4 Days Central Japan Tour from Nagano to Kanazawa

Overview

Available languages

English

96 hours

Mobile ticket

In recent years Central Japan has become increasingly popular as a stop along the Tokyo to Kyoto “Golden Route”. The reason for this, simply stated, is that Central Japan offers every experience the traveler could desire from Japan, while also being located close to some of Japan’s largest cities, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. From majestic mountain peaks to delicious local sake, and of course the famous Snow Monkeys, our multiple day group tour of this amazing region of Japan will bring you to every location you dreamed of, and many you may not have heard of yet. Starting in Nagano and ending in Kanazawa, this tour is perfect for those wishing to move through central Japan and removes the necessity of dealing with train and bus transfers. While accommodation is not included, transport between all destinations and an English speaking guide are provided on every day of the tour, so you do not have to worry about the small things and can instead focus on enjoying your vacation time.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Guided walk at each location

Lunch

English-speaking guide

Transportation fee to and between all listed destinations and activities on each day of the tour

Entry ticket to all locations you visit on the tour

Lunch for Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4

Accommodation

What To Expect

Day 1

Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano

Food and Drinks

LUNCH

Lunch

Zenko-ji Temple

Starting at Nagano Station, the tour opens with a bang by including a visit to the Zenkoji Temple. One of the most important Buddhist temples in Japan, the main building here is 300 years old and displays amazing craftsmanship; Meanwhile, the history of the temple complex as a whole stretches back well over 1,000 years. With some quick stops for sake tasting (non-alcoholic options included!) and lunch

3 hours 30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

The day continues with a hike through pristine forest to reach the onsen baths and volcanic valley which the Snow Monkeys call their home. Here you can get up close and personal with the monkeys as they walk mere centimeters away from you, or bathe in the hot spring baths right before your eyes.

4 hours 30 minutes • Admission Included

Day 2

Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle

On day two of the tour, our tour bus will pick you up in the morning and drive you to Matsumoto to walk through the streets of this beautiful and cultured city before ascending to the top of Matsumoto Castle. At over 400 years old, this castle is considered one of the best in Japan. Inside you will also find a number of artifacts, including firearms and samurai armor that will teach you more about the life of a feudal warrior.

3 hours 30 minutes • Admission Included

Kamikochi

Descending from the castle, the tour bus will next escort you deep into the Japanese Alps, to a breathtaking river valley known as Kamikochi. One of the original National Parks of Japan, the reason it has been registered as such will be immediately obvious by its stunning natural beauty and well preserved environment. Here, you will be treated to an easy hike and some time to rest and take in the scenery. Afterwards, the tour bus will take you on to Takayama city, where you will stay the night to be ready for the next day of the tour.

4 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Day 3

Explore Scenic Old Japan in Takayama and Shirakawa-go

Takayama Jinya

The second half of this tour kicks off in Takayama, a city with preserved traditional streets lined with handsome wooden buildings that could rival Kyoto. Located in the middle of all this is the Takayama Jinya, once the administrative office of the Shogun in Takayama and today the last remaining building of its kind in Japan. Access to the interior of the Jinya is of course included on our tour, and your guide will regale you with stories and information about the heyday of Takayama while showing you around this unique cultural site.

3 hours • Admission Included

Shirakawago

With a break to try some local snacks and do some window shopping, the tour bus will once again pick you up to deliver you to Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO World Heritage village of steep, thatched roof homes designed to withstand the snow and cold during the long winters in Central Japan. Here too, your guide will show you the best route around town and answer any questions you may have about the town. While the winter scenery of Shirakawa-go is deservedly world-famous, the area is beautiful in any season, with the flowers of spring, deep greens of summer, and bright fall colors of autumn providing a suitable backdrop to the town.

