Immerse yourself in the wild heart of Nagano - a private full-day journey to meet the snow monkeys, savor local culture, and explore historic temples. Private tour operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours.
Options
Snow Monkey Day Tour - From Hakuba Area
Snow Monkey Day Tour - From Nagano City Area
Snow Monkey Customize Tour from Matsumoto/Azumino Area
The Highlight
- Starting from Nagano Station or any Nagano City Hotel or Hakuba area, we will pick your party up in our private vehicle to take you on your private tour and drop you off in the Nagano City area or any of Nagano's 5 Main Ski Resorts!
- Visit the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and learn all about what makes the resident monkeys so unique.
- Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and experience Nagano’s renowned food culture.
- Stroll the charming streets of the historic town of Obuse, and enjoy viewing its remaining Edo period buildings.
- Explore Zenkoji, one of Japan’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples, and home to the first known Buddhist statue to be brought to Japan.
- Try ‘sake’ with a tasting and learning experience all led by your guide (non-alcoholic options also available).
- A customizable one-day tour starting from Matsumoto or Azumino to nearby destinations as option
The Experience
Your adventure begins as you board a private tour vehicle bound for the Snow Monkey Park, nestled in the onsen town of Yudanaka at the foot of the mountains. Accompanied by your guide, you’ll follow a scenic forest trail into Jigokudani, or “Hell’s Valley,” home to the world’s only troop of wild monkeys that bathe in hot springs. With no barriers between you and the monkeys, this is a rare chance to observe their fascinating behavior up close - don’t forget your camera!
After your visit, enjoy a well-earned lunch at Hotarutei, a beautifully restored 170-year-old Japanese mansion turned restaurant. Savor a seasonal nabe (hot pot) with your choice of beef, seafood, or vegetables, along with tempura, sushi, miso soup, and tea or coffee. The cozy setting, complete with heated floors and elegant wooden interiors, perfectly complements the hearty meal.
Next, explore Obuse, a charming Edo-style town known for its chestnut sweets, sake breweries, and beautifully preserved streets. Stroll through its atmospheric lanes, taste local treats, and soak in Nagano’s rich culture.
Your final destination is Zenkoji Temple, a National Treasure and one of Japan’s most important Buddhist sites. Your guide will share stories and legends surrounding the temple before giving you time to wander the temple grounds and nearby streets lined with traditional shops and eateries.
As the day concludes, sit back and relax on the ride back to your drop-off point - reflecting on your journey and perhaps scrolling through your favorite snow monkey photos.
Here’s a shortened and polished version of your tour highlight section — clear, professional, and concise while keeping the essential details:
For Snow Monkey Customize Tour
A sample one-day itinerary typically includes:
- Private vehicle and driver (up to 9 hours, including luggage transport)
- Private English-speaking guide (up to 9 hours)
- Entrance to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park*
- Lunch
- One optional activity of your choice (examples below)
*Your customized tour doesn’t have to include the Snow Monkey Park if preferred. Longer tours or alternate start/drop-off points can be arranged with adjusted pricing.
Popular Activity Options:
- ① Explore the attractions of Matsumoto (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 hours+
- ② Enjoy beautiful, rural Azumino (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 hours+
- ③ Explore Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tasting (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 hours
- ④ Explore historic Obuse town (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
- ⑤ Snow Fun in Japan’s largest ski resort – Shiga Kogen (End of December – March) – Duration: 2.5 hours
- ⑥ Enjoy the stunning cherry blossoms of Nagano (Spring Only) – Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
- ⑦ Experience the beautiful autumn leaves of Nagano (Autumn Only) – Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
- ⑧ ‘Onsen'(Natural Hot Spring) Experience (All Year Round) – Duration: 1 hour
Infants under 6 join free (no meal included). Tours start from Matsumoto or Azumino, with options to customize routes and destinations to your interests.
① Explore the attractions of Matsumoto (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 hours +
- Visit Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s few remaining original castles. Learn its fascinating history from your guide and explore nearby museums or traditional streets.
② Enjoy beautiful, rural Azumino (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 hours +
- Discover Azumino’s peaceful countryside, famous for its fresh produce, art scene, and relaxing hot springs. Visit Daio Wasabi Farm and enjoy views of the Northern Alps.
③ Explore Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tasting (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 hours
- Visit Zenko-ji, one of Japan’s oldest temples and a National Treasure. Learn its legends, try meditation experiences, and enjoy sake tasting in Nagano’s sake breweries.
④ Explore historic Obuse town (All Year Round) – Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
- Stroll through Obuse’s Edo-style streets, visit the Hokusai Museum, and sample chestnut sweets and local sake in this beautifully preserved town.
