Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano offers a rare chance to witness wild Japanese macaques, famously known as snow monkeys, bathing in natural hot springs. Nestled at 850 metres in the Yokoyu River Valley within Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park, the park is blanketed in snow for nearly a third of the year, creating a striking winter backdrop. Established in 1964, it has become world-renowned for its unique spectacle of monkeys soaking in steaming pools, a behaviour rarely seen elsewhere. Visitors can enjoy close encounters with these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat, making Jigokudani an unforgettable destination for wildlife and nature lovers.