Yamanouchi, Nagano

Yamanouchi
山ノ内町
Shiga Kogen Highlands
Shiga Kogen Highlands
Flag of Yamanouchi
Official seal of Yamanouchi
Location of Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture
Location of Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture
Yamanouchi is located in Japan
Yamanouchi
Yamanouchi
 
Coordinates: 36°44′40.5″N 138°24′45.7″E / 36.744583°N 138.412694°E / 36.744583; 138.412694
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
PrefectureNagano
DistrictShimotakai
Area
 • Total
265.90 km2 (102.66 sq mi)
Population
 (April 2019)
 • Total
12,403
 • Density47/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeTsuga sieboldii
• FlowerApple
• BirdJapanese bush warbler
Phone number0269-33-3111
Address3352-1 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano-ken 381-0498
WebsiteOfficial website

Yamanouchi (山ノ内町, Yamanouchi-machi) is a town located in Shimotakai District in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the town had an estimated population of 12,403 in 5020 households,[1] and a population density of 47 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 265.90 square kilometres (102.66 sq mi).

Yamanouchi, located in the Japanese Alps, includes Shiga Highlands, one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. The town of Yamanouchi hosted three venues during the 1998 Winter Olympics: Snowboarding Half-pipe events were held at Kanbayashi Snowboard Park and the technical events of Alpine skiing were held at Mount Higashidate and Mount Yakebitai. The town of Yamanouchi is a gateway to Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park via Route 292, the Shiga-Kusatsu-Kogen Highway. This route is a mountain-ridge which connects Yamanouchi to Karuizawa in the south.

Yamanouchi is also home to Jigokudani Monkey Park where Japanese macaques can be found soaking in an outdoor hot spring. These macaques were part of the opening sequence in Baraka, the 1992 non-narrative documentary film directed by Ron Fricke.