Everything funnels through Nagano Station. From there you have two ways into Yamanouchi: the private Nagano Electric Railway (Nagaden) to Yudanaka, or an express bus that runs straight to the Snow Monkey Park stop and on to Shiga Kogen.
Step 1: Tokyo to Nagano by shinkansen
The Hokuriku Shinkansen links Tokyo Station (and Ueno and Omiya) with Nagano in roughly 80–100 minutes, depending on the service: the Kagayaki is fastest, the Hakutaka and Asama make more stops. Trains run two or three times an hour. The line is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and by JR East’s regional passes for the Nagano area. Seats on the Kagayaki are all reserved.
From Kanazawa, the same line reaches Nagano in about 65–90 minutes. From Nagoya, the Shinano limited express takes about three hours. From Matsumoto, allow about 50 minutes by limited express.
Step 2: Nagano to Yudanaka on the Nagaden line
The Nagaden station is underground, beside the Zenkoji Exit of JR Nagano Station. Limited express trains — the “Snow Monkey” and the “Yukemuri”, the latter with panoramic seats at the front — reach Yudanaka, the end of the line, in about 45–50 minutes. Local trains take around 70 minutes and may need a change at Shinshu-Nakano. The one-way fare is a little over ¥1,000, plus a small limited-express supplement. JR passes are not valid.
Step 3: Yudanaka to the monkey park, Shibu Onsen and Shiga Kogen
Buses wait in front of Yudanaka Station. For the monkeys, ride about 10–15 minutes to Kanbayashi Onsen or Snow Monkey Park; from either stop it is a few minutes to the trailhead and then the 1.6 km forest walk. Shibu Onsen is about five minutes by bus, and Hasuike in Shiga Kogen about 30. A taxi from Yudanaka to the trailhead takes ten minutes or so.
The direct bus from Nagano Station
Nagaden’s Shiga Kogen express bus leaves from the East Exit of Nagano Station and stops at Snow Monkey Park after about 45 minutes before climbing to Shiga Kogen (roughly 70–90 minutes in all). It is the quickest way to the monkeys from Nagano, with no change, but there are only a handful of departures a day — more in ski season. Check the timetable and aim for an early bus.
Journey options at a glance
| Route | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo → Nagano | Hokuriku Shinkansen | 80–100 min | Covered by the Japan Rail Pass |
| Nagano → Yudanaka | Nagaden limited express | 45–50 min | Not covered by JR passes |
| Nagano → Snow Monkey Park stop | Express bus from the East Exit | about 45 min | Few departures; check times |
| Yudanaka → Kanbayashi / Snow Monkey Park | Local bus | 10–15 min | Then a 30–40 min walk |
| Yudanaka → Shibu Onsen | Bus, taxi or on foot | 5 min / 25–30 min walk | Ryokan often collect guests |
| Yudanaka → Shiga Kogen (Hasuike) | Local bus | about 30 min | Continues to Ichinose and Okushiga |
| Nagano → Shiga Kogen | Express bus | 70–90 min | More frequent in winter |
| Tokyo → Yamanouchi | Car | 3.5–4 hours | Winter tyres needed December–April |
The Snow Monkey Pass
Nagaden sells a Snow Monkey Pass that bundles unlimited rides on its trains, its local buses in the Yamanouchi area and the express bus between Nagano and the monkey park with one admission to the Jigokudani Monkey Park. It is valid for two consecutive days and costs around ¥4,000 for adults — check the current price and conditions on the Nagaden website. Buy it at the Nagaden ticket office in Nagano Station.
It pays for itself on a simple return trip with park entry, and becomes a real bargain if you also stop in Obuse or stay overnight and use the buses.
Driving, and winter roads
By car, leave the Joshin-etsu Expressway at the Shinshu-Nakano interchange and follow Route 292; Yudanaka is about 15–20 minutes from the exit and the monkey park car park a little further. From central Tokyo allow 3.5–4 hours without traffic.
From December to April, treat winter tyres as compulsory: roads in the valley are ploughed but often white, and the climb to Shiga Kogen is steep. If you rent a car, reserve studless tyres and consider four-wheel drive. Route 292 beyond Shiga Kogen, over Shibu Pass to Kusatsu, is closed from about mid-November to late April. If you are not used to driving on snow, take the train.
Luggage forwarding and storage
Ryokan rooms are small and the lanes of Shibu are cobbled, so travel light. Japan’s luggage forwarding services (takkyubin) will carry a suitcase from your hotel in Tokyo, Kyoto or Kanazawa to your ryokan for a modest fee, normally arriving the next day — ask the front desk a day or two before you leave. Bring an overnight bag with you.
For day visits there are coin lockers at Nagano and Yudanaka stations. Do not plan on taking large cases along the monkey trail.
Getting around once you are here
- On foot: Yudanaka, Andai and Shibu Onsen run into one another along the river; it is 25–30 minutes from the station to the far end of Shibu.
- Bus: Nagaden buses link the station, Shibu, Kanbayashi and Shiga Kogen. Services thin out in the evening.
- Ryokan shuttles: many inns collect guests from Yudanaka Station and run a morning shuttle to the monkey trailhead. Ask when you book.
- Taxi: taxis wait at Yudanaka Station; your inn can call one.
Would you rather someone else did the timetables? Compare guided tours from Nagano and Tokyo.
