Visitors to Beppu City who have already seen the eight “Hells” still have a great family option for a day-trip, especially if they are looking to get out of the city: Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park.
About the Park
Imagine a rolling mountainside upon which over 1500 monkeys roam free, and humans are the guests. This is the environment you step into at Mt. Takasaki Monkey Park.
Known in Japanese as Takasakiyama Shizen Doubutsuen (高崎山自然動物園), the Park opened in 1952 and is a monkey reserve that attracts guests from all over Japan. It is located on the coast between Beppu and Oita City near the base of a 628-meter-high mountain.
Visitors can watch the monkeys playing, grooming each other, and being fed by the wardens. While some monkeys are playful, interacting with guests and even running in between their legs, others stay to themselves and should be approached with caution.
Throughout the Park there are hiking trails as well as viewpoints overlooking the coast. A visit here makes for a unique and relaxing day.
Getting Here
Those driving from either Beppu or Oita City should take the Kokura Highway (小倉街道). The parking lot for Umitamago Aquarium is located about halfway between the two cities. From there, it is a five minute walk to the park by a footbridge which crosses over the highway.
Those who prefer to travel by bus should take either number AS60 or AS61 to Takasakiyama-Umitamago bus stop. Both lines leave from Beppu Station. Tickets cost 420 yen.
Once at the entrance to the park, visitors can either walk up the hill or take a short monorail ride which costs 110 yen.
The park is open from 9:00 to 17:00, with the last entry until 16:30.
Ticket Information
520 yen for adults and high school students
260 for middle and elementary school students
Free for kindergarten and younger
Website: http://www.takasakiyama.jp/takasakiyama/en/
A trip to the Monkey Park pairs very well with a trip to the nearby Umitamago (in English: Sea Egg) Aquarium, located just across the footbridge from the Monkey Park. Visitors can even buy a joint “Monkey Marine Ticket” which includes transportation from either Beppu or Oita Station and allows entry to both the aquarium and the park. This ticket is available from either the Beppu Station tourist office or the Oita Station bus center.
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