Jigokudani Monkey Park announces fee revision on 20 September
Published on 09/27/2026 at 13:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Jigokudani Monkey Park in Yamanouchi, Japan, published an official notice about an admission fee revision on 20 September 2026. The site, called Jigokudani Yaen-koen in the operator's English material, remains a wildlife viewing area in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture.
Jigokudani Monkey Park posts fee revision notice on 20 September
The operator's notice is dated 20 September 2026 and is headed Important Notice Regarding Admission Fee Revision. It identifies the change as a notification from the park, but the English notice does not give further details about the amount or the date on which a revised charge will take effect.
That makes 20 September 2026 the relevant date for visitors following the announcement. Travellers planning a visit should treat the operator's current visitor information as the controlling reference for entry arrangements, rather than relying on older guidebooks or unofficial price tables.
Jigokudani Monkey Park sits on a 1964 wildlife site
The park was established in 1964 and is set in the Jigokudani Valley behind Yamanouchi. The Nagano Prefecture tourism board describes it as a place where wild Japanese macaques can be observed near a hot-spring pool, rather than as a zoo with animals kept in enclosures.
The valley forms the setting for the fee announcement's practical importance: the visit involves reaching a mountain viewing area after a forest walk. The same combination of wild animals, steep terrain and changing conditions means that admission policy is only one part of planning a visit. The park's own guide warns that monkeys may not appear on every day and that weather, animal behaviour or natural disasters can affect operations. Background details on the site's history and trail are set out by the Nagano tourism board guide.
Visiting Jigokudani Monkey Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The fee revision notice was published on 20 September 2026 by the park operator. The notice does not state an amount or an effective date in its English text.
- The announcement concerns admission fees, not a closure. The park's guide describes the site as open year-round, while warning that weather, natural disasters and monkey behaviour can lead to changes.
- The park is in the Jigokudani Valley near Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture. Public transport routes lead towards the Snow Monkey Park area, followed by a forest walk to the site.
- The route and viewing area are in rugged woodland terrain. The operator states that there are no paved roads inside or outside the park and that wheelchairs and carts are not accessible.
- The official language is Japanese and the national currency is the Japanese yen.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Jigokudani Monkey Park
What changed at Jigokudani Monkey Park?
The operator published an admission fee revision notice on 20 September 2026. Its English notice does not state the revised amount or an effective date.
Where is Jigokudani Monkey Park and how do you get there?
The park is in the Jigokudani Valley near Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture. Visitors using public transport travel towards the Snow Monkey Park area and continue on foot along the forest route.
What is Jigokudani Monkey Park?
It is a wildlife viewing park established in 1964, known for observing wild Japanese macaques near a hot-spring pool. The animals are not held in zoo enclosures.
