HokkaidoTravel

Leisurely Observe the Monkey Mountain and Subtropical Plants at the Botanical Garden in the Yunokawa Hot Spring District

About this spot

A municipal botanical garden located in the Yunokawa Hot Spring district with a large glass greenhouse housing approximately 300 species of tropical and subtropical plants. The appeal of encountering tropical plants like bananas and bougainvillea while in the northern city of Hakodate, and the warm, toasty atmosphere inside the greenhouse that allows you to spend time regardless of the weather, are wonderful advantages for families with children. The park's main attraction is the monkey mountain where Japanese macaques live—children are captivated watching them scamper over rocks, scratch and groom each other. The garden also features a foot bath and play equipment, making it a perfect way to wrap up a full day of exploring. With reasonable admission fees, it's an ideal post-history-exploration reward and casual stop.

Tips

About 15 minutes by car from Goryokaku; by streetcar, it's about a 15-minute walk from Yunokawa Hot Spring Station. Free parking is available. The greenhouse is warm, so wearing clothes you can easily remove is comfortable even in winter. If you plan to use the foot bath, bring a towel. Feeding the monkeys is prohibited except with specialized food sold at the garden shop.

Best time to visit

Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The afternoon time slot sees active monkey behavior, and you can comfortably explore with plenty of time before closing.