長野県の地獄谷野猿公苑は外国人のお客様に大人気の観光スポット。
特に冬がおすすめで、都内からの日帰りも可能です。先日の団体のお客様は3歳から70歳まで。みなさんみごとに山道を歩ききり、野猿公苑にたどりつきました！

In recent years, Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture has gained tremendous popularity among international visitors. Winter is especially the best time to visit, as you can see Japanese macaques soaking in hot springs surrounded by snow—a truly unique and unforgettable sight.

Day trips from Tokyo are very popular, with many bus tours available as one-day optional excursions for those staying in the capital. The journey takes about three to four hours by bus, and one of the highlights along the way is stopping at highway service areas, where you can enjoy and purchase delicious local specialties unique to each region.

At the park, visitors walk for about 30 minutes along an unpaved mountain trail to reach the monkeys. During the winter season, we highly recommend purchasing crampons (ice cleats) in advance or renting them locally to ensure a safe and comfortable walk.

This time, we visited the park with a group of 40 guests. Our participants ranged in age from 3 years old to 70, but everyone moved at their own pace and successfully made it all the way to the monkey park.

There, we were able to observe a troop of wild Japanese macaques up close. The highlight, of course, was the famous “snow monkeys” bathing in the hot spring, their faces bright red as they relaxed in the steaming water.

It was a truly enjoyable and memorable day trip for everyone!