Private Tour
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Begin with a scenic drive through beautiful orchards. Reach the park via a refreshing 30-minute (2km) walk along lush nature trails—a pleasant hike especially enjoyable in the green season. From May, you may spot adorable newborn baby monkeys! Enjoy 50 minutes observing the macaques relaxing in their natural habitat.
Your guide provides all essential info during the drive; there is no guided service during the walk or inside the park. As these are wild animals, sightings are not guaranteed, particularly during the mating and harvest seasons in October and November.
Next, visit the historic Tamamura Honten brewery (closed Sundays/holidays). Then, explore 1,350-year-old Shibu Onsen with your guide—keep an eye on the rooftops for local monkeys! Finally, visit Koku-gonji Temple (est. 825 AD), home to sacred spring water and 1,000 cherry trees. Returns to Iiyama around 5:40 PM and to Nozawa Onsen around 6 PM, subject to traffic.
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
It is not allowed to bring Luggage (No luggage space in a vehcile). Please use coin lockers or storage service at the tourist information center in Iiyama Station..
No eating inside the vehicle
In the event of damages (vomiting etc.) which require the vehicle to be out of service for a duration and are caused by your party, a fee of up to ¥30,000 may be incurred.
Pickup time at Iiyama Station may be delayed if the participants are not coming on time at the first pickup point, Nozawa Onsen.
Rain gears are needed to be arranged by paricipants.
Return time at Iiyama Station will be 17:10~17:30 (Purchasing a train ticket before 17:30 is not recommended, the return time is subject to change depending on delays/weather conditions)
Return time at Nozawa Onsen will be 17:30~18:00 (subject to change depending on delays/condition of day)
Most shops in Shibu Onsen are closed on Wednesdays
Tamamura Honten (the brewery) is closed on Sundays
Please be aware that a medium level of fitness is required for about 2 km walk (one-way) to/from the park and anther 2 km walking tour in Shibu Onsen
The type of vehicle for the tour depends on the number of participants and can not be confirmed until the tour date.
The monkeys in the park are wild animals, and their appearance in the park is not guaranteed. In particular, the probability of seeing them drops significantly during October and November
Please be ready at the boarding point at least 5 minutes before departure. The bus will depart strictly on time. Please note that no refunds will be provided for any reason if you miss the departure.
Not recommended for travelers with difficulty walking for 2km (30 mins) to/from the Monkey Park (Total 4 km / 1 hr)
Not recommended for families with infants or small children during winter, due to the added difficulty of the walk up to the monkey park. We also are unable to take strollers onto the bus. For customers who have small children, we recommend the Private Tour.
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
(13:50~14:40) The journey to the park involves a scenic 2km walk along an unpaved forest trail, surrounded by majestic cedar trees, offering a true immersion into Japan’s pristine nature. The park itself is relatively compact; one hour is usually more than enough to see everything. However, please remember these are wild animals. You may encounter monkeys on the trail before even reaching the park entrance. We strongly recommend heading straight into the park first to see the main hot spring area. If you spend too much time with monkeys outside the gates, your time inside may be cut short. For a unique experience, look across the river from the park to the historic inn. In winter, you can often see monkeys and overnight guests sharing the outdoor bath! This facility also offers day-trip bathing for ¥1,500. If your timing is perfect, you might even find yourself soaking in the hot spring alongside a curious snow monkey. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Sake Storehouse Art Museum - Gallery Tamamura Honten
[CLOSED on Sundays & New Year's Holiday] (15:45~16:00) Established in 1805, this historic brewery boasts a legacy spanning over 220 years. Tamamura Honten produces both the award-winning traditional sake "Engi" and the pioneer of Japan’s craft beer scene, "Shiga Kogen Beer." Part of the magnificent 150-year-old wooden structure has been beautifully preserved and transformed into an art gallery. Here, you can immerse yourself in the owner’s curated art collection while enjoying tastings and shopping. Experience more than just a brewery, discover a true sanctuary of Japanese culture.
WiFi on board
Air-conditioned vehicle
Monkey Park Entry Tickets
Guided walks in Shibu Onsen
Luggage Space
Lunch
Umbrella / Rainwear
Duration: 5 hours: Winter (Dec~Mar): Depart 13:00 / Return 17:30 (4.5 hours) Green Season (Apr~Nov): Depart 13:00 / Return 18:00 (5 hours) Starting point: Nozawa Onsen (Chuo Terminal), Toyosato, Nozawaonsen, Shimotakai District, Nagano 389-2502, Japan
Duration: 5 hours: Winter (Dec~Mar): Depart 13:20 / Return 17:10 (4 hours) Green Season (Apr~Nov): Depart 13:20 / Return 17:40 (4.5 hours)
73 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Lorraine A,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
Tommy was an excellent tour guide for our small group. He was very friendly and provided us with a lot of information about the local environment.
Feliks L,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
Great tour guide provided good information about Shibu Onsen and shrines. Lot of possibilities to see snow monkey playing around.


Karl Y,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
Did exactly what it said on the tin. Great information beforehand. Whole trip went like clockwork. Excellent guide
David H,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
Great tour.Be prepared for Though for a long walk to see the monkeys.Our tour guide Tommy was very informative and made this day very special
Mette T,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
Pleasant trip - sweet and informed guide who told wide and wide about the trip in an informal way, nice trip
Stacey S,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
Well-organised and well-executed tour, our guide Tommy was very knowledgeable. There were so many snow monkeys the day we went! And they were so chill. It was quite a fast paced tour though so if you’ve got very young kids or wish to linger or go at a leisurely pace it may be better to book a private tour with the company. They’re great!

Brian H,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
We had an excellent experience on the monkey tour. Tommy was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely engaging. He made the trip both informative and fun. The pacing was perfect, giving us just the right amount of time to enjoy the monkeys without feeling rushed. Highly recommend!
glennbE1892YO,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Great experience and Tommy was a great guide. Friends advised that the trio wasn't worth doing if it wasn't snowing. That wasn't the case, it was still great, monkeys everywhere and very chilled.
Jessica N,Mar 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
We had an excellent time. The snow monkey park and Onsen town were amazing. Our guide was informative, friendly, and wonderful with the kids.
tamarag14,Mar 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
I had the lovely Rosella as my guide and she was awesome. She was knowledgeable, funny and kind. With an injured knee I took many precautions which she noticed and checked in with me about any limitations, during the journey out and throughout the day. The monkeys were brilliant and I ticked a bucket list item of my list. The walk in is relatively flat, excluding a couple short sets of stairs that I just took slowly. Shibu Onsen is a place I would like to explore further. Good as a taster but I will go back. The Sake tasting was uniquely Japanese blending the history of sake and delivery in a tech gadget. Love it.
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