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Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are the two most prominent of more than half a dozen hot springs, clustered together in Yamanouchi Town in northern Nagano Prefecture. The area is most famous for its so called "snow monkeys", wild Japanese monkeys who are enjoying the naturally hot waters just like the human visitors.
Jigokudani Yaen Koen or "Jigokudani Monkey Park" is the chosen home of more than one hundred Japanese Macaques, Japan's indigenous monkeys. The park is located in a valley, named "Hell Valley" for the volcanic activities to be observed there, and features a hot spring pool for exclusive use by monkeys.
The monkeys enjoy bathing especially during the cold winter months, when the air temperature drops below freezing and the valley is covered by a thick layer of snow. But even in the summer they take occasional baths, sometimes allured by food thrown into the pool by park wardens.
Korakukan Ryokan and Moneky Park in summer
Hot springs for use by humans can be found further down the valley. The Korakukan, a wooden onsen ryokan, stands just below the monkey park, while dozens of ryokan with hot spring baths are located in and around Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen. Shibu Onsen with its narrow streets offers a particularly nice atmosphere.
Several ski resorts are located not far from Yudanaka, mainly in Shiga Kogen (Shiga Highland), the site of some olympic ski competitions in 1998. If you continue beyond Shiga Kogen, you will get to the spectacular volcanic landscape around Mount Shirane and eventually to Kusatsu Onsen.
Narrow streets of Shibu Onsen
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How to get there
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How to get to Nagano
How to get from Nagano to Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen:
By train
From Nagano Station, take the Nagaden Railway to Yudanaka Station, the terminal station. The one way journey by limited express takes 45 minutes, costs 1230 yen and is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
By bus
Nagaden express buses connect Nagano Station with Yudanaka Station in 45 minutes and for 1130 yen one way. Furthermore, there are express buses between Nagano Station and the Shiga Kogen area, which stop at Kanbayashi Onsen near the trail head to the monkey park (40 minutes, 1300 yen one way). Neither bus is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Local Nagaden buses provide transportation between Yudanaka Station, Shibu Onsen (5 minutes, 160 Yen), Kanbayashi Onsen (10 minutes, 250 Yen), Shiga Kogen (35 minutes, 760 Yen) and Mount Shirane (70 minutes, 1630 Yen, not operating in winter).
How to get to the Monkey Park:
To access the monkey park, take a bus to Kanbayashi Onsen, from where you can reach the park in a 30 minute walk along a walking trail. Alternatively, there is a road from Shibu Onsen to within a 10-15 minute walk from the monkey park, however, the road gets closed in winter.
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Travel Community
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Popularity of Yudanaka Onsen:
Users who have been to Yudanaka Onsen: 34
Most visited: Ranked 82nd out of 113 destinations
Ratings for Yudanaka Onsen:
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japan-guide.com Rating:
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best of Japan
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User Rating (by 20 users):
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92/100
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highly recommended
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Hotel and Ryokan
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Shimaya Ryokan
An affordable ryokan providing free shuttle to Jigokudani Monkey Park. Enjoy 100% natural hot spring of Yudanaka Onsen.
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Hotel Shiga Sunvalley
1min to Ski slopes. Trekking courses nearby. Easy access to Monkey Park. Internet in lobby. Onsen, sauna and jacuzzi.
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Hotel Shirakaba-so
3 min to the gate of Shiga Kogen ski resort. Free internet, private bath and outdoor bath. 45 min to the Monkey Park.
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Shibu Hotel
A friendly ryokan with natural onsen in Shibu Onsen. You can stroll to the Monkey Park. Free shuttle also available.
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Wafu-no Yado Masuya
Free shuttle to Monkey Park. The dinner won Best 100 hotel award. Tasteful en-suite Japanese rooms. 100% natural onsen.
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Kokuya Hotel
Rooms with open air hot bath on balcony! 3min from Yudanaka st. - free pick up, shuttle to Monkey park, English speaking staff.
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Yudanaka Seifu-so
A traditional ryokan with wooden building by Yudanaka Station. Unique onsen - private, open-air, apple, leaf baths etc.
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Japanese Links
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Nagaden
Official website of the railway company providing access to Yudanaka.
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Nagaden Bus
Official website of the bus company.
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