1-DAY TOUR IN NAGANO: SNOW MONKEYS, ZENKO-JI TEMPLE & SAKE

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Take in some of the highlights of Nagano on this engaging tour starting with a visit to Zenko-ji – one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan – followed by sake-tasting and lunch at a nearby restaurant. It’s then time to head to the Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys! Led by a locally based English-speaking guide, this tour is a great way to see the best that Nagano has to offer!

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Highlights

  • Visit the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and learn all about what makes the resident monkeys so unique

  • Explore Zenkoji, one of Japan’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples, and home to the first known Buddhist statue to be brought to Japan

  • Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and experience Nagano’s renowned food culture

  • Try 'sake' with a tasting and learning experience all led by your guide (non-alcoholic option also available)

  • Duration

    8 hours

  • Offered in

    English

What is included

  • Transportation fee from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park and between activities / attractions

  • Snow Monkey Park entrance fee

  • Lunch (vegetarian options are available)

  • Guided tour at Zenko-ji, ‘sake’-tasting and at the monkey park

  • English-speaking guide

What is not included

  • Additional food, snacks & drinks

  • Optional entrance fee to the inner sanctuary of Zenko-ji Temple

  • Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ tickets

  • Accommodation

ITINERARY

Meeting / Pickup Point

You can start this experience at the following places:

1. JR Nagano Station Information Board (across from the Shinkansen exit gate ** Pick up time : 09: 35AM
Kurita, Nagano City 380-0921, 長野県, JP

2. Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal (*WINTER ONLY* ) ** Pick up time : 07: 55AM
5734-1 Kitajo Happo, Hakuba 399-9301, JP

3. Hakuba Tokyu Hotel (*WINTER ONLY*) ** Pick up time : 07: 40AM
4688 Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Nagano 399-9301, JP

4. Hotel Kokusai 21 ** Pick up time : 09: 10AM
576 Agata-machi, Nagano, Nagano 〒380-0838, JP

Start time

9:35 am

End point

Tour concludes at Nagano Station, where the guide will say their goodbyes (guests returning to Hakuba will then be shuttled back to Hakuba with an estimated arrival time of 18:30-18:45 ** WINTER ONLY ) *. *While we expect to have all tours conclude on time, we cannot guarantee this in winter due to weather and road conditions.

What To Expect

Visit a famous wildlife park where you can learn about the unique characteristics of the resident monkeys, known for their fascinating behaviors. Explore one of Japan's oldest and most significant Buddhist temples, home to the first known Buddhist statue brought to the country. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant, offering a taste of the region's renowned food culture. Finally, experience a sake tasting and learning session, guided by an expert, with a non-alcoholic option available for those who prefer it.

Starting with a visit to Zenko-ji, followed by sake-tasting and lunch at a nearby restaurant. It's then time to head to the Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys! This tour is a great way to see the best that Nagano has to offer

The tour begins at Nagano Station at 09:35 where your guide will meet you and once all guests have arrived, head to Zenkoji Temple - please note, in winter we also offer pick-up in Hakuba (see below for details). As a registered National Treasure, the temple is the most important cultural site in Nagano and one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in the entire country! A place of true historic importance, full of legends and myths, you will be guided around the temple before (time permitting) your guide will give you the opportunity to explore the surrounding precinct of smaller temples, shops, and food by yourself.

Home to a huge number of breweries, Nagano is synonymous with sake and no visit to the region is complete without delving into Japan’s most famous beverage. Your guide will treat you to tasting before, introducing you to the complex world of sake before sitting down to an early lunch! From delicious and warming beef, chicken, or vegetarian hot pot in the winter months, to mixed sushi plates and Nagano-style chicken or seasonal grilled vegetables through spring to autumn, meals are designed to match the season and highlight the best of Nagano's renowned food culture.

After a fulfilling lunch, it's time to head-out of Nagano City, as you are transported to the Snow Monkey Park. Your guide will take you along the forest trail which leads to the park and into Jigokudani - rather dramatically translating to 'Hell's Valley'. Home to the only troop of monkeys in the entire world known to bathe in hot springs, there are no barriers separating you from the wild monkeys, making this a unique and memorable experience.

Your guide will introduce these truly curious creatures and provide you time to enjoy the unique experience of observing them in close proximity. Make sure to bring your camera as you`re going to need it!

Your guide will then accompany back along the trail and soon have you heading back toward Nagano, the perfect time to sit back, relax, and look through all those monkey photos before the tour returns to Nagano Station and concludes at 17:35 and between 18:30 to 18:45 for guests joining from Hakuba ‐ winter only.

*While we expect to have all tours conclude on time, we cannot guarantee this in winter due to weather and road conditions.




















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  • There will be a significant amount of walking required (1.6 km one way) to get to and from the Snow Monkey Park, along an unsealed forest trail so please wear appropriate shoes/boots.

  • This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travellers. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.

  • This tour uses different forms of transport. Tours can be conducted by microbus, larger coach or train depending on the season and size of the group.

  • From mid-December until early-April the trail and park are likely to be affected by snow and ice. Please ensure that you are wearing suitable shoes/boots and warm clothing. If required, rental boots are available close to the monkey park and crampons (metal spikes that attach underneath your shoes/boots) can also be purchased. From mid-December until early-March please wear suitable clothing for temperatures potentially below 0°C (and as low as -10°C).

  • During the winter it is common to see the monkeys enjoying the hot spring however from spring up to autumn there will be times where the monkeys play or eat in the water, however please note that the monkeys are wild animals and there is no guarantee that there will be monkeys in the bath.

  • There are a few days in the year that the monkeys might not come down to the park.

  • *Winter only* Guests in Hakuba can join this tour using our shuttle service from / to Hakuba Tokyu Hotel in Wadano, Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal and Hakuba Base Camp in Echoland. This service is only available in winter and may not be available every day between those dates. When using this shuttle service please note that your guide will join and depart the tour at Nagano Station.

  • This tour is scheduled to conclude at Nagano Station by 17:30 (and by 18:45 for guests joining from Hakuba in winter). However, due to weather and road conditions in winter we cannot guarantee the end time. For guests booking shinkansen tickets to travel to Tokyo after the tour in winter, we ask that you do not book any service earlier than the 17:56 Kagayaki (reservation only) or our recommendation of the 18:23 Hakutaka. For guests booking onward tickets to other destinations we also recommend doing so for times of 18:00 or later.

  • This tour includes lunch designed to highlight the best of Nagano. The restaurant location and menu are subject to differ based on the season. Please note that the lunch may be different than images shown on this page.

  • This tour includes ‘sake’ tasting at Yoshinoya Sake Brewery (nearby the temple). You must be a minimum of 20 years of age to consume alcohol in Japan.

  • Infants (0-5) are free of charge. An infant lunch is not included and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs. We also cannot guarantee that a seat on the tour transport will be available for infants and they may be required to sit in the lap of an adult, especially during winter i.e. from December to March.

  • 07:40 is start time from Hakuba on Winter Only

  • Another start time are 09:10 from Hotel Kokusai 21,09:55 from Nagano, Patio Daimon / Zenko-ji Area

  • SNOW MONKEY RESORTS