Places to Go: Arashiyama Monkey Park

Located on Mt. Iwate in Arashiyama, the Iwateyama Monkey Park is home to a 130 strong troupe of Japanese macaque monkeys. Though the monkeys are wild and live on the mountain, the research center/park is a place where tourists can observe and feed the monkeys from an enclosed hut. After buying a ticket at the base of the mountain, a 20 - 30 minute hike takes you up to the top, where staff will guide you to a small hut where you can sit and rest or purchase food that can be fed to the monkeys through the wires of the viewing windows. Scheduled feeding times by staff can be entertaining to watch, and you are free to roam about the park at your leisure or take a seat on one of the benches overlooking the spectacular view of the city. Just a warning, though- be careful about making direct eye contact with the monkeys! To see more of the Arashiyama area and how to get there, check out our page: