Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama, Kyoto: Video Introduction

This video, titled "" (嵐山モンキーパークいわたやま　ちび小猿ちゃんにリンゴをあげたいが横取りされる　 Baby Monkeys👀 IWATAYAMA MONKEY PARK Kyoto, Arashiyama Japan), was uploaded by "Juntsu" (淳つ).

At the top of the open mountain, at the observatory overlooking the city of Kyoto, international tourists' eyes are glued to the wild monkeys. The video shows how humans and monkeys coexist in a place where there are no barriers or fences keeping them apart.

Be sure to check out the video to see the cute baby monkeys smiling and playing as well as, the unique monkey feeding experience which can be enjoyed from the rest area.

Iwatayama Monkey Park – The History of the Park in Kyoto

Photo：A monkey at Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama

Iwatayama Monkey Park, located in Arashiyama, Kyoto, in Japan's Kansai Region, opened in 1957. The park is known for its wild Japanese macaques.

Officially called "Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama," the parks origins can be traced back to 1954 when monkeys were fed by researchers from the Kyoto University Department of Science. The following year, monkeys began to gather at the feeding ground, and "Arashiyama Monkey Park" was opened to the public. When the park first opened, there were around 50 Japanese macaques, but now there are approximately 120.

Enjoy Arashiyama, a Popular Tourist Attraction, With a Hike Up Mt. Iwata!

Arashiyama Monkey Park is located at the summit of a 160-meter-tall mountain. From the entrance to the top of the mountain, it's a short 20-minute hike. Visitors can enjoy a nice little hike while basking in the forest amidst the beauty of Arashiyama's natural surroundings.

The first part of the hike consists of a 120-step staircase. After making your way up the stairs, the rest of the hike is a gentle ascent. The path is well-maintained, so even children can enjoy hiking to the top of the mountain at their own pace.

Feeding the Baby Monkeys – A Popular Activity Among Tourists

Photo：Monkeys gathering at the feeding station, Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama

From the rest area at the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kyoto, and if the weather is nice, you may even be able to see Kyoto Tower.
Iwatayama Monkey Park is a very popular spot in Arashiyama for both foreign and domestic tourists, as there are no fences and you can see wild monkeys from up close.

Visitors can purchase a bag of monkey feed for 100 yen per bag at the rest area and experience feeding the monkeys from inside the rest area.

Here are some scenes from the video. There's also a scene where newborn baby monkeys can be seen at the rest area. When the monkeys are given chopped apples, they skillfully grab them from the outside of the fence.

The baby monkey looks hungry too, so the filmmaker tries several times to give the apple to the baby monkey, but each time, it is snatched away by an adult monkey.
[Video] 1:37 - Feeding the Monkeys Through the Fence

The monkeys at Iwatayama Monkey Park are accustomed to humans, and a mother monkey with her baby passes by the tourists without batting an eye. Some monkeys watch visitors from a high vantage point, while others lie on their haunches and groom one another. It's interesting to see the monkeys from such a close distance.

[Video] 1:30 - Monkeys Seen From Inside the Rest Area
[Video] 4:04 - Monkeys Watching Visitors From Above

When feeding the monkeys, there is one important thing to be careful of; Do not give the food directly to the monkeys. Place it on the feeding rack to avoid having your fingers grabbed.

Also, feeding the monkeys is only allowed from inside the rest area. Please note that you are not allowed to bring your own food to give to the monkeys.

When to Visit Iwatayama Monkey Park & When to See Baby Monkeys in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Photo：A baby monkey at Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama

The baby monkeys are born from March to May, so the possibility of seeing baby monkeys is higher from spring to summer. If you want to see baby monkeys, this is the best season to do so.
[Video] 0:32 - Baby Monkeys at the Park!

Arashiyama is a scenic tourist destination in Kyoto, Japan. In the fall, the mountains are decorated by the autumn leaves, making it a great time to visit, as you can appreciate the breathtaking autumn colors and see the cute monkeys.

In winter, you can see the monkeys curling up on the backs of their mothers in the cold of winter, or hanging out with their friends.

Please note that Arashiyama Monkey Park itself will be closed in the event of heavy snowfall.

Iwatayama Monkey Park Prices, Hours, Etc.

