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Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

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Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Enjoy a premium small-group tour—typically 6–8 guests—blending nature, culture, and great local food in one smooth day.

Start at Nagano Station and head to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Walk a quiet forest trail to see wild macaques relaxing in natural hot springs—one of Nagano’s most iconic sights.

Next, visit Obuse for a local lunch and a historic brewery sake tasting. Explore the Hokusai Museum, then enjoy Obuse at your own pace—strolling charming lanes, browsing small shops, and sampling a few local treats as you soak up the town’s relaxed atmosphere. Your guide can also point out a few favorite photo spots.

On 8:45 AM departures, there is also time for an optional visit to Zenkoji Temple—one of Nagano’s most important historic landmarks (not available on 9:35 AM departures).

With beautiful scenery, authentic flavors, and a touch of art and history, this tour captures the best of Nagano—comfortably, efficiently, and in a genuinely personal small-group setting.

Additional Info

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

If traveling from Tokyo station, take the 6:52 AM or 7:20 AM Shinkansen to arrive on time.

There is a possibility that the monkeys may not appear as they are wild animals. While sightings are generally reliable during much of the year, there are times — particularly in certain seasons — when they may not come to the park due to weather, food availability, or other natural factors. Please understand that we do not offer refunds if no monkeys are present during your visit. Our team will still provide a comfortable vehicle, a knowledgeable guide, and a well-structured itinerary to make your visit meaningful. Even without the monkeys, the walk to the park offers beautiful forest scenery and a memorable nature experience — each season has its own charm.

Please do not eat or drink coffee inside the vehicle to keep it clean for everyone. Bottled water and small pets in carriers are okay.

This tour is not suitable for individuals with significant mobility issues due to the walking required, particularly the 1.6-kilometer trail to the Snow Monkey Park. It is also not recommended for those who prefer minimal physical activity or are uncomfortable with extended outdoor exposure in varying weather conditions. Please note that wheelchairs and strollers are not accessible, and child seats are not prepared for this tour.

Please note that due to potential traffic jams, there may be slight delays, making the tour last more extra hours. Guests are advised not to schedule train departures immediately after the tour and to allow sufficient time for boarding.

During winter, please be prepared for below-freezing temperatures and icy, slippery conditions at Snow Monkey Park by wearing non-slip footwear or bringing cleats for added safety.

Flexible Ending: After exploring Obuse, you can return to Nagano Station or, on 8:45 AM departures only (not possible on 9:35 AM departures), continue at the Zenkoji Temple area—one of Japan’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temples.

Peak winter days: If parking is extremely limited, the Snow Monkey Park visit may be done on your own. We’ll share a clear meet-up point, stay in touch via WhatsApp, and provide ticket money in advance (receipt requested).

o8Experience is a locally based tour company offering private and small-group experiences across Nagano and surrounding regions. From food and culture to nature and history, we create meaningful journeys tailored to curious travelers. Visit o8Experience to discover more.

Please note: The tour starts at 8:45 AM. If we visit Obuse first (based on monkey activity), lunch will be around 11:00 AM, and we’ll go to the Snow Monkey Park in the early afternoon.

Strollers are not accessible

Cancellation Policy

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

What To Expect

1

8:45 AM: Meet in front of Becks Coffee at Nagano Station for a warm welcome from your guide. Getting There: If traveling from Tokyo Station, take the 6:52 AM or 7:20 AM Shinkansen to arrive on time.

5 minutes • Admission Not Applicable
2

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Witness wild Japanese macaques soaking in natural hot springs, an iconic Nagano experience.

1 hour • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Introduction to famous chestnut sweets shops in Obuse (perfect for kids too!

Entry to Snow Monkey Park

For 8:45 departures only: optional drop-off at Zenkoji Temple with return pick-up to Nagano Station.

Transportation between all tour locations

Savor premium sake

Choice of chicken, pork, or vegetarian grated yam, made with fresh, local ingredients

Hokusai Museum entrance fee

Optional expenses: food, drinks, shopping, transport to meeting point

There are no mandatory in-destination costs.

Options

Snow Monkey, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

Reviews

5.00

13 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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  • Monkeys, lunch and sake

    craighM7030OA,,Dec 29, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Great day. Kei our guide was cheerful , had good local knowledge and made our day a breeze. No waiting in lines as she ran ahead to get tickets great venue for lunch. .

  • The guide was friendly,...

    Annie S,,Dec 28, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    The guide was friendly, knowledge and kept the group moving patiently but efficiently. We saw a lot of snow monkeys at the onsen before the crowds started to move in and enjoyed a delicious lunch and sake tasting after. Transportation and communication were smooth. 100% worth the price! Highly recommend.

  • Snow monkey tour & Obuse

    GoldcoastKozzy,,Dec 20, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Excellent guide (Masa) very knowledgeable, accommodating and friendly. Vehicle comfortable and clean. Tour was very enjoyable and above expectations.

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  • Travelers visit many...

    Anna J,,Dec 13, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Travelers visit many highlights of Nagano, including the monkey park, a Japanese restaurant, Obuse chestnut alley, and Zenkoji Temple. Masa is a knowledgeable guide as a Nagano native and a world traveler. Our visit was especially lucky, as we picked a day when the snow monkeys visited the park en masse and a few even went into the hot spring water. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes that you can clean and warm clothing.

  • Perfect day in Nagano just as the title of the experience

    Nayive C,,Dec 7, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    This was a great experience, having the transportation lets you maximize your time in Nagano, it has the perfect number of stops and the food was very good! Kei was an excellent tour guide and also out driver! The flexibility to adjust to the group was amazing! Punctuality was on point perfect! Would recommend to anyone

  • Great trip!

    Kayla,,Nov 3, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Such a wonderful experience! Masa, our guide, was full of great information about the snow monkeys and Nagano. He made the day special and easy from start to finish, even with the rain. Highly recommend this tour!

  • This is a wonderful tour...

    mina t,,Aug 16, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    This is a wonderful tour with Mr Masa if you have never been to Nagano. He is very knowledgeable and took us to see the snow monkeys , Obuse where we had a wonderful lunch and shopping and then to the Zenkoji temple.

  • Snow Moneys and more!

    Joanne W,,Jul 9, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Our guide was friendly, spoke great English, and answered all of our (often dumb) questions! Highly recommend this tour operator. We had plenty of time with the Snow Monkeys, went to a very high quality restaurant for a v tasty lunch, the sake is like no other (wish bought some to take home) and Obuse is a super cute little town with some great souvenir shops, galleries and history. The end of the day topped off with the Zenkoji temple. Thank you!

  • Great Day with Snow Monkeys in the Nagano area

    Jeffrey K,,May 26, 2025

    - Review from Viator

    5.00

    Excellent tour with very good guide, Masa, who chauffeured us to the sites listed in the tour. While the Snow Monkeys might be the highlight (and there was some drama when they weren’t there initially) don’t sleep on the charming town of Obuse or the temple in Nagano. We had an excellent time and would reccomend to friends.

  • Great nature experience

    Freedom745031,,Apr 24, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Amazing experience. Our guide Masa gave us as much time as we wanted with the Snow Monkeys so we never felt rushed at any time. He also took lots of family photos of us with the monkeys. We had a delicious lunch in Obuse and fun sake tasting. We had leisure time of our choosing in Obuse. We thoroughly recommend this tour!

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From ¥24,800

5.00
(13 reviews)
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