The hike to the snow monkey park
No road leads to the monkeys. Every visit ends with a walk through the forest, and in winter that walk is on snow and ice.
The short answer
The hike to the snow monkey park is a forest path of about 1.6 kilometres from Kanbayashi Onsen, mostly level with a short climb at the start and steep steps at the entrance. In winter, from December to March, it is packed snow and hidden ice and takes 30 to 40 minutes each way, so wear winter boots with a firm sole or ice spikes. Prams, wheelchairs and wheeled suitcases cannot use it.
See which snow monkey tours can still be booked on your dates
Whichever tour you book, the coach, the van or the guide stops at the bottom and you walk the rest. The path is easy in summer. In winter it is the part of the day people are least prepared for.
The path from Kanbayashi Onsen
From the car park, 7 to 10 minutes uphill through the hot-spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen bring you to the start of the forest path. From there it is about 1.6 kilometres to the park, mostly level, with a climb of about 20 metres at the beginning and a steep flight of steps at the park entrance. In the green season the walk takes 20 to 25 minutes; in winter allow 30 to 40 minutes each way. There is no vehicle access to the pool.
Ice, spikes and boots
From December to March the path is covered in packed snow with ice hidden underneath, and the risk of slipping is high. Snow boots or ice spikes over your own shoes make the difference. Spikes are sold at the trailhead, and on the H.I.S. coach from Shinjuku they are sold on board. Trainers and city shoes are the wrong choice in winter.
What to wear
In winter temperatures can fall to around minus ten degrees. Dress in layers you can open on the walk and close again at the pool, where you stand still for a long time. Gloves that let you work a camera, a hat and warm socks matter more than one thick coat. Leave large bags behind: wheeled suitcases are not allowed on the path.
Children, prams and limited mobility
Children can do the walk, and under-sixes enter the park free. Prams cannot be used on the path, so bring a child carrier for small children. The path is not suitable for wheelchairs. The H.I.S. coach tour says it is not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users, and the Machinovate tour from Nagano does not accept people with limited mobility. If anyone in your group struggles with uneven, icy ground or steep steps, take that seriously before booking any tour.
Rules at the pool
The monkeys are wild. Keep a distance of one to two metres, do not touch or feed them, and do not eat or drink in the park or on the path. No flash, no selfie sticks, and no bathing in the pool. Press reports in 2026 named feeding, touching and overcrowding as the reasons the park is looking at visitor limits.
The park ticket
How much you need to think about the ticket depends on the tour. The listings of the H.I.S. coach from Shinjuku and the Machinovate tour from Nagano include the park entrance. On the private car tour by Luxurious Travel Master all entrance fees are extra, and most other listings do not say. Since August 2026 the park also sells tickets for a fixed date in advance. In winter more people come than the park can take in, so visitors with an advance ticket go in first, and on crowded days you may not get in without one. The park does not mention time slots. Advance tickets are sold on the park’s ticket page. If your tour does not include the entrance, ask the operator before you book who takes care of the ticket. Private tours and the ticket question.
FAQ
How long is the walk to the snow monkey park?
About 1.6 kilometres from the start of the forest path at Kanbayashi Onsen, plus 7 to 10 minutes uphill through the village. Allow 30 to 40 minutes each way in winter and 20 to 25 minutes in the green season.
Do I need ice spikes for the snow monkey park?
From December to March, snow boots or ice spikes are strongly advised because the path is icy. Spikes are sold at the trailhead and on the H.I.S. coach.
Can I bring a pram or wheelchair to the snow monkey park?
No. The forest path and the steep steps at the entrance are not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Use a child carrier for small children.
Is the walk hard?
Not in distance or height: the path is mostly level. The difficulty in winter is the ice, the cold and the steep steps at the entrance.
Choose the tour that gets you to the path
Start point, park ticket and lunch for every snow monkey tour.
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