Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, also known as the Snow Monkey Park, is a unique attraction in Nagano where visitors should keep their expectations low - the pools are very small, and there may or may not be monkeys there, as they're fed specifically to keep them around. Still, it's the only place in the world you can see such a thing. Located in a quiet ravine, this park supposedly offers a close-up look at these adorable creatures in their natural habitat, though the nature walk leading up to the park is very nice regardless. While the monkeys are used to human presence and you can snap some photos (if they're there), remember not to feed or disturb them. Expect to spend only about 15-30 minutes at the pools watching them. There isn't much to do. The craziest part is actually leaving the park - you have to line up almost an hour early for infrequent buses that come only every hour or so, and they will be packed. After potentially hanging out with the monkeys (or not), you can relax in nearby onsens or hit the slopes at Shiga Kogen or Nozawa Onsen (seven hours roundtrip was the day we went from Nozawa Onsen to the Monkey Park) for some winter sports fun, but be prepared that it's a long day to get here and could be very disappointing.