From Tokyo: Nagano Snow Monkey Park Private Tour
Description
Join us on a mesmerizing journey through Nagano, where cultural heritage and natural wonders collide! Tour Overview: Zenkoji Temple: Start at this 1,400-year-old landmark known for its historic architecture, gardens, and the underground passage where you can touch the “Key to Paradise” for good fortune. Jigokudani Monkey Park: Head into the Japanese Alps to see snow monkeys relaxing in natural hot springs, set against stunning mountain scenery. Tour Highlights: Cultural Delight: Learn about Zenkoji Temple's inclusive, no-barrier policy and delve into its rich history spanning over centuries. Natural Beauty: Immerse yourself in the serene landscapes of the Japanese Alps and soak in the picturesque scenery. Important Information: 1.The monkeys do not visit the hot springs during breeding season, which typically occurs from late October to early November. 2.You may choose to visit either Zenkoji Sesonin Temple or jigokudani snow monkey park.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park offers a unique chance to experience wildlife in a natural hot spring setting. Famous for its bathing snow monkeys, it’s a rare sight found only in this peaceful corner of Japan. The park is beautiful year-round—snowy winters, blooming springs, colorful autumns, and lush summers—making it ideal for nature lovers and photographers. Easily accessible with walking paths and viewing areas, it also offers helpful guides and nearby traditional ryokans for a comfortable stay with local cuisine. Perfect for families, couples, and solo travelers, it’s a memorable nature escape worth adding to your Japan trip. You may choose to visit either Zenkoji Sesonin Temple or jigokudani snow monkey park.
Zenkōji Temple is a timeless symbol of spiritual devotion and architectural grandeur in Nagano, Japan. With over 1,400 years of history, this revered Buddhist temple is renowned for its religious cultural heritage. Approaching the temple, its grand architecture commands attention. Imposing gateways, intricate wooden structures, and graceful pagodas captivate the eye. The aura of tranquility envelops visitors, inviting them to embark on a journey of spiritual discovery. Entering main hall, the Hondo, reveals the awe-inspiring Amida Buddha statue. This sacred icon is revered for its compassionate presence. The atmosphere inside is one of reverence and contemplation. Worshippers and visitors alike offer prayers and pay homage to this revered deity. The temple grounds also feature beautiful gardens and peaceful pathways. Experience the spiritual depth of Zenkōji Temple. Book your visit now. You may choose to visit either Zenkoji Sesonin Temple or jigokudani snow monkey park.
As you journey through Japan, Nagano Prefecture beckons with its captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and outdoor adventures. Nestled in the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano offers a picturesque landscape with majestic mountains, lush forests, and pristine lakes. In winter, it transforms into a snowy paradise for skiing and snowboarding, while spring brings vibrant cherry blossoms and perfect hiking conditions. Summer offers lush greenery and outdoor activities like cycling and boating, and autumn paints the forests in stunning colors ideal for photography. Nagano is rich in cultural heritage with historic sites like Zenkoji Temple and Matsumoto Castle. The charming town of Obuse offers traditional streets, art museums, and delicious chestnut sweets. Relax in hot springs in Yamanouchi and see the famous snow monkeys. Nagano's culinary scene is a delight with fresh soba noodles, local sake, and farm-to-table cuisine. Book your visit to Nagano Prefecture now.
Shibu Onsen is renowned for its therapeutic hot springs, believed to have healing properties that rejuvenate both body and soul. Visitors can immerse themselves in restorative waters at various public bathhouses scattered throughout the village. Each bathhouse offers a unique atmosphere and mineral composition, providing a different experience at every stop. The soothing hot springs are perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. The village itself exudes charm with its narrow streets, traditional inns, and historic architecture. Staying in a ryokan lets you experience authentic Japanese hospitality. Enjoy delicious local cuisine and unwind in the comfort of your room. The area is also close to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where you can see monkeys soaking in hot springs. Shibu Onsen is a perfect getaway for those seeking relaxation, cultural experiences, and natural beauty. Book your visit now to experience the tranquil and rejuvenating charm of Shibu Onsen.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick up from your hotel or location. We will drop off on the pick up location. We suggest to share the pin location or accurate street address or stop where we should pick up you on time. Share your locations earlier on the time of booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Travel time is included in the total duration.
