How to Visit the Iwatayama Monkey Park
About the Iwatayama Monkey Park
The Iwatayama Monkey Park was my first tourist stop in Kyoto and one of the highlights of my entire trip Located in the Arashiyama district, the monkey park was within walking distance of my hotel and cost a mere ¥600 ($5.50). After paying the fee, there is a strenuous 1 km hike up hill to reach the monkeys. While the distance was not that far , the incline was quite steep and was a mix of switchbacks and stairs. I was glad I stocked up with two bottles of water at the entrance.
Along the way, there were benches, a cooling station, and various facts about the monkeys that we would be seeing.
After reaching the top of the path, I was able to view a spectacular view of Kyoto. The monkeys were visible immediately and were not at all afraid of people. There were guides available to answer questions and to make sure no one harassed the monkeys. Although the park was described as a habitat, the monkeys roamed without fencing or barriers.
The Iwatayama Monkey Park - Table of Contents
Disclaimer: At Buzzin’ Around the World, we do our best to offer the most factual information that was available to us at the time of posting based on our research. If you believe something on our site is incorrect or misleading, please email us.
We follow all local, national, and international laws and ordinances based on our best interpretation at the time of posting. If you are a representative of an organization that believes one of your ordinances has been violated, please know it was not intentional. To have content removed, please email us.
Finally, under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
We use affiliate links to help pay for fees associated with our website. When you book a service (i.e. flight, hotel, tour) or purchase a product through any of our links, we may/will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Buzzinaroundtheworld.com may be compensated for reviews posted on this website. We always review each product truthfully.
Buzzin’ Around the World uses our individual travel experiences to write our content. All photos and content are original. Buzzin’ Around the World sometimes uses AI to generate titles, summaries, or descriptions of our original work.
For more information, please click HERE to visit our private policy page. We can be reached at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com.
The Monkeys at the Iwatayama Monkey Park
There was another path that led us up into the monkey habitat. I took my time and tried to get as many good pictures as possible. The monkeys are Japanese Macaques, and although they were tame, they were very mischievous. I spent over an hour taking hundreds of pictures. Below are some of my best photographs.
Feeding the Monkeys at the Iwatayama Monkey Park
The final highlight of the monkey park was an enclosed room where the monkeys would eat right out of the tourists’ hands. I purchased a bag of peanuts for ¥100 ($1). It was a unique experience as I was in the cage and the monkeys came up to the cage to receive a peanut. Bags of apples were available as well.
Other Things to do in the Arashiyama Area
Within walking distance of the Iwatayama Monkey Park are some other great things to do in Arashiyama. I highly recommend walking through the bamboo forest.
The monkey park is located right next to the Togetsu-kyō Bridge. The bridge passes over the Katsura river. It’s definitely worth walking across the bridge and taking a stroll on the banks of the river.
Right next to the Iwatayama Monkey Park entrance are Japanese Gondola Rides. I didn’t take one but they look relaxing. Unfortunately, I did not notice the cost of the gondola rides.
There are many shops and restaurants on the opposite side of the river from the Iwatayama Monkey Park. If you have time, I highly recommend checking out the shops and eating dinner at one of the restaurants.
For those interested in tours, there are a few of the Arashiyama Area that caught my eye. These tours are led by expert tour guides and provide information that cannot be learn on a solo tour. I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.
Prices are accurate as of May 2023.
The Non-Touristy Arashiyama Private Tour with a Local - $160.34 When in Kyoto, the Arashiyama district is a must. But what if there was a way you could explore it without the touristy crowds? On this private tour, you'll see the splendor and beauty of this famous district but off the beaten path. |
Arashiyama and Sagano Morning Walking Tour - $79.18 Stroll through dense bamboo groves to hidden mountain temples and discover centuries of Japanese heritage on this 4-hour Arashiyama and Sagano walking tour. Explore the natural wilderness of the Sagano bamboo grove with your guide. Visit the ancient Tenryu-ji Temple and learn of its 14th-century history. Head along forested paths in search of the Jojakko-ji Temple and admire its impressive pagoda. Wander across the Togetsuky? Bridge to take in beautiful valley views, and escape the busy city to appreciate the tranquil beauty of Japan's rural landscape. |
Kyoto Arashiyama & Sagano Walking Food Tour - $110.70 This Day Experience takes you to an intriguing, fun and informative adventure with tasting unique street foods around Kyoto Arashiyama area known for Bamboo Forests & seasonal beauty of nature. |
Arashiyama Bamboo Bike Tour (Early Bird) - $111.32 Come early morning to escape the crowds and enjoy an opportunity to truly soak in the scenic sites of the Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama. On this tour you will explore the beauty of bamboo, the tranquility of temples and some of the best scenic panoramas Kyoto has to offer without all the people. This tour includes several of the top visited destinations of Arashiyama including the world famous bamboo forest, the Togetsukyo Bridge, the gardens of the Unesco World Heritage Tenryuji Zen Temple as well as several of our own local favorite secret spots. |
Private Kyoto Arashiyama Custom Half-Day Tour by Chartered Vehicle - $337.94 Arashiyama area in western Kyoto is one of the most beautiful places to visit especially in the cherry blossom season and the foliage season in Japan. The combination of the traditional culture with the great nature will be spectacular.. |
Buzzin' Around the World's Affiliate Partners
Affiliate Partner of the Month - Viator
Viator is my favorite website for booking tours and packages. With over 300,000 unique tours to choose from, everyone should be able to find something on Viator that interests them. I like Viator because anytime I have an issue with a tour company, Viator has intervened and helped on my behalf. I highly recommend using Viator for booking your tours and vacation packages.
Book Through the Link Below to Help Buzzin' Around the World Earn Commission
Earn $200 in Travel Rewards with the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card is one of the few rewards cards that does not charge an annual fee. Cardholders can earn 1.25 points for every dollar spent while enjoying 0% APR for 15 months.
Currently, Capital One is offering a signup bonus of 20,000 points (worth $200 in travel rewards) when the cardholder spends $500 in the first three months. If you are interested in this card, I would appreciate it if you would sign up with the link below, as I earn a referral bonus of 10,000 points. Those points are worth $100 in travel rewards and will help me continue to bring great content to Buzzin’ Around the World.
Once again, the Capital One VentureOne card is one of the few reward cards without an annual fee and is the perfect card for someone who is just starting to get into the travel points game.
Related Content:
Share this:
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to print (Opens in new window)