Taking the Snow Monkey Express Train from Nagano

When you’re visiting the Snow Monkeys of the JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK getting there is part of the adventure and fun.  The main hub city to get to is Nagano and from there, you have a choice of trains and other transport options.  Trains to the Jigokudani Monkey Park run along the Nagano-Dentetsu line and one of the options is to take the Snow Monkey Express.  Here’s how to buy tickets for the Snow Monkey Express, what to expect, and what the alternatives are to the Snow Monkey Express trains.

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Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park Transport Options

There are several options to travel from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park.  I’ll cover the different options and then detail buying tickets and using the Snow Monkey Express.

Tour from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park

The easiest way to travel from Nagano to the Jigokudani Monkey Park is to take a tour, that includes not just your transport (and navigating which trains, buses, and transport to take) but also an English-speaking guide to enhance your trip.  This top-rated trip includes a coach from Nagano Train Station (or other locations in Nagano), visits to the Zenko-ji Temple, food tasting, and lunch at a local restaurant before traveling to the Jigokudani Monkey Park.   After your visit, you’ll be returned to your original pick-up point, or Nagano Train Station.   Lunch is included in your ticket, as is a sake-tasting experience too!  Check availability for your dates here.

Driving from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park

If you’ve rented a car and are traveling in Japan with a vehicle, then you’ll be pleased to hear that there is free parking available year-round near the Jigokudani Monkey Park trailhead.  There is a secondary paid parking area that’s available outside of the winter season, too.  Don’t forget that if you’re traveling in winter that you will need snow tires and/or chains, so be sure to check this out with your car rental company. Read my guide to renting a car in Japan here.

Use Google Maps to get the best directions, and you’ll want to put in directions to the parking lot of your choice, as you cannot drive right up to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, only the parking lots.

Parking at the Kanbayashi Onsen Parking Lot

This parking lot is free year round and is near the main trail to the Jigokudani Monkey Park.  It’s open year round.  And I’ve marked its location on the map.  You’ll find it next to Café Enza.

Parking at the Jigokudani Parking Lot

This parking lot is on the opposite side of the river (you can see it on the map), it is closed from December 1st to March 31^st each year, but is only 15 minutes walk from the ticket office of the Jigokudani Monkey Park.  It costs 500 Yen to park here.

Taking the Shigakogen Express Bus from Nagano to Snow Monkey Park

The express bus option leaves from the east exit of Nagano Train station and takes about 70 minutes to go directly to the parking lot by the trailhead of the Jigokudani Monkey Park.  It costs 1,800 Yen.  The timetable of the bus is here.

Buy tickets from the driver on the bus and you can pay with a credit card.

My guide on how to visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park and what to expect is here.

Taking the Snow Monkey Express Train from Nagano to Snow Monkey Park

When you arrive at Nagano station, you’ll need to find the Nagano-Dentetsu line that goes to Yudanaka, which is the closest train station to Jigokudani Monkey Park.  This means exiting the station at the Zenko-ji Exit.   There are signposts in the station telling you which way to go.  Leave the station, and turn immediately to your RIGHT.  Take the escalator down to the Nagano-Dentetsu line.

At the bottom of the escalator turn LEFT.  You’ll find the Nagano-Dentetsu line ticket machines and windows about 50 meters ahead.

If you get lost or can’t find the way, just ask at the information counter.  Everyone who works here knows where you’ll want to go.  The timetable for the trains is here.

You can buy tickets at the automated machines and the machines can be switched to English.  Tickets cost 1,290 Yen.  If you want a reserved seat on one of the trains, then you’ll need to pay an additional 300 Yen.

When you buy the ticket, you’ll need to buy two, one to the station that you’re going to – i.e. Yudanaka, and then the express addition, which costs an additional 100 Yen, making a total of 1,290

There is a map of the line that shows the fares to each station. 

If you get stuck, then don’t worry, there are staff members who will “pop” out from behind the machines to help you.  They’re extremely helpful, and while they have basic English language skills, you won’t be able to engage in a long conversation – they know where you want to go, and what problems you’re likely having, so they will help you buy the tickets.

You can’t buy these tickets at any other machines, just the ones by the Nagano Dentetu line. 

The Snow Monkey Express Train takes just 45 minutes to get to Yudanaka.  If you take the local slower train then it takes 70 minutes.  We took the Snow Train Express in one direction, and the local train back.  The local train stops pretty much everywhere, and depending on what time train you take you may also have to change trains, as the commuter trains, sometimes only travel part of the route and then turn around and go back.

The timetable of the trains is here.

Taking the Local Train from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park

If you prefer to save the 100 Yen Express Fee, then you can opt for the local train to Yudanaka from Nagano.  This takes longer (about 70 minutes versus 45) and they run less often.  Simply buy your ticket in the same way that you did for the Snow Monkey Express as above, but don’t opt for the express option.

Once you’ve arrived at Yudanaka Station then you have choices of how to get to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. If you’re staying in Shibu Onsen for your visit, then your host ryokan owner will likely pick you up. Check my guide to the top ryokans in Shibu Onsen here.

Bus from Yudanaka Station to Jigokudani Monkey Park

There is a local bus that comes here from Yudanaka station once an hour.  The timetable is displayed outside the train station and you can find the current timetable here.  The bus takes 15 minutes to go from Yudanaka Station to the parking lot for the snow monkeys.

Taxi from Yudanaka Station to Jigokudani Monkey Park

There is a taxi rank at the station, and you can see the approximate rates to go from Yudanaka Station to the Jigokudani Monkey Park.  It is published in English and Japanese and you can see it on the side of the buildings here.

Walking from Yudanaka Station to Jigokudani Monkey Park

It’s a 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) walk from Yudanaka Train Station to the Jigokudani Monkey Park parking lot and trailhead. It is slightly uphill, but it is signposted along the way and you can follow the river for part of the route.  It is a pleasant walk.

Looking for an alternative way to travel Japan? Check out how to use private drivers in Japan and sightsee while you’re actually going between places!

Final Words on Taking the Snow Monkey Express Train

The Snow Monkey Express Train is a quick and easy way to travel from Nagano to the Jigokudani Monkey Park.  It takes just about half the time that the local trains do, and costs just 100 Yen more for the trip.  If you’re short on time, then this is a great time saver.  You can take the local train to save money, or even take a bus. These are the variety of your options from Nagano that you can take for the final part of the journey to see the Snow Monkeys of the Jigokudani Monkey Park.

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