My boyfriend and I will be in Japan at the end of December. We will be spending a few days in Kyoto and then will be travelling to Nagano to go onto the Jigokudani snow monkey park. We wanted to break the journey up by staying somewhere on the way. Can anyone suggest an appropriate, interesting town for that time of year? I was thinking Takayama, but it is a bit off the direct train route I suppose. Ay help would be appreciate. Thanks alot.

An obvious choice is Tokyo because on the quickest train route from Kyoto to Nagano, you will have to change the train in Tokyo. This is a choice of convenience but you may not want it. Have you got time for some detour?

bubski - Are you going all the way to Nagano just to see the snow monkey park? Are you going to stay at the Jigokudani Onsen? Got to warn you that if you're going all the way only for these attractions, you might be disappointed. Lots of people say it's one of the most overrated tourist spots in Japan. I've been there, and in my opinion, it is. So many other nicer places.

It's only a 4 hour trip. You can take the shinansen via Tokyo, as kappa suggested.

Or you can take the shinkansen to Nagoya and transfer to the Shinano limited express to Nagano. There is a great view of the valley on this line approaching Nagano. The time would be about the same. You could stop/overnight at Matsumoto and see the wonderful castle there. The train passes through the Kiso Valley near Magome and Tsumago.

I would not go via Takayama.

Thanks for the replies. After Nagano we are going onto Tokyo for five nights. Mealea, I am interested to hear why you were disappointed in the snow monkey park. We are intending to stay at the Jigokudani Onsen (Koraku-kan). Did you stay there? I am now thinking of staying at Matsumoto overnight on the way.

bubski - Yes, that's the exact place I stayed and where most tourists stay. It's in all the guidebooks. The good thing is the prices are cheap compared with most onsen ryokan in Japan. However, it's a pretty run down place and depressing. The rooms are okay, but the onsen baths are terrible. The outside one is all concrete and not beautiful at all. As for the monkeys, sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't. When I was there, they stormed the place in the early morning as we were having breakfast and were pretty aggressive and loud. Not cute and charming. Then they left. I never once saw any monkeys bathing in the onsen like you see in the charming postcards. I live in Japan and have been to many many places here. This was probably my least favorite place.

For another opnion, check out the website called "Quirky Japan." Under a section called "Cheesy Tourist Attractions and Disappoinments" you'll find this quote:

The famous "Monkey Onsen" in Nagano is filled with monkey poo and its accommodations are horribly over-priced. The numerous monkey parks throughout the country are horribly depressing."

The website writer says this is Shirahone, but he made a mistake - it's Jigokudani.

Anyway, you might like it, but in my opinion, it's really nothing special.