Yamanouchi: Nature, Monkeys and Onsen Traditions

Yamanouchi offers a variety of experiences: a walking trail with a clear distance and estimated walking time, the chance to observe wild monkeys, a hot spring and a communal bathing tradition. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering these separately. This will help you decide which experiences you want to shape your stay and what to look for when choosing a holiday rental.

Walking the Yumichi Natural Trail

The Yumichi Natural Trail runs from Kanbayashi Hot Springs to Jigokudani. It is about two kilometres long and takes approximately 30 minutes to walk. The route is mostly flat, apart from a few hilly sections. Its distance and approximate walking time give you a concrete guide for planning your day; the hilly sections are also part of the route description and should be taken into account when deciding whether to take this walk. This makes it distinct from a stay focused on wildlife watching or visiting communal baths.

Paths and mobility at Jigokudani Yaen-koen

There is an important practical limitation at Jigokudani Yaen-koen: to protect the natural environment, there are no paved paths inside or outside the park. Wheelchairs and strollers cannot be used there. If either of these is important for your plans, take this condition into account before visiting. The route through the park is therefore quite different from the walking trail described at Yumichi Natural Trail; the information about that trail does not apply to the paths in the park.

Hot spring and natural monument

Shibu no Jigokudani is designated a national natural monument and continuously releases hot spring water at nearly 100°C. The spring combines a distinctive geological feature with a historical detail: the 1783 eruption of Mount Asama is said to have temporarily interrupted the water flow. This possible interruption should be clearly distinguished from the spring’s continuous activity. For travellers interested in nature and geological history, this place offers a different focus from a walk or wildlife watching.

Watching wild monkeys

Since it was established in 1964, Jigokudani Yaen-koen has been known as a place where visitors can watch wild monkeys at close range. Wildlife watching defines the character of this place. If you are particularly interested in wild animals, this is a factor to consider when planning your stay. The wording describes the possibility of seeing monkeys; it does not promise that you will see them on every visit.

The bathing tradition of Shibu Onsen

At Shibu Onsen, the “Kyū-yu meguri” involves visiting nine communal baths. They are also open to overnight guests; access conditions may vary from bath to bath. A prayer towel and stamps are part of the circuit. To round off the visit, you can go to Shibu Takayakushi, which sits above the onsen town. This tradition differs from the nature and wildlife experiences: the focus here is on communal bathing, visiting the baths in sequence and the option of finishing above the town. Take the access conditions for each bath into account when planning your visit.

Which holiday rental suits your travel plans?

When choosing a holiday rental, it helps to first decide what you want your days to be like. For the Yumichi Natural Trail, you can use the approximate walking time as a planning guide. For the communal baths, access conditions that vary from bath to bath are relevant; at Jigokudani Yaen-koen, restrictions on paths and mobility are important. These are different criteria, not interchangeable details.

Explore more destinations

Sakaki, Ōmachi, Ueda, Kiso, Hakuba, Omi, Saku, Shimotakai District

For the overview of the wider region: Nagano Prefecture.