jigokudani Onsen is a secluded hot spring in Yamanouchi Town, Nagano Prefecture, located deep in the mountains of the Yudanaka-Shibu Hot Spring region. The hot springs emerge along the gorge of the Yokoyu River, where steep mountains and a rugged natural environment create an atmosphere far removed from the busy cities of Japan.
The area is particularly famous for the unusual relationship between people and wild Japanese macaques. In winter, visitors may see monkeys relaxing in hot spring water while snow covers the surrounding mountains, creating one of the most memorable scenes associated with Japan’s snowy countryside.
The waters of Jigokudani Onsen are classified as a salt-containing gypsum acidic spring. The mineral-rich water is known for its warming qualities and provides a distinctive bathing experience in the secluded mountain setting.
There is only one traditional inn at the hot spring: Kourakukan. The historic ryokan is a member of the Nihon Hito no Yu o Mamoru Kai, an association dedicated to preserving Japan’s secluded hot springs.
Kourakukan has four indoor baths supplied by flowing hot spring water, with water added to adjust the temperature, as well as two mixed-gender outdoor baths. Its baths have also been recognized by the Association for the Preservation of Japan’s Hot Spring Heritage as source-flowing hot spring baths of hot spring heritage.
One of the most remarkable sights at Jigokudani Onsen is the appearance of wild Japanese macaques in the outdoor hot spring. During winter, monkeys sometimes enter the bath near Kourakukan, creating a scene rarely seen anywhere else in the world.
When heavy snow covers the mountains, the contrast between steaming hot spring water, white snow, and wild Japanese macaques creates an iconic winter landscape. This unusual scene has become particularly popular with visitors from outside Japan.
The name Jigokudani, meaning “Hell Valley,” reflects the area’s dramatic geothermal environment. Nearby is the Shibu Jigokudani Funsen, a geyser designated as a National Natural Monument of Japan.
Hot water and steam erupt from the ground, creating a landscape that historically appeared mysterious and frightening to people. The rising steam and powerful geothermal activity are part of what gives the valley its distinctive character.
Jigokudani Onsen also has a connection with Japanese children’s literature. One of the rooms at Kourakukan is known as a place where the children’s story Tatsu no Ko Taro was written.
The combination of secluded mountains, hot springs, and literary history gives this small hot spring destination a cultural character that extends beyond its natural scenery.
At the deepest part of the Jigokudani valley is Jigokudani Monkey Park, an observation facility for Japanese macaques that opened in 1964.
The park is famous around the world because visitors can observe wild Japanese macaques in their natural environment, including their habit of entering hot spring water during the coldest months of the year.
The origins of the park are closely connected with changes in the local environment after World War II. Extensive forest logging reduced the monkeys’ habitat, causing groups of macaques to move closer to human settlements in search of food. This led to increasing damage to agricultural crops.
Hara Shogo, the park’s first director, proposed an approach based on coexistence rather than eliminating the monkeys. He believed that providing food and gradually habituating the animals to human presence could help reduce agricultural damage.
It took approximately three years to establish the relationship that made today’s monkey observation area possible. The result was a place where visitors could observe wild monkeys without turning them into domesticated animals.
Jigokudani Monkey Park is located at an elevation of approximately 850 meters. The winter climate is severe, with snowfall sometimes exceeding one meter and temperatures falling below -10°C.
To cope with the cold, the monkeys began using the warm waters of the hot spring. Today, their winter bathing behavior is internationally known, and the animals have become popularly known as “Snow Monkeys.”
Monkey bathing is most commonly observed from approximately December through March. As temperatures rise in spring, the monkeys generally spend less time in the hot spring.
The sight of Japanese macaques relaxing in steaming hot spring water has been featured repeatedly by international media, including TIME magazine.
International visitors make up a significant proportion of visitors to the park, with overseas travelers accounting for approximately 20–40 percent according to the information associated with the destination. The park has become particularly popular among visitors from Australia, Europe, and North America who travel to Japan for winter sports.
The area also attracted worldwide attention during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, when international media coverage helped introduce the Snow Monkeys to an even wider audience. In recent years, visitors from Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Thailand have also become increasingly interested in the area.
The relationship between the monkeys and the hot spring developed in a remarkable way. In 1964, a young monkey reportedly entered the outdoor bath at Kourakukan out of curiosity. Adult monkeys subsequently began entering the water as well.
For hygiene and management reasons, a separate outdoor hot spring was eventually created specifically for the monkeys. The monkey bath measures approximately 4 meters wide and 10 meters long.
During winter, visitors may observe approximately 50 to 60 Japanese macaques using the bath. Although the scene may look like the monkeys are bathing for cleanliness or relaxation, their primary reason for entering the water is believed to be protection from the cold.
Jigokudani Onsen and Jigokudani Monkey Park offer a rare opportunity to experience the relationship between nature, wildlife, and Japanese hot spring culture in one place.
The image of wild Japanese macaques soaking in steaming water surrounded by deep winter snow is one of the most distinctive sights in northern Nagano. At the same time, the secluded valley, historic Kourakukan inn, geothermal landscape, and literary connections give the destination a deeper cultural dimension.
The journey requires some walking and takes longer than visiting many conventional tourist attractions, but the remote mountain setting is an important part of the experience. For travelers interested in wildlife, hot springs, Japanese mountain landscapes, and traditional culture, Jigokudani is a memorable destination where an extraordinary natural scene can be experienced in its original mountain environment.
From JR Nagano Station, take the Nagaden Express Shiga Kogen Line bus and get off at Kamibayashi Onsen-guchi. The bus journey takes approximately 40 minutes, followed by a walk of about 30 minutes.
Alternatively, from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano Dentetsu Line, take a Nagaden bus for approximately 10 minutes to Kamibayashi Onsen, then walk for about 30 minutes.
From the Shinshu-Nakano Interchange on the Joshin’etsu Expressway, follow National Route 292 toward the Kutsuno and Shibu areas, then continue to the Jigokudani parking area. From the parking area, Jigokudani can be reached on foot in approximately 10 minutes.
During winter, the parking area is closed. In the snowy season, the walking route from Kamibayashi Onsen, which takes approximately 30 minutes, is recommended.