Iwatayama Monkey Park

There is an attraction in Kyoto, not far from the famed bridge that people flock to. It’s somewhat touristy but not all that touristy, either. I say this because you have to actually walk quite a distance before you can get to Arashiyama’s Iwatayama Monkey Park. And once here, you’ll see that there are less tourists around compared to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove or any other popular Kyoto destination.

Unfortunately, a lot of hiking is involved once you pay for the admission ticket. With that said, this is not a place I’d recommend you to come to when you’re already feeling tired. There is a good amount of uphill walking. It’s a nice hike that gives you nice views, with the true treat being the monkeys at the end of the hike.

The monkeys are noisy. And if you go there on a whim without reading about the place beforehand, let me just tell you to not make eye contact with the monkeys, no matter what you do. I believe they’ll attack you should you decide to make eye contact with them. Lol

They’re not exactly cute in my opinion but they are fun to watch. One actually came to my backpack.

Many enjoy hanging out on top of the roof, where they’re afforded with a wonderful view of Kyoto. I, as a human being, would have loved to have been able to go up on that roof with them. Lol

In addition to watching them and their antics, you can actually go inside their “house” to feed them. This was something I opted not to do since I was a bit paranoid that these monkeys might have insects (fleas) on them and getting too close to them was a bit concerning for me. (I didn’t want to risk getting bit by something and being itchy throughout the remainder of my trip.)

Do I recommend a visit to Arashiyama’s Iwatayama Monkey Park? If you’re in the area, why not? However, it’s probably best to visit this place when the weather is cooler and when you’re full of energy.