Winter is a magical time to visit Japan and experience its hot springs. Follow the example of the snow monkeys and bath in the springs at Yudanaka deep in the Nagano mountains. Japan’s indigenous snow monkeys particularly enjoy bathing in the winter when the air temperature falls below freezing, and they are on to a good thing: being surrounded by naturally hot, steaming water when the valleys are covered in pristine snow is a wonderful feeling. The Japanese Macaques monkeys are found in Jigokudani Monkey Park within the volcanic Hell Valley – hot springs for people are located further down this valley. In fact, just below the monkey park is Korakukan, a wooden onsen ryokan (traditional Japanese inn with hot spring baths). Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are home to two of the main hot springs in this area of northern Nagano and there are plenty of ryokan with hot springs in and around Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen. Yudanaka can be reached from Tokyo by taking a train to Nagano, which takes 100 minutes, then another 45-minute train ride to Yudanaka station. Organise your trip with a specialist operator like InsideJapan Tours to get a real flavour of Japan.

Supplied By: AITO
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