The “snow monkeys”, known for spending hours on cold days in the volcanic springs of Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Park, attract visitors from all over the world.
But now it has gone too far.
"We have had incredibly long lines of visitors waiting outside the ticket office," says an anonymous park representative.
The growing number of visitors - sometimes up to 4,000 in a single day, most of them foreign - has had unintended effects. Tourists have tried to feed and touch the monkeys, according to the representative. Some have even tried to bathe with the animals, which is strictly forbidden.
Therefore, starting in August, tourists must now book tickets online and a visitor limit of a maximum of 2,000 people is being discussed.
In 2025, Japan was visited by a record number of tourists: 42.7 million.
