Monkeys, Museums and a View Above the City

Just a short stroll uphill from Zenkoji Temple, Joyama Park in Nagano offers a gentle escape from the bustle of temple pilgrims and the city streets. Found on the slope behind the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum, this green hillside park brings together peaceful walking trails, family-friendly attractions, and the occasional animal encounter, all with a view over central Nagano.

Locals know it best for the small zoo nestled among the trees. Modest in scale and a bit nostalgic in feel, it still manages to charm visitors of all ages. The clear favorites here are the Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, who lounge, chatter, and groom each other in full view. For guests who won’t be making the trek out to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, this is a rare opportunity to see these iconic creatures up close.

Nagano’s Free Family Friendly Park

But the park offers more than just a glimpse of wildlife. Shady paths wind through the trees, lawns open up to the sun, and the occasional bench invites you to sit a while. On a clear day, the hillside setting reveals views across Nagano City and toward the distant mountains of the Japanese Alps. It’s a quiet place, where locals walk their dogs, families stretch out under the cherry blossoms, and travelers find a moment to pause. And the park is free to visit!

Joyama Park in Nagano pairs naturally with a visit to the iconic Zenkoji Temple or the nearby art museum. Its relaxed atmosphere and hillside location make it an easy addition to a day spent exploring Nagano City. For many travelers, it becomes an unexpected highlight, offering a peaceful pocket of nature and local life just steps from the city’s cultural core.

Nagano Customizable Private Tour