Snow Monkey Park, Soba Lunch and Shibu Onsen Tour
Description
We’ll begin with a visit to the famous Snow Monkey Park, where you can watch wild Japanese macaques enjoying a soak in the hot springs—set in the peaceful mountains of Nagano. After the walk, we’ll head over to the nearby Shibu Onsen area, a beautiful historic hot spring town. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant here, featuring freshly made soba noodles and other regional specialties. After lunch, you’ll have time to unwind in one of Shibu Onsen’s public baths. The mineral-rich waters are said to have healing properties and offer the perfect way to relax. And for a bit of extra fun, there’s the chance to collect stamps from different hot springs using a special towel—a local tradition that adds a playful touch to your visit. Whether you're here to relax, explore, or enjoy good food and drink, this tour offers a great mix of what makes Nagano special. Optional free pick-up support available upon request. Please read the pick-up details before making your reservation.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We’ll begin with a visit to the famous Snow Monkey Park, where you can watch wild Japanese macaques enjoying a soak in the hot springs—set in the peaceful mountains of Nagano. Important Notice about Snow Monkeys Please note that in September, October, and November, the snow monkeys visit the park less frequently compared to other months. On rare occasions, the number of monkeys may be very low or none at all. In such cases, we will guide you to a nearby beautiful waterfall as an alternative experience.
Located just a short walk from the Snow Monkey Park, Enza Cafe is the perfect spot to grab a snack. If you like sweet treats, we recommend trying the apple pie here.
After the walk, we’ll head over to the nearby Shibu Onsen area, a beautiful historic hot spring town. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant here, featuring freshly made soba noodles and other regional specialties. After lunch, you’ll have time to unwind in one of Shibu Onsen’s public baths. The mineral-rich waters are said to have healing properties and offer the perfect way to relax.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Please note that 10:00 is the scheduled meeting time at Snow Monkey Park. Depending on your pickup location, the pickup time may be earlier than 10:00, especially for guests requesting pickup from areas farther away. Estimated pick-up times: Nagano Station: 08:30 Iiyama Station: 09:20 Yudanaka Station: 09:30 If you are planning to join the tour from Tokyo, please let us know in advance. As we usually travel with small groups, it may be possible to adjust the start time. However, if the tour begins later than usual, we may need to have the soba lunch earlier in the schedule. Please let us know your pick-up location. Thank you very much for your understanding.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(30)
Umut was a tremendous guide and host. He took us to see a waterfall and then the famous snow monkies. He has a nice, easygoing personality, making us feel like locals as we enjoyed a soba lunch, onsen and dessert. Thanks for giving us this one of a kind day!
Informative. Easy paced. Wear good walking shoes. Very informative. Recommend the apple pies. Lunch was a very new experience, thoroughly enjoyed the whole day!
What a fabulous experience to be able to see these beautiful animals up so close. A fantastic tour with a lovely guide. Soba noodle lunch and the onsens were beautiful.
Great way to visit the Snow monkeys with no hassle, small group, private 9-seater vans, and guide/driver, plus a walking tour of the Onsen Village and the Miyazaki movie inspired hotel. Umut was knowledgeable and courteous to engage with. We were glad to choose this daily tour over the others.
The tour company communicated early to ensure that we knew where and when to meet. They were on time for the pickup at the JR station in Nagano, providing a picture of the meeting spot. The two English-speaking guides were pleasant and informative about the park and local points of interest. We had great weather with a large number of active snow monies. Could not have been better. The lunch at a small soba restaurant was very good, and we enjoyed strolling and shopping instead of the local onsen. Overall a great day. Highly recommend this tour.
Exceptional in every way Umut and Lisa and Simon were amazing . Do not even hesitate to reserve!!!! Train to Ilyama saves a lot of time not Nagano.
Excellent tour. Tour guide Umut was flexible and accommodating. We had as much time as we wanted to enjoy the monkeys, stopped at Enza Cafe for apple pie, took advantage of the onsen, got lunch at a wonderful cozy diner, and were much entertained throughout by Umut’s stories.
Everything was perfect 🤩 the beauty of the place and being guests of a majestic show without being at the zoo, the quality of the interventions of our guides, anxious to learn the most during our visit while adapting to our logistical constraints, in short a wonderful time with family and a visit to recommend!
This tour is perfect! Umut, our guide, thought of everything. We lacked nothing. Soba and apple pie were delicious! The snow monkey park exceeded our expectations. It was so relaxing to spend time in a warm onsen at the end of the day. Don’t miss this tour with Umut!
We had a great time! Thank you so much to Umut. Great experience, two thumbs up. Would recommend. Thanks
