Welcome to Korakukan Jigokudani. This rustic mountain Minshuku is the nearest ryokan (only 100 meters) to the beautiful Jigokudani Yaen National Park in the mountains of the Yudanaka Onsen in Nagano. It is also known as the birthplace of "Go" (a Japanese strategy board game). Korakukan Jigokudani has 12 traditional Japanese-style rooms. There are indoor and outdoor hot spring baths for both women and men at Korakukan Jigokudani (and Japanese snow monkeys frequently visit the outdoor hot spring baths from late October as well!). There are also two "family baths" which can be reserved for private use. From the outdoor hot spring baths at Korakukan Jigokudani, the nearby hot spring geyser can be seen. Fresh local vegetables and river fish are served to guests. Travel warning: It is a 2 kilometer (1.24 mile) walk to Korakukan Jigokudani from the nearest road. For a live camera view of the snow monkeys at Yudanaka Onsen, Jigokudani Yaen Koen please click here: Snow Monkey Live Camera
Some pictures on this page have kindly been provided by Nicole who stayed there in March 2017. You can find more of her trips on the following page: Nicole's trips

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Ryokan Reviews:

• One of a Kind Experience!

  Katherine

  Date of Review: January, 2021

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed at Korakukan for one night in Jan2021 and absolutely loved it! The ryokan is not currently serving food so we did have to bring our own, but it is well worth the experience. The monkeys can be seen climbing the building and hanging out by the outdoor onsen. They will run right past you and join you in the bath without reservation. Our host was so friendly and welcoming. This ryokan is a must!

• Special Expirience in Japan

  Rita

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Switzerland

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  If you expect something out of the ordinary, this is the right place. Next to the Monkey Park, in the middle of nature, the place to relax and enjoie. The ryokan and room were clean, the Toilette out of the room, no problem, light was on during the night. Onsen was perfect, my husband and I could use it together. The food was excellent. The walk back to town was wunderful and easy to walk. I can recomment this place, if you love nature and a special ryokan, going back in history.

• WOW WOW WOW

  Kelly

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed for two nights and would highly recommend that as a minimum for the effort it takes to get to the Guest House. There is no need to purchase a Monkey Park ticket, as the monkeys are all around you and even on the roof during the day as they bask in the sunshine. They will certainly pop over to see you as you bathe in the outdoor onsen - it is in full view of the visitors centre but you can see their stares of jealousy. The room was so warm, clean and comfortable, it was just so relaxing and serene. The hosts were incredibly hardworking and kind and their cooking was so authentic and intriguing. It was an absolute delight from every perspective and a highlight of our holiday. Thank you!

• A once in a lifetime experience, worth every penny

  Bannister

  Date of Review: March, 2019

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Our first trip to Japan would not have been nearly as memorable had we missed Korakukan Jigokudani. It's (a little) rustic, off the beaten path, and can be a bit of a muddy hike to get there in the spring, but the BEST things are never easy. If the delight of having several Macaques actually join us in the ryoken's onsen wasn't enough, the food was easily the best meal we had in Japan. I have never had such a perfectly prepared home cooked meal in my life. While we were there the staff spoke no English, but (like everywhere in Japan) that didn't stop them from doing everything in their power to make us feel at home. The hospitality was off the charts.

• Amazing stay

  Imelda

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We have a truly wonderful stay at the ryokan. We came to see the monkey park but honestly, while staying in the ryokan, we don’t need a ticket to enter the monkey park because the monkeys can be found loitering and enjoying the outdoor onsen. The ryokan is quite old and really meet our expectation of immersing in japanese culture. We had a sample taste of sake with snake in it and locusts for our dinner entree. It was an unforgettable stay at this family-run ryokan.

• Amazing experience

  Sara

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Belgium/Germany

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  We only spent one night here to have a truly authentic Japanese experience, and we did. After a long and somewhat difficult journey to the place (everything was covered in meters of high snow and yet we were dumb enough to take our trolley suitscases with us), we were welcomed very kindly and led to our room. Having a tatami floor room, complete with traditional Japanese outfits and then a magnificent Japanese dinner, made us forget all about the journey through the snow before. Though the toilet was a bit cold, our room stayed nice and wamr thanks to a good heating system. The hot springs were also a great source of warmth naturally. The monkeys were everywhere, we could easily see (and hear) them from our room. We would definitely recommend it to everyone!

