When I first heard that there was this kind of a park in Kyoto I really wanted to see it. The park is a bit farther away from the city, but nature you see while arriving to the closest station and walking through the small town to where the park starts is a exciting journey itself. The park is located on a small mountain and it is a bit of a climb but that made it for some reason even more worth it. Once up at the Park it was really fun to see the monkeys and to get to feed them, the staff there is also very nice and helpful, they helped us to get a picture with a monkey.
When visiting Kyoto last spring I heard that there was a monkey park up on a mountain. Without any doubt in mind I went to the mountain that had short climb up and arrived at the park. It was very exciting for me, because it was the first time to see sooo many monkeys in one spot at the same time! I loved it! There is also a little hut where you can go inside and buy some fruits to feed to monkeys. This though, can only be done with you inside the hut and sticking your hand outside the hut to feed the monkeys outside. It was still very fun! The place is also recommendable to take beautiful picture of the city of Kyoto.
Best view of Kyoto, no other contenders. Give this place the prize...if there is one.
Anyway. This monkey park is located very close to Arashiyama. Once you trek up a slight hill, pay a stranger, and trek up another slightly larger hill, you will reach the monkey park!
There is something about wandering around a mountain full of monkeys that makes you think "Wow, this idea sure wouldn't work back home" But somehow it works here, from my experience, tourists don't hassle the monkeys too much. Just don't look them in the eyes or they will try to fight you! (There are actually signs that state this)
You can feed the monkeys inside a small wooden building, it's pretty amusing.
Would be 5 stars but -1 star for smelling like unwashed monkeys.