Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
World-famous since the film “Baraka” brought it to international attention, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is a popular day trip from Hakuba.
A troop of Japanese macaques spends much of the year around a natural hot spring. There are around 200 monkeys in the area, and visitors can walk among them as they go about their daily routines: bickering, playing, posturing, running around in the snow or simply relaxing in the onsen.
The park is reached via a scenic walk through the forest, which can be snowy and cold in winter, so suitable footwear is recommended.
The trip can also be combined with a visit to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, one of Japan’s most important Buddhist temples.