Private Tour
Nagano: Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Free Sake Taste Day Tour
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
On this full-day journey, see two of the great sights close to Nagano. Discover the serene grounds of Zenko-ji, a beautiful temple famous for its ancient Buddhist statue. Before traveling down a lovely woodland walk to the home of the snow monkeys, a troop of native macaques renowned for their ability to live in the snow and bathe in the nearby hot spring.
Discover Zenko-ji, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan.
Take a break from sightseeing and have lunch & Sake testing at Monzen Terrace beautiful hotel.
Visit the Snow Monkey Park to learn more about snow monkeys in their natural environment.
Visit a restaurant close to Nagano and have a typical Japanese meal.
Note.
Total tour will be 9 to 10 hours including traveling.
We will provide a neat and clean big space and comfortable vehicle seats like a business class it's 10-hour tour with travel with us you never feel tide.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
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‘s Included
Private transportation
Air-conditioned vehicle
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Matsumoto Castle
Zenko-ji Temple
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Obuse-machi
Obuse (小布施) is a small town in northern Nagano Prefecture with a pretty town center. Hokusai, a renowned Edo Period (1603-1867) woodblock painter, who is best known for his ukiyo-e woodblock print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, spent the later years of his life in Obuse with his patron and student, Takai Kozan, a wealthy local merchant and art enthusiast. Several of the town's highlights are related to the artist and his patron, including the Hokusai Museum, the Takai Kozan Museum and the painted ceiling of a local temple. Obuse is also well known for its seasonal produce, especially the locally grown chestnuts. 1. Hokusai Museum Hokusai (北斎, 1760-1849) is one of the most famous Edo Period painters, best known for his ukiyo-e woodblock series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji", which depicts scenes of the famous mountain, including the world famous "Great Wave off Kanagawa". 2. Old Town During the Edo Period (1603-1867), Obuse was a prosperous town rich in art and culture.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
The Jigokudani Monkey Park offers visitors the unique experience of seeing wild monkeys bathing in a natural hot spring. The park is inhabited by Japanese Macaques, which are also known as Snow Monkeys. It is located in the monkey's natural habitat, in the forests of the Jigokudani valley in Yamanouchi, not far from the onsen towns of Shibu and Yudanaka. The park has one man-made pool around which the monkeys gather, located a few minutes' walk from the park entrance. Visitors will likely already encounter monkeys along the path to the pool. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their Interactions.
Options
Toyota Hiace
Toyota Hiace
Pickup included
Commuter Van
Pickup included
Tokyo To Nagano
Mini Van
Pickup included
Nagano To Nagano
Mini Van
Pickup included
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Not as advertised!
Margaret H,
Feb 17, 2025
- Viator
1.00Itinerary impossible to do from Tokyo. Cost $960 Canadian dollars Pick up was 0700 for a 10-12 hour tour to Nagano. Driving takes 3-4 hours each way and the itinerary includes 8 hours of site seeing. We had a driver not a guide. The 5 star reviews mention guide with extensive knowledge. We had a short visit to see monkeys. It included a 7 km walk over treacherous trail with ice and snow and stairs. The trail is certainly not wheelchair and stroller accessible as indicated on website. We had a 20 minute visit to Zenko-ji temple instead of the 2 hours in itinerary. Obuse visit 20 minutes for “free” sake tasting that cost ¥550. Didn’t spend time in Obuse and didn’t visit Nishimu Yoshinoya for sake tasting as per itinerary. Lunch should have been iserved at beautiful hotel (Monzen Terrace). The lunch break we got was at roadside ramen place in Nakano’s tourist information building. We had to order and pay for our meal from machine. Matsumoto castle was not even mentioned by driver. It should have accounted for another hour of site seeing. After the tour, I requested a refund because the itinerary did not match our experience at all! The Viator customer service email assured me that “Viator strives to make every attempt to address our customers concerns”. Then immediately followed with “unfortunately, at this time wa are unable to offer a refund”. Viator refused to acknowledge the tour they are selling is impossible to fulfill from Tokyo. Don’t buy this tour. You will be greatly disappointed!
"Amazing Tour with a Knowledgeable and Friendly Guide"
Kirandeep K,
Dec 25, 2024
- Viator
5.00We had an incredible experience on this tour! Our guide was very well-versed in English and shared fascinating insights about Japanese culture, history, and traditions throughout the day. He was friendly, approachable, and made the experience both informative and enjoyable. The itinerary was perfectly planned, taking us to the Snow Monkey Park and Zenkoji Temple. Watching the snow monkeys relaxing in the hot springs was truly unique, and the serene beauty of Zenkoji Temple, combined with the guide’s explanations, made it a highlight of the trip. The transportation was also excellent—comfortable, clean, and well-suited for the journey. Overall, this tour was a perfect combination of nature, history, and cultural immersion. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!
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Operated by Dozou Tours