The Iwatayama Monkey Park sits on a hilltop above the Arashiyama district, home to a troop of more than a hundred wild Japanese macaques who roam freely across the open summit. Unlike a zoo, here the monkeys are unpenned and the visitors are the ones enclosed: you can buy food and hand it to the macaques through the mesh of a feeding hut, watching them up close while they stay wild and free outside. The reward for the twenty-minute uphill walk is not only the monkeys but one of the finest panoramas in the city, looking out over the whole of Kyoto from the south.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Arashiyama, Kyoto |
| Hours | ~9:00–16:30 (seasonal) |
| Admission | ~¥600 |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours plus the climb |
| Best time | Year-round; clear days for the view |
What to See
- Over a hundred wild macaques roaming a hilltop.
- Feeding the monkeys by hand from inside a hut.
- A sweeping panorama over the whole of Kyoto.
- The open summit above the Arashiyama district.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Arashiyama bamboo grove below.
- Pair with Tenryuji temple nearby.
- Read our Kyoto overview .
Getting There
- By train: Arashiyama Station (Hankyu/Randen), then across the river.
- On foot: a steep 20-minute walk up from the park entrance.
Tips
Be ready for a genuinely steep 20-minute climb to the top, so wear proper shoes and skip it if that’s difficult — it is not a gentle stroll. Never feed the monkeys outside the hut or bring out food on the summit, don’t stare directly at them or touch them, and come on a clear day, as the city panorama from the top is half the reason to make the climb.
