I spent a night inside the House of Light by James Turrell in Niigata, Japan,, sharing the house with strangers, soaking in a hot glowing bath, and watching the roof slide open to the sky. Here is my personal story plus a 2026 guide to booking, prices, and getting there from Tokyo.
Nagano
Japan’s Snow Monkeys: The Complete 2026 Guide to Jigokudani Monkey Park
Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture is one of Japan’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences: wild Japanese macaques soaking in a natural mountain hot spring, surrounded by deep cedar forest and snow. This complete 2026 guide covers admission prices, the Snow Monkey Pass, how to get there from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, what to wear on the trail, and what to do in nearby Shibu Onsen and Shiga Kogen.
