Iwatayama Monkey Park, park in Kyoto
Iwatayama Monkey Park is a wildlife park and zoo in the Arashiyama district of Nishikyō, Kyoto, where Japanese macaques live in a forested setting. Paths lead uphill from the entrance through trees and open clearings where the animals rest, eat, and play together.
The park was established in the late 1950s to let visitors encounter wild macaques that had lived in this mountain region for centuries. Over the decades, it developed into a center for watching natural monkey behavior outside cages.
The Japanese name refers to the rocky slopes where the macaques move freely while visitors stand nearby. Locals know this spot as a quiet overlook above Kyoto, where watching monkeys and viewing the city blend together.
The climb from the entrance to the viewing platform takes about 20 minutes along a steep path that can become slippery in rain. Anyone wanting to feed the animals enters a small hut where food is available for a fee, while the macaques remain outside.
The animals move freely among visitors and show little fear, allowing encounters from just a few meters away. Some macaques sit on railings or rocks right next to people and groom each other without appearing disturbed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
Kyoto is a city where history is found around every corner. You will see Buddhist temples with curved roofs, Shinto shrines hidden in forests, imperial palaces with grand gates, and castles that remind visitors of old warriors. Well-kept gardens invite long walks, and older neighborhoods keep their...
Tenryū-ji
789 m
Togetsu-kyō
512 m
Arashiyama
21 m
Matsunoo Taisha
1.4 km
Bamboo Forest
723 m
Kurumazaki Shrine
1.5 km
Nonomiya Shrine
985 m
Nison-in
1.5 km
Hōrin-ji
254 m
Ōkōchi Sansō
1 km
Denden-gū
308 m
Rakushisha
1.3 km
Rokuō-in
1.2 km
Fukuda Art Museum
577 m
Shigureden
536 m
Hōkyō-in
1.5 km
Hōgon-in
657 m
Rinsen-ji
749 m
Senkō-ji
1.1 km
Ichitani Munakata Shrine
326 m
Ōi Shrine
664 m
Okochi Sanso Garden
968 m
Matsuo Bridge
1.6 km
和んこ堂 嵐山店
1.1 km
Saga Arashiyama Museum of Arts and Culture
525 m
Jōjakkō-ji
1.3 km
19th Century Hall
1.2 km
Tenshi-no-Sato Kachu-an
1.4 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes