Wildlife Night Drive in Nagano, Japan
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
The biggest feature of this tour is the high chance of seeing wild animals. The wildlife encounter rate over the past 3 years has been 99.5%.The guides at Picchio are familiar with the ecology of all the wildlife species. They will be able to guide you through the unique aspects of living creatures from an expert perspective, not only from observing the animals themselves but also from observing the surrounding natural environment and ecosystem as a whole.
*This tour is guided in Japanese and basic English. English ability may vary depending on the guide.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
1. Meeting Place (Important!) The tour starts at Nature Kids Forest House, NOT at Picchio Visitor Center.
2. Tour Experience Wildlife: Encounters are highly likely but not 100% guaranteed. Restrooms: Not available during the tour. Please go beforehand. Duration: End time may vary slightly depending on animal activity.
3. Safety & Requirements Clothing: Please dress warmly, even though you will be in a vehicle for most of the tour. Health & Safety: Participation is at your own risk. Please cancel if feeling unwell. Age Requirement: Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
4. Punctuality & Cancellation Punctuality: Please arrive on time. Latecomers may lose their spot. By Guest: 2 days before: 20% | 1 day before: 50% | Day of tour: 100% By Picchio: If we must cancel due to weather/conditions, we will notify you at least 60 mins before the tour.
What To Expect
On this tour, guests have the opportunity to explore the nighttime forests and grasslands of Karuizawa searching for wildlife especially Sika deer. We will drive at low speeds in a car equipped with observation lights which will illuminate not only the front but also the left and right so you can search for animals with a wide field of view all from inside the car. In locations where it is safe to do so, we can disembark from the vehicle and get closer on foot, provided that this does not disturb the animals we are observing. Sika deer are the most likely to appear, but on some nights, we might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a hare, foxes, badger, raccoon dog or wild boar. The thrill as your eyes meet theirs in the dark is likely to be a memorable experience for all.
Options
2026
What‘s Included
Use of Binoculars
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
4 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Highly recommend!
hearyousmile,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ayumi was a fantastic guide who patiently answered all our questions and helped our children create beautiful memories! It was a rainy evening but we managed to spot many deers!
An En-deer-ing Night Wildlife Tour
RachelW308,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had a great time at the night experience. Our guide, Miru Miru, had a positive energy and engaged the group well, while navigating the bumpy mountain path and spotting wildlife. We saw many deer during the tour, and it is nice to be able to observe them in their natural habitat at night. Recommended for friends, families and couples.
And I could see foxes and deer herds, and forty-five years he said he could always see different animals.
132juns,Feb 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great experience. I saw my first wild fox.
Amazing experience for nature lovers
katiecR90PT,Oct 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I am traveling solo and wanted to find a business in Japan that supports ethical animal tourism, and found picchio. This was an amazing tour! We stayed in the car for most of it until the top of the mountain where we briefly got out to see the Karuizawa city lights. The tour guide drove very safely and slowly up the mountain and pointed out any animals he would spot, in both japanese and English. I highly recommend coming if you are an animal / wildlife lover! We saw 2 red foxes and a lot of Japanese shika deer!
Related Experiences
Operated by Picchio Wildlife Research Center