Jigokudani Monkey Park

A wildlife area in the Shiga Kogen highland district of northern Nagano where a troop of Japanese macaques descends from steep forested valley walls to bathe in a natural hot spring fed pool throughout the year, including during heavy snowfall. The behavior of snow-covered macaques relaxing in steaming water has become one of the most widely distributed nature photographs from Japan. The site is accessible via a two-kilometer forest trail from the parking area at Kanbayashi Onsen.