Karuizawa / Jigokudani (hell valley)

Visiting one of the three major habitats of wild birds in Japan and snow monkeys.

4 distinctive seasonal aspects can be seen in Japan. You may be surprised at the closeness with wild animals.

Asama yama Mountain

Introduction of area

Nagano pref. locates about 1~2 hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen and is surrounded by rich nature. There are mountains with the height of 2000?3000m and they are called “the roof of Japan”. Number of limpid rivers utilized as the water source flow between the mountains. There are 5 national parks in the area. You can enjoy various spa including river bank type, open-air, public bath, and mixed spa etc.

Activities that you can challenge

Try this ! : “Musasabi” gliding squirrel watching ?heart touching moment in Karuizawa

Let ‘s watch silently gliding Musasabi in a dusk.
The 1st session is the lecture about Musasabi. You will learn what they eat, how long they can fly etc. Know-how will be instructed not to miss the best moment.
The 2nd session is the time for observation. Wait for the moment with holding your breath. Happy cry will be escaped without intention for the dynamic gliding Musasabi.
Encountering ratio was 98.1% in 2014.

The face of Musasabi

its gliding

Bird watching in Karuizawa

There are forest, grassland, and moor in a compact area at the height about 1000m in Karuizawa. Due to the circumstances, Karuizawa is referred one of the 3 major birds’ habitats in Japan, about 130 kinds can be seen. There are easy walking path through the forest so that you can enjoy both bird watching and forest therapy at the same time.

In spring, narcissus flycatchers and blue-and-white flycatchers tweet at burgeoned forest. Lovely seasonal flowers should be seen around as well. Brown thrush and Japanese thrush will start tweeting in summer. Late fall is the season you can find birds easier since the leave have fallen. Spring time is recommended season to visit as coldness should not be that severe. You can watch wild birds from observation lodge or on the field with the usual protection against cold.

wild birds and forest

wild birds and forest

wild birds and forest

Snow monkey watching in Jigokudani (hell valley)

Jigokudani Yaen Kouenn Park in Joushinetu National Park is famous where you can see monkeys taking hot spa. The monkeys are called “snow monkey” and very popular.

You can see those Japanese monkeys very close in the park. No one would be tired of watching monkeys playing around. Heart warming moment is to see them in hot spa in winter while snow covers up around.

Japanese monkey

Japanese monkey

Yudanaka shibu Spa Village

Don ‘t miss visiting Yudanaka shibu spa village after snow monkey watching. The spa which has been upwelling near the surface and the village center, has healed many people since 1350. Taking the hot spa bathing has been referred its effect to provide freshness, heal illness, and its effect for long life.

A suggested plan