Snow Monkeys in Nagano
Hello, travelers. This is Kumi. Picturesque Japan Blog welcomes you to Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html
I took the bullet train Asama #601 to Nagano station.
The train arrived at JR Nagano station at 8:40 and I need to catch the Snow Monkey Express at 8:51 from Nagano Dentesu Line's Nagano station. Can I make it!?
Okay. This is the entrance to the station.
Going down...
Walk the hallway...
Get the ticket from the machine. It's 1,260 yen including the express fare.
I made it!
After all, it didn't take much time and I had some time to take the photos of the Snow Monkey Express.
Hmm... the view is pretty.
After a 45-min ride, the train arrived at Yudanaka station. BTW, each time a train arrives, they play this music. It's so funny! LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8NnKWvvsL8
There is a public bath behind the station.
Kaede-no-yu
http://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/activities/kaede-no-yu/
The foot bath is for free! Yay!!
I could have taken a bus at 9:40, but I went to my hotel first to leave my luggage and took the next bus at 10:38 from Yudanaka station. There are two different bus options. One goes to Kanbayashi bus stop and the other is to Snow Monkey bus stop. Kanbayashi is a bit (4-min walk) closer to Monkey Park.
This is the timetable at Yudanaka sta. (*as of October 2018)
To Kanbayashi 9:33, 10:38, 11:53, 13:13, 15:58, 18:38
To Snow Monkey 7:40, 8:10, 9:40, 10:45, 12:30, 14:00, 15:20
The 9:40 bus was very crowded, but the 10:38 one was empty!
Arrived at Kanbayashi Onsen bus stop at 10:53. You'll find this sign at the corner.
There are some shops and restaurants along the way.
Arrived at the entrance to the trail at 11:00. The sign says it's about 25-min walk to the Snow Monkey Park.
Let me get started!
It's mostly flat and easy.
It's just a long walk.
At 11:25, suddenly I came out of the forest. So the sign was more or less right.
Okay. Go right.
Going up...
After the reception, you can use these coin lockers for free! (*You need to put in 100 yen coin, but you'll get it back when you open the locker)
Oh, my...
They are sooooo funny!
You'll never get bored.
Wow! Livecam!? Really?
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam2/video_en.php
Wow, this guy is swimming!
There is a gift shop at the Park. The postcards here are slightly cheaper than the ones at the trail entrance. :P
They accept credit cards.
You can get free water.
Walked this long trail again...
Came back to the trail entrance at 13:01. So it was about half an hour from the Snow Monkey's door.
Enza Cafe seems nice.
Came back to Kanbayashi Onsen bus stop.
From Kanbayashi to Yudanaka sta.
8:15, 9:48, 10:53, 12:08, 13:28, 16:13
From Snow Monkey to Yudanaka sta.
9:24, 10:30, 12:01, 13:33, 15:06, 16:18, 17:21, 18:36
I got on the bus from Kanbayashi at 13:28.
And got off at Wago-bashi bus stop to explore Shibu-onsen area.
Hahahaha! A privatized sign which bearly functions. LOL
There are many hot spring baths. People are exploring the area in yukata.
This is a very traditional ryokan, Kanagu-ya.
http://www.kanaguya.com/english.html
You can buy onsen-boiled eggs on the street.
The lanterns say "Shibu" "on" "sen."
There is a post office by the river. If you bought some cards, you could mail them here.
What a lovely autumn day!
This is a view from Hoshikawa bridge.
Hahahahaha! It seems people in this area are so serious about drying their laundry. :P
This view is from the ryokan, Biyu-no-yado.
http://www.yudanaka-shibuonsen.com/accommodation/biyunoyado-ryokan
I was surprised Nagano is very close from Tokyo! I started my journey quite early, but even if you start some hours later, you could still visit the Snow Monkey Park. In fact, a day-trip from Tokyo is possible. However, Nagano has so many attractions, so you should stay here at least one night, enjoy onsen, and get ready for the next day!
To be continued...
