Iwatayama Monkey Park is a popular attraction in the Arashiyama area.

Here you have a unique chance to see a troop of about 120 Japanese macaques in their natural habitat.

Although the monkeys appear to be tame, they are wild animals. Do not touch them or look the monkeys in the eye. It can scare them into aggressive behaviour.

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Zoo or wildlife?

Although there is an entrance fee to the Monkey Park, the area is not fenced off and the monkeys live in the wild.

All the monkeys are wild and are free to roam around the area.

However, the local troop considers the mountain and Iwatayama Park their home and stay here because they have easy access to food from tourists and park staff.

Monkeys are ubiquitous along the walking trail from the river to the small hill of Iwatayama. There are quite a few steps, but the trail is very short and can be managed by untrained travelers.

Iwatayama Monkey Park

Entrance fees and opening hours

The park is open to the public daily from 9am-4pm.

Ticket prices are 600 jpy for adults and 300 jpy for children under 15 .

Official website: monkeypark.jp

How to get there

Monkey Park is located in the east of Kyoto in the Arashiyama area and is accessible by the following means of transportation.

All bus lines can be used for all day bus + subway tickets.

Arashiyama Koen - bus stop about 3 minutes walk from the entrance
- Line 28 - direction Bamboo Forest (1 stop), Daikakuji, Shijo Omiya, Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto Station
- Line 63 - Koke-dera (Kegonji), Enmachi JR-Station, Kawramachi
- Line 66 - Enmachi JR-Station, Kawramachi
- Line 73 - Koke-dera (Kegonji), Uzumasa Tenjingawa (Red subway line)
- Line 76 - Uzumasa Tenjingawa (red subway line), Sijo (green subway line), Kyoto Station
- Lines 92, 94 - Bamboo Forest (1 stop), Kiyotaki
Arashiyama Station - Hankyu train station about 7 minutes walk from the entrance
- Hankyu Line - direction Katsura, where you can change trains to Osaka
- JR Pass not valid, Kansai Railway Pass valid
Saga-Arashiyama Station - JR train station approx. 15 minutes walk from the entrance
- JR Sagano Line - direction Kyoto Station, Kameoka
- JR Pass valid, Kansai Railway Pass not valid