Private Tour
Jigokudani Snow Monkey and Togakushi Shrine Private Tour
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
A full-day trip to Nagano’s snow monkeys and Togakushi Shrine. With a private car and guide, avoid crowds and enjoy local insights. Photos are captured and delivered after the tour.
❑ A Special Experience
Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where in winter monkeys soak in hot springs and in summer play in forests and rivers. Then continue to Togakushi, a spiritual retreat with cedar-lined paths and centuries-old shrines. You’ll avoid crowds, discover local spots, and have moments photographed as lasting gifts.
❑ Why Private?
Public transport requires hours and many transfers, while dining options are limited. With a private car and guide, travel is smooth and flexible. The day adapts to your pace, from exploring shrine trails to enjoying a relaxed lunch.
❑ A Personalized Journey
Explore with an English-speaking guide, free from crowds or fixed schedules. Local insights enrich the journey, and each special moment is captured for you to keep.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Snow Monkey Park (jigokudani Yaen Koen)
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, located in the mountains of Nagano, is famous for its wild Japanese macaques, commonly known as snow monkeys. These monkeys are known for their unique behavior of soaking in natural hot springs during the cold winter months, providing visitors with a rare opportunity to observe wildlife up close in their natural habitat. Experience: Visitors can enjoy a scenic hike through the forest to reach the park and witness the snow monkeys relaxing in the hot springs. It's a chance to see these animals up close and observe their interactions in a stunning natural setting. *At Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, visitors enjoy a 30-40-minute scenic walk through the forest to reach the viewing area. *An admission fee is required: Adults: 800 yen, Children: 400 yen. (Children under 6 years old are free of charge.)
Togakushi Shrine
Togakushi Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in the mountains northwest of Nagano City. It is famous for its sacred cedar tree-lined path and consists of three main shrine areas: the Lower Shrine (Hokosha), the Middle Shrine (Chusha), and the Upper Shrine (Okusha), each offering different experiences. The area is also known for its connection to ninja history and traditional soba noodles. Experience: Visitors can walk through the ancient cedar avenue leading to the Upper Shrine, offering a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere. The shrine is also a great place to learn about Japanese mythology and Shinto practices, and the surrounding area is perfect for hiking. *At Togakushi Shrine, visitors can enjoy a 30-40 minute walk through a beautiful cedar-lined path to reach the Upper Shrine.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Air-conditioned vehicle
Fuel surcharge
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Parking Fees
Admission is paid on-site, so you get the best price without extra online fees.
Pickup points
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Jigokudani Snow Monkey and Togakushi Shrine Private Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Magical Nagano Experience: Snow Monkeys & Togakushi Shrine
Shaynna P,,Dec 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful tour with a great balance of nature and culture. Seeing the snow monkeys in their natural environment was a truly unique experience, and the visit Togakushi Shrine was peaceful and stunning. Our guide Chris was excellent—knowledgeable, friendly, and kept everything running smoothly while sharing great insights along the way. Chris shared great insights into the culture, history, and local traditions, which made the experience even more meaningful. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Nagano—it’s the perfect combination of nature, culture, and unforgettable memories.
Perfect winter experience in Nagano!
MARYGENE C,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00So glad we booked this private tour—such a fun day with our amazing guide Taketo (Take)! From seeing tons of snow monkeys to a stunning snow-covered walk beneath Togakushi’s towering cedar trees, such a special day. For lunch, we had authentic Nagano buckwheat soba at a cozy, OG family-owned spot. Take also captured beautiful photos along the way—which made for perfect souvenirs. This tour was worth it, highly recommend!
It was great - we visited...
Artem B,,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was great - we visited both locations, saw the monkeys and also the guide get us to some interesting local sights like apple farms or the beautiful lake with the view. The guide also was great and very friendly. Highly recommend
Highly reccomend! Hundreds of snow monkeys and a 4,000 year old sacred place
Valarie L,,Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Highly recommend this tour! Chris picked us up promptly at 9am at our hotel. He had already checked the “monkey cam” and suggested we reverse the usual tour order to possibly see more monkeys in the afternoon, and we saw HUNDREDS of monkeys in the afternoon! Absolutely thrilling. The morning was spent at Togakushi shrine and along the cedar snow lined path that was gorgeous. Chris was kind and engaging, allowing us to set the pace and he took many souvenir photos for and of us. He dropped us off about 5:30 pm at a restaurant he recommended for supper near our hotel that was outstanding 👍 We chose to walk all the way to the shrine and wore tennis shoes with wool socks on the sometimes slushy trail. We were lucky to see the monkeys, who had been to the hot springs about 6 of the last 30 days this time of year. Altogether both trails were a few easy miles, which we enjoyed.
Tour description should make it clear that this is a tour only for winter months.
winjocchew,,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00Huge disappointment as this is not the season for snow monkeys. Only went to the Togakushi Shrine. Don’t book!
Wonderful tour!
358vishalr,,Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is one of few tours that encompasses both the Togakushi Shrine and Snow Money Park in one day. Admittedly my wife and I were apprehensive booking, having never booked a tour before, but are so glad that we did. We had an incredible experience with Dai, our tour guide, who was easily contactable on WhatsApp and addressed all our questions prior to the day. He was punctual and picked us up from our hotel. Dai was extremely friendly and considerate, striking a perfect balance between leaving us alone to experience the surroundings but also informing us of the local area. A nice surprise, Dai also brings along his camera and takes pictures during the day! We left our hotel promptly at 9am to head to Jigokudani entrance followed by a beautiful 20 minute walk to the Snow Monkey Park (we arrived early enough so there was nobody else on the trail). Luckily, we arrived at the perfect time to see several Snow Monkeys in their natural habitat (just 30 minutes later, more people started arriving and the monkeys started to leave). Following that, we had a wonderful drive to the Togakushi Shrine, where we had lunch. Dai took us to one of his favourite soba restaurants, which was a family-run joint over 150 years old. The food was delicious, very well priced and they had vegetarian options for my wife (having a native Japanese speaker certainly helps deal with any dietary requirements). After lunch, we walked up to the upper Togakushi Shrine, along a route with incredible cedar trees. Finishing up, Dai drove us back along a scenic route to our hotel by 4pm. The tour was well worth the money. We saved so much time and hassle going by car with a local. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone who visits Nagano.
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Operated by Omotenashi Travel Nagano