Snow Monkey Park (jigokudani Yaen Koen)

Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen-Koen) Wild Japanese macaques bathing in natural hot springs, especially Best time to visit: December–March → snow + monkeys in the onsen Open all year (monkeys present year-round) • Monkeys roam freely (no cages) • You walk about 25–40 minutes on a forest trail • No touching or feeding the monkeys Opening hours: • Generally 9:00–16:00 (longer in summer, shorter in winter)

Zenko-ji Temple

Zenkōji Temple (善光寺) — Nagano’s Historic Buddhist Temple Zenkōji is one of Japan’s most important and ancient temples, with a history of over 1,400 years. It’s beloved as a place of worship open to everyone (not tied to a specific Buddhist sect), and it houses what’s believed to be one of the oldest Buddhist statues in Japan — the Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai. Opening & Admission Hours: • Temple precincts are generally open from early morning until mid-afternoon (roughly ~5:00 – 16:30; slightly earlier starting hours and slightly shorter daylight hours in winter). • Specific areas (main hall inner area, museum, etc.) have their own times — usually ~9:00 – 16:00.