2 hours 30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Day 4

Samurai, Match, Gardens and Geisha in Kanazawa walking tour

Kanazawa

Leaving Shirakawa-go, the tour bus will continue to our final destination, Kanazawa. Upon waking up the next morning, your guide will meet you at Kanazawa Station to start a complete one day walking tour of the city that includes entrance to a Samurai house, Matcha tea on the grounds of Kanazawa Castle, and a visit to the Geisha District of Higashi-chaya, the symbol of Kanazawa. On the way back, your guide will lead you through the small but maze like district of Kazue-machi, a lesser known geisha district across the river from Higashi-chaya which still has working geisha wandering its streets. Finally, your guide will leave you at Kanazawa Station, from where it is simple to reach Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.

8 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

4 Days Central Japan Tour from Nagano to Kanazawa

Reviews

5.00

4 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

4 Days Nagano to Kanazawa
Rose W,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We enjoyed our 4 day tour. Yuma our Nagano guide was fabulous and informative. Day 2 with Taka was also fabous. He is very engaging and informative and made sure our transfer to Takayama was a smooth one. Day 3 with Joshy to the village og Shirawa-go was most enjoyable and informative and ensured our transfer to Kanazawa went smoothly. Day w 4 with Akira was exceptional. She was very informative, friendly and fun.
A Perfect Trip
montclairgo,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
What a brilliant way to explore central Japan! We were planning to do it all on our own by train, and then I discovered this 4-day trip which covered all the places we wanted to go, and included transport between towns. We squeezed it in between 4 days on our own in Tokyo and another 4 in Kyoto, for a perfect 2 week vacation. I contacted Devin at Snow Monkey Tours and discovered I could customize the experience and link the individual day trips we wanted, so we ended up with an itinerary that included two nights in Matsumoto with a hike on the Nakasendo Trail on day 1, a visit to the Mastumoto Castle, Frog Street and Kamikochi on day 2, transfer to Takayama and a visit to Shirakawa-Go on day 3, and a full day walking tour of Kanazawa on Day 4. Each tour was wonderful, and no bigger than 8 participants. Our Takayama/Shirakawa-go day was a private tour. Our guides, including Sijung, Hemi and Farida were excellent. They were kind, friendly, interesting, and provided great insight. The transportation, by minibus, was clean and punctual. The tours were well paced and covered beautiful locations. We were even lucky enough to see moneys on the trail in Kamikochi--thankfully no bears though. Thank you Snow Monkey Resorts!
Fascinating 4 day trip in a beautiful region of Japan - highly recommended!
Muzzyd,
Jul 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a fabulous experience with Snow Monkey Resorts. We only had 4 days in Central Japan and were having difficulty finding an activity that suited our needs - fortunately we discovered Snow Monkey and they sure delivered beyond our expectations. Kevin at their head office was particularly helpful and assisted us at the planning stage swap out day one for their 1 day Nakasendo Walk. Snow Monkey's model of guests choosing their own accommodation each evening and then picking up people in the morning from the local train station worked a treat. The buses each day and drivers were all exceptional and the guides too were all excellent. Knowledgeable and engaging. Each day was filled with history, nature, culture and beauty. Our only suggestion for guests is to book your restaurants each evening ahead of time because the really good one in Central Japan will be booked out. We will be using them again for sure on our next trip to Japan!!
Snow monkey resorts exceeded my expections for the Alpine tour and the 4 day tour of Nagano, Takamaya and Kanazawa.
Girish35,
Apr 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was very well organised and the communication and customer care was excellent. The guides went out of their way to help us and they were Endo, Devon, Yuko and Adeline. All had excellent historical knowledge and that made all the difference to the Alpine route tour and the 4 day tour to Nagano,Takamaya, Kanazawa including the snow monkey park, matsoumo castle, the shrines and temples which were wonderful and a must to truly experience and understand the Japanese culture. The tour busses were punctual and the drivers took us safely at all times. I would like to thank Snow monkey resorts for all their effort in making the tour so comfortable and smooth. I would most certainly recommend the tours and particularly the Snow monkey resorts to my friends and family.