Japan´s Jigokudani Monkey Park
Is in Yamanouchi, Shimotakai District, Nagano Prefecture. It is part of the Joshin-etsu Kogen National Park, and is located in the valley of the Yokoyu-River, in the Northern part of the prefecture. The name Jigokudani, meaning "Hell´s valley" is due to the steam and boiling water that bubbles out of small crevices in the frozen ground, surrounded by steep cliffs and formidably cold and hostile forests.
Jigokudani(hell valley) hot spring |
In this place snow covers the ground for 4 months a year, the heavy snowfalls, an elevation of 850 metres and being only accesible via a narrow 2 km(1.24 mi) footpath through the forest, keep it uncrowded despite being relatively well-known.