- Travelers should be prepared for a 45-minute walk from the parking area to Snow Monkey Park, which includes stairways.
Reviews(34)
Attary was a wonderful and accommodative guide. Knowledgeable and read the energy level perfectly. He kept us well fed and on time.
Great trip seeing the snow monkeys and visiting the temple. Guide was very cordial and considerate of our time.
Attary was a great guide and provided an excellent experience for us to see a part of Japan we would have otherwise missed! Not only did he get us to and from our destination safely and quickly, he also provided suggestions for pit stops along the way.
Attary was great. Very professional and a wonderful driver. Provided a substantial amount of local knowledge. Would highly recommend him for other tours
My tour guide was professional, well informed, friendly, and accommodating. I got much more out of the experience than I would have if I’d gone alone or used some of the marginal tour services I saw advertised. Highly recommended.
Our guide Attary arrived ahead of time so we were on the road promptly at 6am to beat the Tokyo traffic. Attary was friendly and provided good information on the drive up to Nagano. The snow monkeys were gorgeous playful creatures and well worth the walk up the 1.5km path to see them in the hot springs. He also took us to a famous ramen restaurant that we rated the best we’ve had so far. A quick visit to the Kokusai Museum was very interesting. It was a long day but absolutely worth doing!
I want to start by saying that I was fully aware when booking this that I was booking a driver only. The driver will pick you up from your location and drive you to the snow monkey park and then drop you off and pick you back up. The listing says 10-12 hours. This is where I have an issue. Is it 10 or is it 12? Because our driver was going to charge us 10000 yen ($100) for an extra hour and then it got to $200 for 2 hours after 10 hours???? Sooo are we paying for 10 hours or 12? Kind of important. The drive started good. We got picked up and dropped off at the snow monkeys. Me and my daughter had fun seeing them. I would highly recommend going there and I like that I hired a driver and didn’t have to sort the trains and buses etc. (these monkeys were more exciting to see then the forest monkeys in Kyoto) Along with the listing saying 10-12 hours it also says drop off at onsen and a temple and lunch. When the driver picked us up he said we would only have time for the lunch or temple or onsen. If we wanted to do lunch and the temple it would be an extra hour ($100) so we said we didn’t want to do the onsen anyways. Let’s go to the temple. The temple was great. Super neat. The crypt tour was a bit scary being in total darkness. Then the driver picked us up from there and said that he could drive us to get lunch but it would be 30 mins out of the way so it would be $200 extra dollars now. (There were like twenty places to eat right where we were!) Anyways so we didn’t want lunch we just wanted to go back to the hotel. We didn’t want to pay an extra 100-200$ to go to lunch 30 minutes away! Then he started driving and drove us to an Italian restaurant! We said we weren’t hungry but he went there anyways, so we said we could wait while he ate (he could have done that in the hours we were at the other tours but whatever) So we got back to the hotel. He asked us to write a review and send him a screenshot. I didn’t write it right then and I certainly don’t feel like I need to send him a screenshot. He did not end up charging us extra. I feel like this is an ok tour if you are a firm person with a backbone that can stand up for themselves and not be talked into stuff you don’t want to do and then charged for it. I feel like the ad needs to be more clear if you are paying for 10 hours or 12 hours. You need to be very aware when booking this that you might be squeezed for more money and you will not have time to do all the things that the ad lists. Because of this and because of the driver I rated this 2 stars. If the ad was more clear on it being 10 hours or 12 hours and if the driver wasn’t asking for more money then I would have rated it better as it was nice to have a driver to go there. But be aware!!!
Attary was wonderful! He was professional and kind. We had a fabulous family day visiting the snow monkeys and eating delicious Ramen. It was worth the drive!
We had a wonderful experience from the moment we sat in the car. The car was spacious, very comfortable and clean. Our driver Usman was extremely friendly very pleasant and a pleasure to have as a driver. Seeing the snow monkey's was absolutely amazing and an experience we will not forget. Thank you Usman for being wonderful to us.
Starting early at the recommendation of our driver was key to a really lovely day. Truly magical to see the monkeys in and out of the springs, and amazingly close.
