16/06/2025
5 / 5
Discover the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama in Kyoto, Japan. Enjoy breathtaking views, encounter wild monkeys, and learn about this unique wildlife experience. Perfect for families and nature lovers!
Located in the scenic Arashiyama district of Kyoto, Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama offers a unique opportunity to observe wild Japanese macaques in their natural habitat. This park is not only a haven for these playful monkeys but also provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
The park is easily accessible from Kyoto city center. Here’s how to get there:
Once you arrive, prepare for a short hike up a hill to reach the main area of the park. The trail is well-maintained and takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains and the Hozu River.
At the top of the hill, you will find a large open area where you can interact with the monkeys. Here are some key points:
Aside from the monkeys, the park offers breathtaking panoramic views of Kyoto. Make sure to bring your camera!
The entrance fee for Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is:
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Kyoto. It offers a rare chance to connect with nature and observe wildlife in a stunning setting. Plan your visit today!
Shawn
5/5
Fantastic! Did not expect to get this close to the monkeys, the are free to walk around. You can’t touch or feed the monkeys but lots of pictures and cute videos. The hike up the mountain is a bit challenging, there are lots of spots for breaks through. There are vending machines near the entrance, if you don’t have liquids on you buy some as the hike is challenging and you will need it. Don’t pull out food when you get to the top, there are lots of signs. The hike up the mountain is through the forest so it’s shaded and nice but can get crowded. We did the hike around 10AM on a weekday and we would recommend that time, when we were coming down it was getting really busy on the path. Ticket purchase is at the gate. We did not wait in line in the morning. There was a bit of a line when we left. There is also a playground at the top, the whole adventure is very kid friendly, assuming they can walk up the mountain. We did see some families struggle with carrying their strollers up, would recommend to leave at the bottom as you cannot really push the stroller too many stairs and it’s steep. Not accessible friendly. Not for those who struggle with stairs and elevation. It took us about 40 minutes to go up with plenty of breaks and then down was like 10 minutes. In total we were in the part for about 1.5 hours.
Victor Wang
5/5
Lovely place filled with free roaming monkeys that are adorable and while there aren't supposed to be any close encounters, monkeys will casually walk alongside humans and many great opportunities for pictures. Easy to get to via the bus system and public transit. Bring CASH for entrance ticket.
Vytautas Majauskas
5/5
Be ready for a bit of a hike to reach Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, but it’s totally worth it! The path is scenic and not too difficult if you take your time. Once at the top, you’re rewarded with a beautiful view of Kyoto and, of course, the monkeys. The park supervisors do a great job keeping everything safe and respectful — both for the visitors and the monkeys. It was an amazing experience to see them up close in their natural environment. Definitely a memorable part of our trip!
Average Rating: ⭐ 5/5
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