Yamanouchi is a town in the northern part of Nagano. With mountains that stand over 2,000 meters above sea level, highlands and hot springs, it is blessed with nature’s abundance.
About Yamanouchi
Yamanouchi is in the middle of Joshin’etsu-Kogen National Park. With abundant nature such as mountains, plateaus and fields of wildflowers, there are a lot of sightseeing spots and activities that make use of the natural surroundings.
Things to Do in Yamanouchi
Yamanouchi can be split into 3 sightseeing areas: the Shiga Highlands, the Kita-Shiga Highlands, and the Yudanaka Shibu Hot Springs area. Also, you shouldn’t miss the internationally popular Yamanouchi Snow Monkey Park.
The Shiga Highlands: Yamanouchi Ski Resorts
The Shiga Highlands area has over 10 ski resorts. Usually, ski season is from November to May, and the long season is one of the reasons it’s so popular. There are also several hot springs on the Shiga Highlands.
The Kita-Shiga Highlands: The Mountains of Yamanouchi, Home to Japan’s Largest Ropeway
There are many high mountains in the Kita-Shiga Highlands area, such as Mt. Ryuo, Mt. Gorin, and Mt. Kosha. Therefore, there are multiple trekking courses. Among these, the Ryuo Ropeway, which leads to the summit of Mt. Ryuo, has the largest passenger capacity in Japan. From the Ropeway, you can look out over the scenery of the Northern Alps and Kita-Shiga Highlands, and in the fall, you can see the beautiful changing leaves spread out below you.
Yudanaka Shibu Hot Springs: The 9 Hot Springs of Yamanouchi
The Yudanaka Shibu Hot Springs is an area that consists of 9 individual hot springs. The representative hot springs in the area are the Yudanaka and Shibu Hot Springs. The Yudanaka Hot Spring is located near Yudanaka Station, the entryway into the Yudanaka Shibu Hot Springs Area. There are foot baths located in front of the station and around town, so you can easily enjoy the hot springs. Shibu is also charming because of its retro streets. The store streets and wooden buildings were constructed in the early 1900s, and provide a solemn view.
Yamanouchi Snow Monkey Park
The Yamanouchi Snow Monkey Park is a place where you can see wild Japanese Macaques up close. The view of the monkeys in the hot springs in the winter is especially famous. The Yamanouchi Snow Monkey Park is located in the Yudanaka Hot Springs area.
Spot information
- Spot name：Yamanouchi Snow Monkey Park
- Street address：6845, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano, Japan 〒381-0401
- Access： About a 30 minute walk from the Nagaden Bus ‘Snow Monkey Park’ bus stop
- Wi-Fi：Available
- Language：English, Chinese
- Ticket Purchase：At entrance
- Credit cards：VISA, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS, Diners Club International
Yamanouchi Food and Restaurants
Yamanouchi’s specialty is fruit. Fruits that are grown there include apples, cherries, blueberries, and grapes. You can enjoy these local fruits in many restaurants in the area, or experience picking them for yourself before eating them.
Hotels and Ryokan in Yamanouchi
Accommodations in Yamanouchi are centered in sightseeing areas such as the Yudanaka Shiba Hot Springs area, the Shiga Highlands, and the Kita-Shiga Highlands. Types of accommodations vary from traditional inns in the Yudanaka Shibu Hot Springs, to hotels in the Shiga and Kita-Shiga Highlands areas. Many of the hotels in the Shiga Highlands have access to natural hot springs.
Access to Yamanouchi From Tokyo
If you are headed to Yamanouchi, first, go to Nagano Station. From Tokyo to Nagano Station, you can take the Hokuriku Bullet Train. From Nagano Station, you can take either busses or the train to Yudanaka Station or the Shiga Highlands.
Spot information
- Spot name：Yamanouchi (Yudanaka Station)
- Street address 3227-2 Hirao Ymanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano, 〒381-0400
- Access：About 44 minutes by Nagano Railway from Nagano Station
- Wi-Fi：Available (Depending on hotel and sightseeing spot)
- Language：English
- Ticket Purchase：At stations
- Credit cards：VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMERICAN EXPRESS, Diners Club International
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