Explore Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with a Local Guide

What an awesome experience! Having a guide like Hori, made it so much better than if we’d done it by ourselves. His information and stories about the snow monkeys, the area and personal experiences were amazing. The monkeys themselves were not afraid to be close to us. A long but beautiful walk to get to them was so worth it! Thank you Hori, we loved every minute.

Fabulous snow monkey tour with our guide Tomio! He was knowledgeable about the Nagano area snow monkeys and Japanese culture. Awesome day!

The snow monkey tour with Tomio was awesome! We learn so much about the Nagano area and the snow monkeys. His English was great and he really customized the tour for us ... throwing in a sake brewery tasting.

I travelled Solo and the guide Tamio an affable older gentleman was very pleasant, knowledgeable and was even able to help me buy my Shinkansen tickets. The snow monkeys were exactly as expected though I understand got lucky with the weather as they don't soak in certain conditions. All and all a fantastic experience. One note it is a hike to get to the monkeys so I can only recommend this experience to those comfortable with hiking about 2 miles (one there and one back approximately) on rough uneven and in the snow icy and slippery trails.

The tour guide was late she showed up 10 minutes late. Her picture was 10 year younger than the actual one in person. She was the worst tour guys I every had with Vistor in 20 plus years I have used Viator in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Australia , New Zealand and Many more countries through out my 20 years using Viator. She was the worst ever. We could have easily just gone online and bought the entrance tickets and train & bus ride. First she didn’t wait for us and raced forward without even looking back and had to run to catch up with her my girlfriend lagged further behind and told her she is the tour guide and needs to stay with my girlfriend to make sure she was okay. She then after one hour stay with her then she didn’t and told me she need me . I told her I have to keep moving forward and she needs to make sure she was okay then she need med her inhaler so I went back to give it to her but it took me awhile since I sprain my ankle a few days ago and was walking slower than normal but a steady pace. We had only 20 minutes at the monkey hot springs but it was enough since they were not swimming in the hot springs but climbing and playing around the rocks tell they all came running to the park ranger who was feeding them that afternoon around 2:30-3pm. She the. Said lets go before they feed the monkey and we started our climb back down she told us not to use the bathroom up there since the one nicer down below but she quickly left both my girlfriend and I and charged ahead not even looking back she was a good 10-15 minutes ahead of me and 20 -25 minutes before my girlfriend there was k my us I. Her tour now I know why. She probably got some other bad reviews! She charge ahead to go to the bathroom and I could see she disappeared in the building but as I was approaching she came out drinking her water! She never once during the 3 hours of we needed some water. So the cost of the tickets was less than $50 each so the was paid over $200 for nothing! There was no other tour guide and about 75 to over 100 people walked up the trail without any guide. She did not say one word about the monkeys or history or nothing she was so useless the tour was 100percent waste of money we could do it by our self she didn’t stay with us so it was like we didn’t even have a tour guide plus she could even spend 50 cent for water to give us. Wow what is Viator doing hiring such a bad terrible tour guide. Never again!

Our Viator Tour Guide Hori was excellent. He was thoroughly knowledgeable about the Fabulous Snow Monkeys, professional and so interesting to talk with. He even found us the 3 day old new baby with its mother. Our experience with the snow monkeys was once in a lifetime and it was magic watching them interact, bathe in the pool, play, cuddle, vie for food, etc. This is an experience no one should miss if they have the chance.

Such a great experience. Our guide had a wealth of experience and knowledge, happy to share and answer any questions. Ever thought it rained there was no pressure to hurry. It was a little late in the season but still good to see the monkeys.

Our wonderful guide Hori met us on the train from Nagano to Yudanaka, having provided clear instructions the day prior. Excellent advice on footwear and clothing was sent by Hori prior to the excursion and was spot on, meaning we had a very comfortable day even with the cool temperature and light snow. The visit to see the snow monkeys was greatly enhanced by Hori's knowledge of the history and geography of the area and lives of the monkeys. Hori is professional and friendly and we had a fantastic time. The monkeys are amazing to watch and come very close to you. It is such a treat to see free and wild monkeys so well treated and able to come and go as they allow visitors to observe their lives. Thank you Hori, we highly recommend this trip as well as the one to Obuse if you have time for both.

What an amazing experience, our guide Teddy was so friendly, contacted us in the morning and helped us with our travel arrangements to the meeting place, he also spoke perfect English, along the track to the monkeys Teddy gave us lots of interesting facts about the monkeys and the area and then we met the monkeys, the most fantastic sight, worth every penny!

Teddy was a brilliant guide, and the monkeys are such a great sight. The walk was easy but beautiful. The snacks on the way up are delicious; it was snowing when we visited and a hot tea and roast sweet potato were welcome!