Hagachizaki Monkey Bay

Hagachizaki Monkey Bay

PARK

Minami Izu is home to the largest wild monkey colony in eastern Japan. Home to around 300 monkeys you can sit back and enjoy families of monkeys wandering about the park. For an extra fee you can even purchase some food to feed the monkeys, although make sure to feed them through the caged window.

As the monkeys are wild they are allowed to roam free over the park so don’t be alarmed if the monkeys do anything unexpected.

There is a decent sized car park available.

Please be aware of the following rules before entering the park:

• Any children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Wheelchairs and carts cannot be used due to the steep slopes.
• Please refrain from wearing high heels and sandals due to the terrain.
• Do not get too close to the monkeys. Any direct contact is prohibited and do not look into the monkey’s eyes.
• Keep an eye on your personal belongings and children at all times.
• Smoking is prohibited within the park (including the car park).
• Pets are not allowed in the park or outside of your vehicle in the car park.
• No assistance dogs allowed.
• Do not feed the monkeys anything other than food purchased at the park.
• No eating or drinking within park grounds.
• No selfie sticks. The monkeys may take it or even be so surprised that they attack.
• Boats, jet skis and swimming in the sea is prohibited.

They also have a number of disclaimers:

• There may not be any monkeys when you visit the park due to the monkeys being wild animals. It is completely up to them whether or not they visit.
• The monkeys are wild and not accustomed to humans so there is a chance that they could cause harm. Please enter at your own risk.
• They do not hold responsibility for any dirt or damage to clothes or belongings.
• They do not hold responsibility for any injuries within the park.
• Take care of falling rocks from the cliff.

Review

The monkey park is a fun way to see Japanese monkeys in the wild, however it is extremely difficult to get to if you don’t have a car. If you’re staying in the Minami Izu or Nishi Izu areas then I definitely recommend making this trip along as there should be a bus that takes you nearby. Getting here from other parts of the peninsula is quite the trek!

At the top of the slope you will see the ticket office. You won’t need much Japanese here as there aren’t many ticket options. Outside there is a small bus which takes you down to the actual park. I think it is possible to walk down but I recommend waiting for the bus and let them take you.

Upon arrival you should hopefully see all the monkeys (unless you arrive on an unlucky day where there aren’t many to see). They should just be strolling or sitting about the park, sometimes curious by the humans. If you wish to feed them then there is a building here that you enter and buy some feed for the monkeys. The window area has a cage which you push the food through for the monkeys.

Aside from this there isn’t really much to do here. It’s mostly just to watch the monkeys and take some pictures.

ADDRESS

Hagachizaki Monkey Bay,
2622-1 Ihama,
Minamiizu,
Kamo District,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
415-0531

+81558670003 (Japanese only)
https://monkeybay.jp/ (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Hagachizaki Monkey Bay is extremely difficult to get to by public transport, requiring two bus changes if travelling from Shuzenji Station. I recommend visiting here by car.