• Monkeys!

  Rachel

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed here in April and enjoyed our time immensely. This ryokan is over 100 years old and offers a rich cultural experience. The owners are friendly and the rooms comfortable. I've written a review complete with pictures from our stay which can be found at randrwander.com :)

• Get away

  Jewel

  Date of Review: July, 2017

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 3

  Food Rating - 3

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 3

  Room Rating - 5

  The ryokan is like a trip out of reality. You have to go on a small hike to get to the Ryokan itself as it's nestled in the middle of the mountains. I definitely suggest you leave your major luggage at Nagano station. Just bring your necessities. The room you get is spectacular. It's large and it has shoji doors and a separate room to relax and it just takes you away. The host is very kind. The monkeys hang around the roof of the ryokan and on the sides. I was able to see them from my window just hanging out. The park is right across from the ryokan. The monkeys aren't kept in an enclosure or anything, they're free to come and go as they please, and it's surreal being able to observe them. They don't mind being near you but they don't look for your company. The food we had was great, but it wasn't spectacular. The onsen though were amazing. The outdoor one is a must to go. The indoor one I felt was much hotter in temperature. But I enjoyed both. Some things I wish were improved were the overall upkeep of the ryokan. The guestroom was spotless, but walking around, a lot of parts felt uncared for. A lot of dust in the hallways and parts of the ryokan. Spiderwebs were frequent. Some parts just feel abandoned in a sense. Since the monkeys come there is fecal matter in one particular walkway outside the ryokan that I wish would be regularly cleaned. I love the feeling of a place with history but I don't feel like I could have appreciated the place as much as I wanted to because of how unkept it was.

• Always Incredible

  Felix

  Date of Review: May, 2017

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I have been here twice in the past six months, once in winter and once in late spring, and it was stunning both times -- no matter what season it is, the monkeys are great, the views are spectacular, and the host is gracious. The ryokan is so cozy and comfortable, and the meals are delicious! I'll continue to bring friends here, especially on their first trip to Japan. It's worth every penny and more.

• Extraordinary Japan

  Dagmar

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Absolutely extraordinary experience. At first we weren't entirely sure if the house was inhabited, but our hosts were extremely friendly, the room clean and warm and the whole stay was just utterly special, even bathing with monkeys outside. Snow monkeys are cute at all times, but you only get the true experience if you're there after closing time, seeing them migrate back to the forest and into the trees. We also had the absolute best dinner and breakfast ever! From river trout, to shuba shuba and even locusts. Amazing!!!

• Authentic experience

  Martin

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This is a great experience. The ryokan is old style up in the mountains very close to the monkey park. But you don't have to wait to go in the park to have the experience of the monkeys as they come to the ryokan, which was great. The food was really good Japanese style food and the hosts very nice and helpful. The onsens were fun, including the outside one where monkeys came and visited while we were there. I definitely recommend this ryokan.

• Snow Monkey Visit

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 3

  Staff Rating - 3

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 3

  I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights and enjoyed it very much. The Japanese style breakfast at 08:00 and dinner at 18:00 are great too. Its open hot spring can look straight to the Snow Monkey Park and snow monkeys were going to the park from forest through this Ryokan. It takes at least 30 minutes to walk from bus station to the park. Quiet slippery in winter. Please be prepared with walking sticks and suitable shoes. The Ryokan is old but very cosy and comfortable. If there is a chance, I will come again for sure.

• Snow Monkey Visit

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 3

  Staff Rating - 3

  Location Rating - 3

  Room Rating - 3

  I stayed for 2 nights and 2 days. Traditional food served at 08:00 and 18:00. The building is old but cozy and comfortable. No wifi is actually a good point. You can look straight to the snow monkey park from its open hot spring. In fact it's the midway between the forest, where snow monkeys live, and the monkey park. Walking from bus station is quiet slippery in winter and you better be prepared with sticks and suitable shoes. I will definitely come again if there is a chance.