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html
I took the bullet train Asama #601 to Nagano station.
The train arrived at JR Nagano station at 8:40 and I need to catch the Snow Monkey Express at 8:51 from Nagano Dentesu Line's Nagano station. Can I make it!?
Okay. This is the entrance to the station.
Going down...
Walk the hallway...
Get the ticket from the machine. It's 1,260 yen including the express fare.
I made it!
After all, it didn't take much time and I had some time to take the photos of the Snow Monkey Express.
Hmm... the view is pretty.
After a 45-min ride, the train arrived at Yudanaka station. BTW, each time a train arrives, they play this music. It's so funny! LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8NnKWvvsL8
There is a public bath behind the station.
Kaede-no-yu
http://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/activities/kaede-no-yu/
The foot bath is for free! Yay!!
I could have taken a bus at 9:40, but I went to my hotel first to leave my luggage and took the next bus at 10:38 from Yudanaka station. There are two different bus options. One goes to Kanbayashi bus stop and the other is to Snow Monkey bus stop. Kanbayashi is a bit (4-min walk) closer to Monkey Park.
This is the timetable at Yudanaka sta. (*as of October 2018)
To Kanbayashi 9:33, 10:38, 11:53, 13:13, 15:58, 18:38
To Snow Monkey 7:40, 8:10, 9:40, 10:45, 12:30, 14:00, 15:20
The 9:40 bus was very crowded, but the 10:38 one was empty!
Arrived at Kanbayashi Onsen bus stop at 10:53. You'll find this sign at the corner.
There are some shops and restaurants along the way.
Arrived at the entrance to the trail at 11:00. The sign says it's about 25-min walk to the Snow Monkey Park.
Let me get started!
It's mostly flat and easy.
It's just a long walk.
At 11:16, I walk passed this rest area.
At 11:25, suddenly I came out of the forest. So the sign was more or less right.
Okay. Go right.
Going up...
After the reception, you can use these coin lockers for free! (*You need to put in 100 yen coin, but you'll get it back when you open the locker)
Oh, my...
They are sooooo funny!
You'll never get bored.
Wow! Livecam!? Really?
http://www.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/livecam2/video_en.php
Wow, this guy is swimming!
There is a gift shop at the Park. The postcards here are slightly cheaper than the ones at the trail entrance. :P
They accept credit cards.
You can get free water.
Mmm... that was fun! I left the Park at 12:30.
Walked this long trail again...
Came back to the trail entrance at 13:01. So it was about half an hour from the Snow Monkey's door.
Enza Cafe seems nice.
Came back to Kanbayashi Onsen bus stop.
From Kanbayashi to Yudanaka sta.
8:15, 9:48, 10:53, 12:08, 13:28, 16:13
From Snow Monkey to Yudanaka sta.
9:24, 10:30, 12:01, 13:33, 15:06, 16:18, 17:21, 18:36
I got on the bus from Kanbayashi at 13:28.
And got off at Wago-bashi bus stop to explore Shibu-onsen area.
Hahahaha! A privatized sign which bearly functions. LOL
There are many hot spring baths. People are exploring the area in yukata.
This is a very traditional ryokan, Kanagu-ya.
http://www.kanaguya.com/english.html
You can buy onsen-boiled eggs on the street.
The lanterns say "Shibu" "on" "sen."
There is a post office by the river. If you bought some cards, you could mail them here.
What a lovely autumn day!
This is a view from Hoshikawa bridge.
Hahahahaha! It seems people in this area are so serious about drying their laundry. :P
This view is from the ryokan, Biyu-no-yado.
http://www.yudanaka-shibuonsen.com/accommodation/biyunoyado-ryokan
I was surprised Nagano is very close from Tokyo! I started my journey quite early, but even if you start some hours later, you could still visit the Snow Monkey Park. In fact, a day-trip from Tokyo is possible. However, Nagano has so many attractions, so you should stay here at least one night, enjoy onsen, and get ready for the next day!
To be continued...
