Recommended tourist spots in Winter

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The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (altitude 850 meters) is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River sourced from Shiga-Kogen of the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in northern part of Nagano prefecture.
Because of the very steep cliffs and the steam coming out of the springs in everywhere, ancient people called this valley "Jigokudani (Hell valley)".
This area is covered with snow almost one third of the year.
However, such severe environment is a paradise on earth for monkeys to live in. The troops of wild Japanese macaque (they are popularly known as snow monkeys) inhabit here naturally through the ages.
Since the establishment of Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in 1964, it has been a worldwide popular place for watching the bathing monkeys in a hot spring and observing its unique ecology for researchers and photographers.

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park official website

Access to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park from Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (Expressway bus Reservation) → Nagano Station

It can be reached from Nagano Station in 2 ways.
Route 1. Ltd. Exp. + Local bus
Nagano Station (Nagano Electric Railway Ltd. Exp. "Snow Monkey" : Approx. 38 minutes / 1,260 yen) → Yudanaka Station (Nagano Dentesu Bus : Approx. 15 minutes) → Kanbayashi Onsen bus stop (35 min. walk) → Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Route 2. Expressway Bus
Nagano Station (Nagano Dentesu Express Bus for Shiga-kogen(Shiga Highlands) : Approx. 41 minutes / 1,400 yen) → Kanbayashi Onsen bus stop (35 min. walk) → Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park