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Town in Chūbu, Japan
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Yamanouchi (山ノ内町 Yamanouchi-machi) is a hot spring town in Nagano, Japan, famous for its bathing snow monkeys.
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地獄谷野猿公苑 Jigokudani Yaenkōen
Famous for its population of wild Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata), odds are you've already seen this place on TV. The best time for a visit is winter, when snow covers the ground and the monkeys come to bathe in the hot spring at the valley bottom — a unique sight.
島屋
The building and interior are a bit old with Japanese style private and dormitory rooms. The owners are nice. Mr. Yumoto will drive you for free to Jigokudani Monkey Park or an amazing open air hotspring overlooking the valley or the local ski hill. Japanese and Western breakfast is available for a fee.
後楽館
This hotel is very close to the monkeys — it is actually within the Monkey Park. A great location, but obviously there are no businesses around. It features its own hot spring bath, not shared with monkeys.
湯田中温泉 清風荘
Very limited English spoken by staff but they're friendly and will try to communicate with you. Might drive you to the Monkey Park. Offer both Western and Japanese meal options; The Japanese option is recommended as the keiseki is fabulous. WiFi available in rooms
古久屋
Super-classy ryokan, run by the same family for 16 generations around 400 years. 10 rooms with open air hot bath and 8 outside and inside hot baths. English spoken. 5 min from Jigokudani Monkey park.
Yamanouchi town's Yudanaka Station is 45 minutes from Nagano on the Nagano-Dentetsu rail line; Nagano in turn is 95 minutes from Tokyo on the Asama bullet train.
Read in the guideOn foot
Walking back down to Yudanaka Station from the park takes about 1½ hours (possibly a bit longer in the reverse direction up).
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Matsumoto · Regional · MMJ
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