Photo：A monkey at Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama

Entrance fees and hours of operation for Iwatayama Monkey Park are as follows:

● Entrance Fees
Adults (high school students and older): 600 yen
Children (Ages 4 to junior high school): 300 yen
※Cash only. Credit cards and electric money are not accepted

● Hours of operation
9:00 am - 4:00 pm (The summit is open until 4:30 pm)
The park has no regular closing days except on January 1, but will be closed in the event of extremely inclement weather, such as heavy rain, heavy snow, typhoons, etc.

The monkeys at Arashiyama Monkey Park, no matter how cute and charming they are, are still wild animals. It is very dangerous to touch them. As a rule of thumb, try to maintain a distance of at least 2 meters between you and the monkeys.

Also, do not stare into the monkeys' eyes. Making eye contact indicates intimidation to the monkeys. When a monkey opens its mouth and bares its teeth, it's a sign that it's angry. If this happens, slowly look away and move away from the area.

How to Get to Iwatayama Monkey Park + Togetsukyo Bridge & Other Nearby Attractions in Arashiyama, Kyoto

To get to Iwatayama Monkey Park in Arashiyama, walk upstream along the river from the south side of Togetsu Bridge for about 20 meters. The entrance to Iwatayama Monkey Park is just after Ichitani-Munakata Shrine (櫟谷宗像神社, Ichitani-Munakata Jinja).

● How to get to Iwatayama Monkey Park (Public transportation)
A 7-minute walk to the entrance from Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Railway.
A 10-minute walk to the entrance from Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Electric Railway (Randen Tram Line) line.
A 15-minute walk to the entrance from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station.
A 5-minute walk from the Arashiyama Park (嵐山公園, Arashiyama Koen) bus stop via Kyoto City Bus/Kyoto Bus.

For those coming by car, there is no dedicated parking lot, so please use a nearby toll parking lot.

Arashiyama is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto. Here are some things to do near Iwatayama Monkey Park.

Photo：The bamboo grove at Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Kyoto

● Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
This 400-meter-long bamboo grove stretching straight up to the sky is a symbolic landscape of Arashiyama, one of Kyoto's most iconic tourist attractions. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is also completely free!

Photo：Cherry blossoms at Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto

● Togetsukyo Bridge
Togetsukyo Bridge, which spans the Katsura River between Arashiyama and Sagano, is one of the most famous spots in the Saga-Arashiyama area. The bridge was named Togetsukyo (渡月橋, lit. 'Bridge of the Crossing Moon') because of a comment made by Emperor Kameyama as he watched the moon moving over the bridge.

Photo：Tenryuji Temple, Kyoto

● Tenryuji Temple
Tenryuji Temple is recognized as a World Heritage site. It is the head temple of the Tenryuji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, and was founded by Ashikaga Takauji to pray for the repose of the soul of Emperor Godaigo. The dragon depicted on the ceiling of the lecture hall appears as though it's staring at you no matter what angle you look at it from.

● Horinji Temple
Horinji Temple is dedicated to and features a statue of Akasagarbha (one of the eight great bodhisattvas). The temple is famous for the "Jusan-mairi," in which 13-year-old children make a pilgrimage to the temple to receive wisdom and good fortune.

Photo：Autumn leaves and houseboats on the Oi River in Arashiyama, Kyoto

● Arashiyama Pleasure Boat Rides
The Arashiyama sightseeing boats are rowed by a boatman with a bamboo pole. After visiting the monkeys, consider going for a ride on a sightseeing boat to the upper reaches of the Oi River!

● Arashiyama Kimono Forest
The Kimono Forest is an art installation at Randen Arashiyama Station, operated by the Keifuku Electric Railroad, that features 2-meter-tall poles with kyo-yuzen, a special type of kimono fabric, inside of them. There are 600 poles and at sunset they are beautifully illuminated. It's a great place to take photos!

Summary of Iwatayama Monkey Park in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Arashiyama is said to be the most scenic spot in all of Kyoto. It's home to cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, colorful autumn leaves in fall, and beautiful snow in winter. Arashiyama is a tourist destination where visitors can enjoy elegant landscapes in spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Iwatayama Monkey Park, located in Arashiyama, is home to 120 wild monkeys, making it one of the few places in the world where monkeys can be observed in such a way. As you can see in the video, it is a very popular hands-on sightseeing tourist attraction for both foreign and domestic tourists.

As the weather gets warmer, you will have more chances to see cute baby monkeys, so we highly recommend this spot for a date or a family trip. Be sure to heed the precautions for the wild monkeys, and enjoy meeting the cute monkeys.

【Official Website】Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama

【TripAdvisor】Iwatayama Monkey Park, Arashiyama