How to Get from Hakuba to Snow Monkey Park by Rental Car — Complete Guide
Be Village 
Hakuba to Snow Monkey Park — just 90 minutes by rental car.
- What is Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park?
- Driving route from Hakuba — step by step with highway instructions
- Parking and the walking trail to the monkey park
- Public transport vs rental car — time comparison
- Entry fees, hours, and tips for seeing monkeys in the onsen
- Bonus stops: Shibu Onsen and Zenkoji Temple
What Is the Snow Monkey Park?
Jigokudani Yaen-koen (地獄谷野猿公苑) — known worldwide as the "Snow Monkey Park" — is a nature reserve in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, where wild Japanese macaques bathe in natural hot springs. It's the only place on earth where you can see this phenomenon up close.
Open since 1964, it's been featured in Time Magazine, CNN, and countless travel shows. About half the visitors are international tourists — it's one of Japan's most iconic wildlife experiences.
| Official name | Jigokudani Yaen-koen (地獄谷野猿公苑) |
| Location | Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano |
| Entry | Adults ¥800 / Children (elementary–high school) ¥400 |
| Hours | Summer (~Apr–Oct): 8:30–17:00 / Winter (~Nov–Mar): 9:00–16:00 |
| Closed | No fixed holidays (may close for weather or monkey behavior) |
| Best for bathing | Winter (Dec–Mar). Colder days = higher chance of monkeys in the water |
| Website | jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp |
Driving from Hakuba to Snow Monkey Park
🚗 Recommended Route (~90 minutes)
→
Olympic Road~50 min
→
Nagano IC→ Joshinetsu Expwy
→
Shinshu-Nakano IC~20 min
→
R292~20 min
→
Kanbayashi Parking
| Distance | ~80 km |
| Drive time | ~90 min (add 15–20 min in winter) |
| Toll | Nagano IC → Shinshu-Nakano IC: ~¥850 (standard car, ETC) |
| Parking | Kanbayashi Onsen / Snow Monkey Park dedicated lot (free, ~50 spaces) |
Step-by-Step Route
- Leave Hakuba → Take the Olympic Road (Pref. Routes 31/33) toward Nagano. Wide, well-maintained. ~50 min to Nagano IC area
- Enter Joshinetsu Expressway at Nagano IC → Take a ticket at the toll gate (or use ETC). Head toward "Joetsu / Myoko" direction
- Exit at Shinshu-Nakano IC → ~20 min from Nagano IC. Pay toll (~¥850) at the booth
- Follow Route 292 toward Shiga Kogen → Look for signs to "Jigokudani Yaen-koen." ~20 min to the Kanbayashi Onsen area
- Park at the dedicated Snow Monkey lot → Free parking. From here, walk ~30 min through the forest to the park
Using a Japanese Highway (First-Timer Guide)
- Entering — Pull up to the toll gate. ETC lane if you have a card; "一般" (general) lane for a ticket if you don't
- Merging — Use the acceleration lane to match highway speed before merging left. Japan drives on the left; the right lane is for overtaking
- Speed — Usually 80–100 km/h. Follow posted signs
- Exiting — Watch for "信州中野" (Shinshu-Nakano) signs. Move to the left lane, take the exit ramp, and pay at the booth (cash, credit card, or ETC)
The Walking Trail: Parking to Monkey Park
From the dedicated parking lot, it's a ~2 km walk through a snowy forest to reach the monkey park — about 30 minutes. The trail is mostly flat and doesn't require climbing gear, but in winter, snow and ice make proper footwear essential.
What to Wear / Bring in Winter
- Waterproof boots or snow boots — Sneakers are a bad idea. You'll slip and your feet will freeze
- Warm layers, gloves, hat — At 850 m elevation, deep winter temps drop below -10°C. You'll be standing outdoors the whole time
- Camera — Monkey-in-onsen moments happen fast. Smartphone works, but cold drains batteries — bring a backup power bank
| Parking → Park | ~2 km / ~30 min walk (35–40 min in snow) |
| Trail | Mostly flat, unpaved forest path. Snow/ice in winter |
| Toilets | At the parking lot and inside the park. None on the trail |
| Viewing time | 30 min – 1 hour (allow 1 hr for photography) |
| Total round trip | ~1.5 – 2 hours from parking to parking |
Public Transport vs Rental Car
| Method | Hakuba → Park | Transfers | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🚗 Rental Car | ~90 min drive + 30 min walk | None (your schedule) | ◎ Stop at Shibu Onsen, Zenkoji, anywhere |
| 🚌🚃 Public Transport | ~2 hr 40 min – 3 hours | 3 (bus → train → bus → walk) | ✕ Completely tied to timetables |
By public transport, it takes nearly 3 hours one way with 3 transfers — and if you miss a connection, your plan falls apart. By car, you're there in 90 minutes, leave whenever you want, and can add Shibu Onsen or Zenkoji Temple on the way home.
A Snow Monkey day trip from Hakuba is a rental-car trip. Without a car, it's barely possible.
Model Day Trip: Hakuba → Snow Monkeys → Shibu Onsen → Zenkoji
| 8:00 AM | Leave Hakuba → Olympic Road → Nagano IC → Joshinetsu Expressway |
| 9:30 AM | Arrive at Kanbayashi parking. Walk to the monkey park |
| 10:00–11:30 | Watch the snow monkeys. Photography time |
| 12:00 PM | Drive to Shibu Onsen (~10 min). Explore the old hot spring town, grab lunch |
| 2:00 PM | Drive to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City (~40 min). One of Japan's most sacred temples |
| 3:30 PM | Explore Zenkoji. Try soba noodles and oyaki in the temple town |
| 5:00 PM | Leave Nagano → Olympic Road back to Hakuba (~1 hour) |
| 6:00 PM | Back in Hakuba. Epic day trip complete! |
FAQ
The Monkeys Are Waiting. Are You?
Wild monkeys soaking in a steaming hot spring surrounded by snow — it's one of Japan's most unforgettable sights, and it's just 90 minutes from Hakuba by rental car. By public transport? Nearly 3 hours and 3 transfers. With a car, you're free to leave when you want, stop at Shibu Onsen, visit Zenkoji, and still be back in Hakuba for dinner.
Take one day off from skiing and make it your "Snow Monkey & Nagano Sightseeing DAY." A rental car makes it effortless.
Hakuba Rent a Car — Your ticket to the Snow Monkeys.