• A week in japanese ryokans

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  I went many times in this atypical ryokan and it's one of my favorite It's maybe a little cold in winter but the atmosphere is so warm And a bath with the monkeys is unforgettable

• Great Ryokan

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I stayed here one night and got snowed in (the trains in the Nagano area were out of commission for 2 days!). The snow made the scenery magical. The ryokan may be old but the owners care for it. I've been told it has been owned by the same family for over 150 years. The traditional dinner and breakfast were delicious and the room cozy.

• Thanks for the best birthday ever!

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My husband and I were on our honeymoon in Japan and wanted to spend my birthday in some place special. We chose this Ryokan for the location and based on the reviews from across the web. It was the best experience ever! We were the only guests and the family took care of us so well, making us feel very welcome. We couldn't have asked for better service or a better environment. The food was unique (very traditional) and tasty. There was so much of it that we couldn't finish but enjoyed every bit we ate. The room was so comfortable and the hot spring was the most relaxing experience. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday and it was the best place we stayed at, while in Japan!

• authentic

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: france

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed 2 nights in Korakukan, it was wonderful. The meal were very good and make us discover some incredible dishes (timaki, tree leaves tempura). And Mariko and her family were very kind, a pleasure to meet them. The house is a bit rough, but comfortable, it adds to the credibily of this trip). The bathes are very good. Lost in a forest, a break full of nature in our travel in Japan.

• November 2014 Norwegian vist Korakukan

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Norway

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Having visited Korakukan 6 years ago in 2008 my wife and I went here again, this time with a couple of Norwegian friends. Korakukan is an authentic place not only for snow monkey sights, but even more for the pleasure of enjoying Japanese mountain cuisine and rotenburo. With winter approaching and heavy rains on the path from Kanbayashi onsen to Korakukan it was an even greater joy to meet with the old family guest house and its owner's exotic drinks of hornet/ wasp liquor and mamushi snake liquor. Ilse and Eyvind Alnaes, Oslo, Norway

• Nice visit

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: USA/Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  We stayed for just 1 night. Arrived with no problem from Yudanaka station, via bus - then the nice walk thru the forest. There was snow which made it nice. Greeted by the owner of the inn. He explained all the logistics, etc. Asked us about meal preferences. The room was very comfortable - nice to have the heater! We went to see the snow monkeys the next morning after breakfast. Walked out after - and caught the direct bus back to Nagano station. Would definitely return and stay again!

• Nice and comfy ryokan

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Very friendly and kind host. Food was great, very close to the Snow Monkey park. Stayed only one night, wished I had time to stay longer. A little english spoken, enough to communicate with us. Rooms were huge for two of us. Enjoyed the soaked in the outdoor hot spring.

• Truly amazing

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  I stayed for one night, and it was an amazing experience. Good food, comfortable room, and a plethora of snow monkeys both in the park and around the ryokan. I actually got a picture the next morning of myself in the outdoor onsen with the monkeys!

• Monkeys everywhere day and night :-D

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: USA/Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I spent two fabulous days at Korakukan Jigokudani. Gracious staff, delicious meals, beautiful rooms, beautiful location, several onsen to use day and night, with monkeys all around you and in the outdoor onsen to boot. And the famous Japanese Snowmonkey park entrance is right across the narrow valley. You can't get any closer to the Japanese Snowmonkeys and a better Japanese experience than this. I did not know that Korakukan was situated right on the path that the monkeys use back and forth from their feeding area. It was a delight to find them by the doors, around and in the outdoor onsen, and around and on the hot spring pipes day and night. I made use of the indoor onsen several times. I tried the outdoor onsen once just to experience it, but felt rather self conscious about it because it is in full view of the Jigokudani visitor center. But where else can you find an outdoor onsen surrounded by snowcovered pine forest with a nearby hot spring gurgling, splashing waterfalls and snow monkeys as your companions? I wish I had begun to use the onsen from the first moment I arrived.