A highlight for many visitors to Nozawa Onsen is a trip to see the famous snow monkeys of Jugokudani monkey park, part of the Joshinetsu National park.

The entrance to the park is located about 50 minutes drive from Nozawa Onsen, just above Yudanaka town and below the Shiga Kogen plateau. 

There are multiple ways to get to the park from Nozawa, including public transport or hiring a car but by far the simplest is to join one of the transfers or tours operated by the local providers listed below.

The park is open year-round but of course the monkeys look a little different without the snow and spend much less time in the hot springs. Occasionally they do not come down from the surrounding hills at all. But don’t be disappointed: the walk into the park is beautiful and the information center is worth a visit.