⑤ Snow Fun in Japan’s largest ski resort – Shiga Kogen (End of December – March) – Duration: 2.5 hours
- Enjoy snow play at Japan’s largest ski resort with activities such as sledding, tubing, and snow scoots, perfect for beginners and families. (Extra charge applies.)
⑥ Enjoy the stunning cherry blossoms of Nagano (Spring Only) – Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
- Experience Japan’s iconic sakura season with visits to the best bloom spots, such as Zenko-ji Temple or Suzaka Garyu Park. Peak season is early to mid-April.
⑦ Experience the beautiful autumn leaves of Nagano (Autumn Only) – Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
- Marvel at Nagano’s brilliant fall colors in scenic areas like Matsukawa Valley or Togakushi. The foliage is most vibrant from early to late October.
⑧ ‘Onsen'(Natural Hot Spring) Experience (All Year Round) – Duration: 1 hour
- Relax in a private natural hot spring surrounded by nature. Includes towel rental and a mixed-gender outdoor bath for up to eight people per group.
(Travel Agency License No: Nagano 2-562) Snow Monkey Resorts Tours 2159 Kurita, Nagano City, Nagano, 380-0921 Japan Tel: (+81)26-219-6272 Member of All Nippon Travel Agents Association Travel Service Supervisor: Azusa Fukuhara
Guide Services
Languages Spoken by Guides
- English
Itinerary
- 08:30Departure from Hakuba Area
- 09:00Departure from Nagano City
- You will meet and greet with your guide at your designated pick-up location and board the private tour vehicle bound for Snow Monkey Park. It is at this point that your guide will explain the itinerary of the tour and talk to you about the monkeys that reside around the Snow Monkey Park.
- 10:00Arrive nearby the Snow Monkey Park area. Prepare and walk along the forest trail (25-30 minutes) into the park. This timing may take longer in the winter months due to present snowfall.
- 10:45Arrive at the park and enjoy watching the wild macaques bathing in the onsen and going about their lives. Be sure to bring your camera!
- 11:45Depart the park and walk back out along the forest trail toward the lunch venue in Yudanaka.
- 12:30Enjoy your locally sourced traditional Japanese layered `bento` box lunch at our restaurant.
- 13:30Board the private tour vehicle once more and depart for the historic town of Obuse.
- 14:15Stroll the charming streets of Obuse and enjoy the Edo period buildings.
- 15:00Depart Obuse bound back to Nagano City, with the destination of Zenkoji Temple.
- 15:30Arrive at Zenkoji and begin a guided tour with your guide followed by (time-permitting) some free time to explore the temple precinct.
- 16:15Meet your guide at their designated meeting spot and make your way to sake tasting, where you will spend the remainder of your tour sampling various Nagano specialties.
- 17:00Say goodbye to your tour guide, and board the bus to your selected drop-off point.
- Depending on your drop-off point you will arrive at your desired location within this time frame. 17:15 ~ 18:30
Price Details
How to Use
- Voucher will be sent via email. Please show your e-voucher at designated location.
Purchase Notice
- All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability.
- Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary.
- Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors.
- Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Important Booking Information
- There will be a significant amount of walking required (1.6 km one way) to get to and from the Snow Monkey Park, along an unsealed forest trail, so please wear appropriate shoes/boots.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travellers. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
- This tour uses different forms of transport. Tours may be conducted via van or microbus, depending on the season and size of the group.
- From mid-December until early-April the trail and park are likely to be affected by snow and ice. Please ensure that you are wearing suitable shoes/boots and warm clothing. If required, rental boots are available close to the monkey park and crampons (metal spikes that attach underneath your shoes/boots) can also be purchased.
- From mid-December until early-March please wear suitable clothing for temperatures potentially below 0°C (and as low as -10°C).
- During the winter it is very common to see the monkeys enjoying the hot spring. However, the monkeys are wild animals and there is no guarantee that they will be in the bath, especially between spring and autumn.
- There are a few days in the year when the monkeys might not come down to the park.
- This tour includes lunch at Hotarutei. On rare occasions it may not be possible to use this restaurant in which case we would switch to another, comparable location. Please note that the restaurant may change their menu from time-to-time and the tour lunch may different to images shown on this page.
- This tour includes 'sake' tasting in Nagano City. The venue can change depending on the time of year. You must be a minimum of 20 years of age to consume alcohol on the tour.
- Infants (0-5) are free of charge. An infant's lunch is not included, and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs. We also cannot guarantee that a seat on the tour transport will be available for infants, and they may be required to sit in the lap of an adult, especially during winter, i.e., from December to March.