Visit a Troop of Wild Monkeys at Arashiyama Monkey Park
Iwatayama is a monkey park that a 15-minute train ride from Kyoto, Japan. The park is inhabited by a troop of over 170 Japanese macaque monkeys, or “snow monkeys.” You take a nice hiking trail up, it’s only about a mile but it’s steep and should take about 20min. These monkeys are not caged, they roam free, showing you their life in the wild. We saw monkeys rolling around playing, climbing in the trees, and moms holding their babies. It’s a really cool experience.
Info
Location: Arashiyama Monkey Park
Free to Visit / You can by food to feed the monkeys
Park is usually open from 9am–4:30pm
Tip: Be cautious and don’t stare or try to touch them, they are wild creatures.
When we arrived to the park it was snowing (February). Once you reach the plateau, there is a great view of the city and the monkey’s are everywhere.
In order to make it safe to feed them if you choose, you go inside this building a feed them from inside so there is a little bit of a barrier. Monkeys can be aggressive, so don’t try and feed them out in the open.
This was a special experience to encounter the monkeys in nature uncaged. Definitely take a detour an easy train ride from Kyoto to see these wonderful creatures.
