Full Day Snow Monkey Park and Togakushi Shrine Tour in Nagano

Description

Experience two of the most stunning locations that Nagano has to offer: the world-famous Snow Monkey Park, with its charming hot spring-bathing macaque monkeys, and Togakushi Shrine, also known as the "Five Shrines", famous for its breathtaking forest path lined with towering ancient cedar trees. Starting from Nagano Station, this tour will take you to Jigokudani Monkey Park, commonly known as the Snow Monkey Park, to see Nagano’s most iconic residents—the Japanese macaque monkeys that bathe in their natural hot spring. After enjoying a Japanese-style lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the 1,000-year-old Togakushi Shrine complex to learn about its deep spiritual history and walk the cedar-lined path to the "Okusha," or inner shrine. Enjoy Nagano’s unique nature and wildlife while also learning about Japanese culture, Shinto traditions, and religious history, set within a breathtaking mountain landscape.

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Important Information

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• There will be a significant amount of walking required, 1.6km to and from the Snow Monkey Park, and 2 km each way to the Togakushi Okusha and back. Both of these are forest trails, which can be muddy, slippery, or icy, depending on the season and weather. Please wear appropriate shoes/boots, check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point, and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travelers. 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 to the Snow Monkey Park and Togakushi Okusha are likely to be affected by snow and ice. 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 there. 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, and 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.
• Please note that the path from the Zuijinmon (red gate) in Togakushi to the Okusha (inner shrine) is closed during the winter months, from around late November to mid-April. If you join the tour in the winter, you will still be able to see the Zuijinmon and the giant cedar trees, but not walk all the way to the end. The rest of the tour will operate as usual.
• 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.
• Booking cut-off time is an hour before the pick up time on the day.
• Please note, there may be possible changes in the itinerary/included experiences due to local events, weather, restaurant availability, or other unforeseeable factors.

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