The Jigokudani Monkey Park is a wildlife observation site located at an elevation of 850 meters in the Shiga Highlands of northern Nagano Prefecture.
During winter, when snowfall can exceed one meter, the Japanese macaques here are famous for their unusual behavior of bathing in hot springs—a habit that has earned them international recognition as “snow monkeys.”
The monkeys roam freely in the natural environment surrounding the park. While their presence is sustained through feeding and management, the area is not enclosed by cages, allowing visitors to observe the macaques’ behavior as if in the wild.
In winter, they become particularly striking photographic subjects: snow-covered landscapes, ice crystals clinging to their fur, and the vivid contrast of their red faces against the white surroundings.
The opportunity to closely witness how Japanese macaques live in their natural habitat is rare, making the site of significant value not only for tourism but also for the study of animal behavior.