Nagano's Best: Wild Snow Monkeys, Ancient Zen & Sake
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Take in some of the highlights of Nagano with this engaging tour starting with a visit to Zenkoji Temple – one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan - followed by sake tasting and lunch at a nearby restaurant. It's then time to head to the Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys! All led by a locally-based English-speaking guide, this tour is a great way to see the best that Nagano has to offer and get up close and personal with its most famous furry residents!
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
Leonid_B, 10/19/2025 8:21:47 AM
This was an interesting experience. The tour was well organized. The tour guide spoke good English and was quite knowledgeable. We enjoyed visiting the temple and tasting sake. You are served about 15 thimbles of different sakes plus one of plum wine. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the monkeys because this time of the year they come down to the hot bath not more than once a week, and that wasn’t our day. Lunch was excellent: a collection of authentic Japanese dishes. Well deserved five stars.
Paul_M, 10/18/2025 9:28:47 AM
Turned out the monkey part was a let down, they were all up the mountain and would not show. This was known to the guide but we were not informed until the last moment.
Sandra_M, 10/17/2025 9:57:55 PM
This was a great tour. The guides were great. It was a long way to the temple and to the snow monkey. The sake tasting was good. Lunch was excellent. All in all this was a wonderful tour. The guides were very caring. I would suggest that you need to be in great shape for this tour.
Michael_R, 10/17/2025 5:49:59 AM
An excellent day and whilst we saw no monkeys, our tour guide Kevin made it fantastic day. Great guide with just right mix of 'guiding' to 'leisure time'.
Maria_V, 10/17/2025 1:26:20 AM
Kay was a fantastic guide giving information and curiosities about each place. I recommend this tour
177rogern, 10/14/2025 3:19:19 AM
Our guide, Taka, was very polite and friendly. He showed real interest in the group’s questions and made every effort to ensure everyone felt included. The lunch was amazing and has set the bar really high for other tours that include lunch. As far as seeing the Snow Monkeys, we were very lucky to see one. It’s a long trek by foot to the monkey park so do your research as to best time to go
Rebecca_B, 10/13/2025 1:24:39 AM
This was a fun day. Although we visited in the off season we still saw a snow monkey. The guides were knowledgeable & shared interesting history of the area.
James_K, 10/11/2025 8:47:21 PM
A real highlight of our visit to Japan. Our guide Kay had a wonderful personality, with lots of information and stories to share and was an excellent English speaker for our group. We knew October is not an optimal time to see the monkeys in the park and, true to that, we ultimately only saw one, but that’s nature and it didn’t diminish the experience. The walk to the Monkey Park is a beautiful forested area and a great experience itself. The tour includes lunch, and who would have that that a tour lunch would be one of our favorite meals in Japan?!! A lovely and peaceful setting in a 100 year old home with a full bento/hot pot meal. Not to mention also a very interesting tour of the temple with some free time to explore, and an enlightening sake tasting. Since the monkeys weren’t active that day and we spent less time there than usual, Kay even arranged for us to spend some fascinating time in an Onsen district. Overall the tour was one of the real highlights of our trip (maybe we’ll see monkeys next time) and Kay made it a special experience.
ritahm2, 10/11/2025 8:30:52 PM
We went to Senjiko Temple, Sake Tasting and to see the Monkeys The whole experience was fantastic. A small group in a comfy bus. A very nice lunch at a nice restaurant. Our guide Luka was great- knowledgeable on the history of each place and spoke beautiful English We were well looked after by her
James_L, 10/10/2025 10:53:57 PM
Loved the tour! We were lucky enough to see the whole troop of monkeys during my visit. All roaming around and doing their own thing. They did not mind at all that we were with them. The food during the tour was excellent and beyond anything that I expected. Also our guide Kei was amazing with us. Both informative and funny. I would highly recommend to any that are considering
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking including to and from the monkey park along a 1.6km (1 mile), unsealed forest trail. Please sure your footwear is appropriate and you are dressed accordingly for the season. The trail includes 2 different staircases, and therefore is not wheelchair accessible.
- Guests are required to follow the Snow Monkey Park rules at all times. Guests are not permitted to touch, hold, feed or bathe with the monkeys at any time. There are no barriers separating the monkeys from visitors to the park. Please ensure you keep a minimum distance of 1 to 2 meters between yourself and the monkeys. Your guide will explain the rules prior to entering the park.
