The easiest way to get around in Yamanouchi is by car, but most major sights and attractions are accessible by a combination of trains and busses. 

Travelers can also opt to buy the following pass to get around:

• Snow Monkey Pass
  • Coverage:
    • All Nagaden trains and buses between Nagano and Yamanouchi
    • Admission to the Jigokudani Monkey Park
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Price: 3600 Yen
  • Where to buy: Nagaden Nagano Station

If you decide to rent a car, it is advised to do so from one of the bigger cities in the vicinity. You can check-out our listings for car rentals nearby, in the FAQ menu below. 

Travelers who come by train will have to transfer at Yudanaka station. From there, it is between 30 and 40 minutes by bus to most sights within Yamanouchi. Be advised that buses run infrequent in this area. For up-to-date bus schedules, we recommend syncing Google Maps with our customized map above (to do this: click the top right icon on the map to expand to full screen, and select a route between your destination and your current destination). 

Rail Passes:

• Snow Monkey Pass
  • Coverage:
    • All Nagaden trains and buses between Nagano and Yamanouchi
    • Admission to the Jigokudani Monkey Park
  • Duration: 2 days
  • Price: 3600 Yen
  • Where to buy: Nagaden Nagano Station
     
• Japan Rail Pass
• JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass

Rental Cars:

• from Nagano
• from Karuizawa
• from Matsumoto

We recommend staying here between one and two days.
 

Hiking:

The hiking season in this area typically runs from Spring until Autumn.
 

Winter sports:

Ski resorts in Japan typically run from January until April. Though this can differ from year to year, depending on the amount of snow.

There is one famous festival in this area. Please be advised that the following info is based upon previous entries of the festival and that the dates might have changed for the following year. It is also possible that the entire festival is cancelled in the case of heavy rainfall or a natural disaster. Please check with the official organisers' website for the most up-to-date information. 
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For the exact location of the festival, you can consult our map above by clicking on the icon in the upper most corner of the map to open the map legend. Festivals are hidden by default but can be made visible by clicking on the "Festivals" checkbox in the map legend.

• Yudanaka Onsen Summer Festival

  • Date: July 27th until August 18th

  • Time: 19:30 - 21:30

We recommend the following options for staying connected in Japan:

• Sakura Mobile Travel Sim (data only)
• Sakura Mobile Travel Sim (data + voice)
• Sakura Mobile Unlimited Wifi / Pocket Wifi