Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani hot springs
The only place in the world where monkeys bathe in hot springs.
The Jigokudani Yaen-koen is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River sourced from Shiga-Kogen of the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in northern part of Nagano prefecture. The troops of wild Japanese macaque (popularly known as snow monkeys) inhabit here naturally through the ages.
Location: Jigokudani Monkey Park, 6845 Hirao, Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture 381-0401, Japan
How to get there:
- ~35 mins by express bus from Iiyama Station, OR
- ~45 mins by car
- Either way, add another ~35 mins walk to Jigokudani Park
More info: http://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/
Liyama Town
Iiyama is known as one of the snowiest places in Japan. In winter, the downtown districts, fields, and mountains are blanketed in powder, transforming the city landscape into a world of white. Held in February each year, Iiyama’s Snow Festival and Kamakura (snow hut) village are local favorites. The city has a rich food culture and beautiful natural landscapes.
Iiyama Town guide: http://www.city.iiyama.nagano.jp/assets/files/iiyama/iiyamatownguide_outside.pdf
How to get there:
- 30 mins by bus from Madarao Kogen Hotel bus stop (short distance walk from any Active Life hotels), OR
- 20 mins by car
More info: http://www.city.iiyama.nagano.jp/contents/For-Englishtourist-infomation
Togakushi-Soba Museum (Togakushi Tonkururin)
Nagano Prefecture’s Togakushi soba noodles are commonly considered one of the best varieties of soba in all of Japan. The Togakushi-Soba Museum “Tonkururin” allows visitors to not only eat Togakushi soba but to also try making it. Under guidance by soba masters, visitors can enjoy making, cutting, and finally eating their very own soba noodles from start to finish. The Togakushi-Soba Museum also has exhibits of ancient soba noodle making tools for you to learn about the history and culture of soba in the Togakushi region.
More info: http://www.togakushi-tq.jp/
Location: 3018 Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano-ken
How to get there: 50 mins by car
Zenkoji Temple (善光寺)
Nagano’s Zenkoji Temple is one of the most important and popular temples in Japan. It was founded in the 7th century and stores the first Buddhist statue ever to be brought into Japan when Buddhism was first introduced in the 6th century. The significance of Zenkoji to the development of Nagano was instrumental: many major Japanese cities have evolved either from castle towns, harbor towns or temple towns. In the case of Nagano, it grew from a temple town which developed around its temple of great importance, Zenkoji.
More info: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6001.html
Location: Zenkō-ji Temple, Motoyoshicho-491, Nagano, Nagano Prefecture 380-0851, Japan
How to get there:
- 40 mins to 1 hr 30 mins by train from Iiyama Station (depend on which train you take), OR
- 50 mins by car