Boots and layers for the Jigokudani trail
Most visitors to Jigokudani spend an hour walking through snow and another standing still beside the pool. That second hour is where the cold gets in. Winter layers and boots come first below, with the lighter summer kit at the end.
Layers for a valley below freezing
From December to February, valley mornings sit around 14–23 °F (-10 to -5 °C) and highs rarely pass 37 °F (3 °C). The walk up warms you, and then you stand by the pool for an hour while the steam drifts past. Dress for that hour.
- A base layer of wool or synthetic fabric, not cotton
- A fleece or light down jacket as the middle layer
- A windproof, waterproof outer jacket with a hood
- Warm trousers, or thermal leggings under your usual pair
- Thick socks, with a spare pair in your bag
Several thin layers work better than one huge coat. You will be warm on the climb and cold at the pool, so pieces need to come off and go back on without fuss.
On the Shiga Kogen snow day, from ~$164, you also spend time at a ski resort higher up, where the listing warns of -5 to -10 °C (14–23 °F). The snow play comes before the park, so dress for that colder stop.
Boots and grip
Footwear matters more than anything else you pack. The path runs about 1 mile (1.6 km) each way, and in winter it is packed snow with icy stretches on the slopes and steps.
The coach tour from Nagano, from ~$139, warns of a slippery walk and says no to heels and sandals. Waterproof boots with a deep tread are the minimum.
Slip-on ice cleats with small spikes or coils make the icy parts easy, and they fit in a coat pocket when you reach the bus. Buy a pair before the trip if you can.
In the spring thaw the same path turns to mud, as one guest on the Obuse day found, so waterproof boots earn their place then too. Our trail guide follows the path through the year.
Keeping hands and ears warm
A warm hat that covers your ears does more than a heavier jacket. Gloves are the hard part, because you will take them off for photos. Thin liner gloves under a thicker pair let you work a phone screen without baring your skin.
Disposable hand warmers are sold in convenience stores across Japan. Put one in each pocket and one near your phone, since cold drains a battery fast.
A scarf or neck gaiter helps on the walk, where the wind funnels down the valley. Sunglasses are worth packing for bright days, when sun on fresh snow is harsh.
Renting snow gear at Shiga Kogen
Travelers who packed for city sightseeing can rent kit on the Shiga Kogen day, since snow clothing is not part of the price. Jackets and trousers cost ¥500 per item to hire. Gloves and boots cost the same, and small sizes are available.
Reviewers found the hired boots handy on the sledding hill and again on the trail later. The tour includes no skiing and leaves no time for it, so ski gear can stay at the hotel.
Sledding first, then the monkeys
The Shiga Kogen day starts with 1.5 hours of snow play and lunch by the ski fields. About 2.75 hours at the park follow, walk included. The price, from ~$164, covers activity fees plus entry, while snow clothing hire is ¥500 per item.
Parents thinking about the snow day with small children can read more in the family guide. It goes through each tour's rules for kids.
A small bag, and food out of sight
Carry a small backpack and leave the rest behind. The Obuse day allows no luggage or large bags at all, which matters if you planned to go straight on by train.
The private car tour lets you leave bags in the car. Nagano Station has coin lockers for the rest, and the meeting-point guide shows where each tour picks up.
The monkeys know what food looks like. Keep snacks and drinks zipped inside your bag, since the park asks that plastic bags stay out of sight too. Eat at the cafe or back at the van.
Photos and cash
The monkeys walk close to the paths, so any phone gets a picture. A camera with a zoom lens lets you frame faces in the steam without moving closer than the rules allow.
Selfie sticks stay folded near the animals, and drones are banned. A cloth for the lens helps, since steam from the pool fogs glass.
Carry some yen. Tours 1–4 include the ¥800 adult entry (¥400 for children, free under 6), while the private car tour, from ~$132 per person, leaves it to you at the gate.
Cash also covers a coffee or the apple pie at the Enza cafe by the gate. Our price breakdown lists the other extras that come up on the day.
A towel for Shibu Onsen
On the Shibu Onsen tour, from ~$127, the afternoon includes a public bath in the old hot-spring town below the park. The tour lends an onsen stamp towel, which you hand back at the end.
Baths are split by gender and swimsuits are not worn, so you bathe the Japanese way in water of about 108 °F (42 °C). Bring a change of underwear for afterwards.
Summer and the shoulder months
From late spring to early autumn the kit gets lighter. Highs reach around 82 °F (28 °C) in July and August, and the forest shade keeps the path cooler. The list is short.
- A light rain jacket, since mountain showers come quickly
- Insect repellent for the forest walk
- A bottle of water for the walk both ways
- Shoes with grip for roots and wet stones
April and November mornings can still be cold in the valley even when the city feels mild. A fleece plus a hat earns its space in the bag. The month-by-month guide shows what each season is like at the park.