Monkey Park Iwatayama at a glance
The Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is a hillside park above the Katsura River where macaques live freely and visitors come to watch them. You pay at the entrance, then climb a path with steps and slopes to the top. The reward is a view over Arashiyama and a small hut where you can feed the monkeys from inside.
The entrance is about 5 minutes on foot from Hankyu Arashiyama or Randen Arashiyama station. The climb comes after that. If you plan a full day in the district, combine the park with Arashiyama guided tours or fit it in before or after the bamboo path.
Getting there and climbing up
The walk from the station is short. The hill is the part to plan for.
From the station
Walk about 5 minutes from Hankyu Arashiyama or Randen Arashiyama to the entrance. The park has no car park, so come by train, bus or on foot.
The climb
Allow about 20 minutes uphill at a steady pace. Some visitors are up in about 10. The path has steps and slopes, and it gets slippery in the rain. Wear shoes with grip.
Access
The park cannot be used with a wheelchair because of the steps and the slope.
Time on top
Allow time for the climb, the view, the feeding hut and the way down, and be at the entrance well before entry stops at 16:00.
Our pick: a tour with the monkey park
The monkey park entry is included, so you only need to manage the climb.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Arashiyama tours that pair well with the Monkey Park
Guided walks, rickshaw rides and Kyoto day trips that include Arashiyama, with live prices and availability.
Rules at the top
The park is a place where wild monkeys are close to people, and the signs ask for calm behaviour. The rules are simple.
- Do not stare: the signs ask you not to stare at the monkeys. Look at the view or at what the group is doing.
- Do not touch: keep your hands to yourself and leave the monkeys alone.
- Feed only in the hut: feeding happens from the caged room, where you hand food through the bars. Do not feed outside it.
- Keep your distance: follow the distance shown on the signs at the top.
Bring cash for the ticket window and for the food in the hut.
Planning the visit
A few practical points decide whether the climb is easy or tiring.
Weather
The park closes in heavy rain or snow, and the path is slippery after rain. Pick a dry day if you can, and carry water for the climb.
Time of day
Entry stops at 16:00 and the park closes at 16:30. Start the climb with a buffer, because the walk up takes about 20 minutes.
With children
Children pay from age 4. The steps are steady rather than steep, but small children need a hand on the way up.
Cash
Bring yen in cash for the ticket and for the food in the feeding hut.
The view from the top looks over Arashiyama and the river valley. Take a minute at the top before you go into the hut, because the animals and the visitors move around all the time.
Entry prices 2026
Prices in yen, as of 2026. Groups of 30 or more pay the group rate.
| Visitor | Single entry | Group of 30 or more |
|---|---|---|
| Adults and senior high school students | JPY 800 | JPY 700 |
| Children aged 4 to junior high school | JPY 400 | JPY 350 |
Most visitors pay the standard adult ticket of JPY 800. Hours are 09:00–16:00. Entry stops at 16:00 and the park closes at 16:30. Closed days are irregular, and the park closes in heavy rain or snow, so check the day before you go.
Arashiyama Monkey Park: frequently asked questions
How much is entry to the Monkey Park?
JPY 800 for adults and senior high school students, JPY 400 for children aged 4 to junior high school, as of 2026. Groups of 30 or more pay JPY 700 and JPY 350.
How long is the climb?
Allow about 20 minutes from the entrance at a steady pace. Some visitors need only about 10. The path has steps and slopes and is slippery in the rain.
Can I feed the monkeys?
Yes, but only from inside the feeding hut. You feed through the bars. Feeding outside the hut is not allowed, and neither is touching or staring at the monkeys.
Is the park open every day?
The listed hours are 09:00–16:00, with irregular closed days. Entry stops at 16:00 and the park closes at 16:30. It closes in heavy rain or snow. Check before you go.
Can I drive there or visit with a wheelchair?
There is no car park, and the steps and slope rule out wheelchairs. Come by train from Hankyu Arashiyama or Randen Arashiyama, about 5 minutes on foot from the entrance.