Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is located midway up Mt. Iwatayama, a satellite peak of Arashiyama, about a 5-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Station. Famous as a habitat for wild Japanese macaques, it has attracted many visitors since opening in 1956. Around 120 macaques live within the roughly 6,000 m² park, allowing guests to observe them up close. Through long-term observation, every individual has been identified, and detailed records such as family relationships and birthdays are kept—earning the park high praise both in Japan and abroad and drawing visiting researchers. The park’s style is unique: people observe the monkeys from inside an enclosed hut, and you can feed them through the mesh. By watching their behavior, you can learn about macaque ecology and social structure. Wild boars, raccoon dogs, flying squirrels, weasels, and other wildlife also inhabit the area. The views over Kyoto are excellent, with sights such as Mt. Hiei, the Kitayama mountains, and the Higashiyama range, as well as Arashiyama’s seasonal scenery.