- This tour uses different forms of transport. Tours can be conducted by microbus or a large bus 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 common to see the monkeys enjoying the hot spring however from spring up to autumn there will be times where the monkeys play or eat in the water, however please note that the monkeys are wild animals and there is no guarantee that there will be monkeys in the bath.
- There are a few days in the year that the monkeys might not come down to the park, arrive late or leave early. While this is unlikely, it is possible and is outside of our control.
- *Winter only* Guests in Hakuba can join this tour using our shuttle service from / to Hakuba Tokyu Hotel in Wadano and Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal. This service is only available from mid December until end of March and may not be available every day between those dates. We apologize that bookings from / to Hakuba cannot be accepted outside of these dates. When using this shuttle service please note that your guide will join and depart the tour at Nagano Station.
- *Winter only* This tour is scheduled to conclude at Nagano Station by 17:30 (and by 19:00 for guests joining from Hakuba in winter). However, due to weather and road conditions in winter we cannot guarantee the end time. For guests booking shinkansen tickets to travel to Tokyo after the tour in winter, we ask that you do not book any service earlier than the 17:56 Kagayaki (reservation only) or our recommendation of the 18:23 Hakutaka. For guests booking onward tickets to other destinations we also recommend doing so for times of 18:00 or later.
- This tour includes lunch at one of Nagano's outstanding restaurants. Please note that the restaurant may change their menu from time-to-time. Please let us know of any food allergies in advance so we can arrange accordingly.
- This tour includes ‘sake’ tasting. You must be a minimum of 20 years of age to consume alcohol in Japan.
- Infants (0-5) are free of charge. An infant lunch is not included and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs.
- Train schedule from Tokyo station to Nagano station| Tokyo: 07:20 –> Nagano: 08:43 by Kagayaki (reservation required*)| Tokyo: 07:24 –> Nagano: 09:14 by Asama| Tokyo: 07:52 –> Nagano: 09:30 by Hakutaka
- Train schedule from Nagano station to Tokyo station| Nagano: 17:55 –> Tokyo: 19:20 by Kagayaki (reservation required*)| Nagano: 18:22 –> Tokyo: 20:00 by Hakutaka
- Please note, there may be possible changes in the itinerary/included experiences due to local events, weather, restaurant availability, or other unforeseeable factors.
- Please note that it is the responsibility of each guest to secure their own way back to their specific hotel after being dropped off at one of the four possible drop off points in Hakuba during the winter period, as our large bus cannot drop off at individual accommodations.
Departure point
Please wait at the bus lot directly next to La Vigne Hakuba, not at the hotel entrance. Make sure you arrive before 08:10 and look for the guide carrying a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign or badge. The tour cannot wait and will need to depart on-time, so please be punctual.Return details
Take in some of the highlights of Nagano with this engaging tour starting with a visit to Zenkoji Temple – one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan - followed by sake tasting and lunch at a nearby restaurant. It's then time to head to the Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys! All led by a locally-based English-speaking guide, this tour is a great way to see the best that Nagano has to offer and get up close and personal with its most famous furry residents!Redemption
・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. ・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 common to see the Snow Monkeys enjoying the hot spring bath, however from spring up to autumn there will be times where the monkeys play or eat in the water, however please note that the monkeys are wild animals and there is no guarantee that there will be monkeys in the bath. ・There are a few days in the year that the monkeys might not come down to the park. In such case we will provide an alternative activity. ・This tour includes lunch at Monzen Terrace Enya. On rare occasions it may not be possible to use this restaurant in which case we would switch to another, comparable location. ・Infants (0-5) are free of charge. An infant lunch is not included and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs. ・The start and finish of the tour are arranged according to the bullet train (called Hokuriku Shinkansen) timetable. See below for specific timetables on the bullet train departure and arrival times to/from Nagano Station. Departing from Tokyo Station – Arriving at Nagano Station: • 07:20 – 08:43 Kagayaki (reserved seats only) • 07:24 – 09:14 Asama • 07:52 – 09:30 Hakutaka Departing from Nagano Station – Arriving back to Tokyo Station • 17:55 – 19:20 Kagayaki (reserved seats only) • 18:22 – 20:00 Hakutaka24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund