Nagano 1 Day Tour: Snow Monkey Park + Zenko-ji Temple + Sake Tasting - main view

Nagano 1 Day Tour: Snow Monkey Park + Zenko-ji Temple + Sake Tasting - view 1

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Nagano 1 Day Tour: Snow Monkey Park + Zenko-ji Temple + Sake Tasting

Winter Package: Day Tour

Availability

Every day

Minimum Pax

1 Person

Confirmed

Instantly

Ticket

Show your mobile

Languages

English

Meet Location

Tsugaikekogen Heights Bus Stop (winter only)
Hakuba Tokyu Hotel (winter only)
Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal (winter only)
La Vigne Hakuba Echoland (winter only)
JR Nagano Station

Included

Round-trip transportation
English-speaking guide
Snow Monkey Park entrance fee
Lunch
Sake tasting

Excluded

Additional food, snacks & drinks
Optional entrance fee to the inner sanctuary of Zenko-ji Temple
Shinkansen/bullet train tickets

Overview

Take in Nagano's highlights on a one-day guided tour combining culture, cuisine, and nature.

Discover Nagano's charm on a full-day tour that combines some of the region's most iconic experiences. Visit Zenko-ji, one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan followed by sake-tasting and a delicious lunch. Head to the Snow Monkey Park to see its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys. Led by a locally-based English-speaking guide, thist our is a great way to see the best that Nagano has to offer!

Why this tour?

Watch snow monkeys bathe in natural hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park
Visit Zenko-ji Temple, home to the first known Buddhist statue to be brought to Japan
Enjoy a local lunch and taste sake (non-alcoholic options also available)
Pick-up available from Hakuba in the winter season

Exterior of Zenkoji Temple in the winter

▲ Zenko-ji Temple
As a registered National Treasure, Zenko-ji Temple is the most important cultural site in Nagano and one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan. A place of true historic importance, full of legends and myths, you will be guided around the temple before exploring the surrounding precinct of smaller temples and shops by yourself, time-permitting.

Sake and local Japanese lunch

▲ Sake tasting & local lunch
Home to a huge number of breweries, Nagano is synonymous with sake and no visit to the region is complete without devling into Japan's most famous beverage. Be introduced 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.

Monkeys bathing in natural hot springs at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Monkeys bathing in natural hot springs at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

▲ Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
You will be guided along a forest trail which leads to the park and into Jigokudani, home to the only troop of monkeys in the entire world to bathe in hot springs. Enjoy the unique experience of observing the wild monkeys in close proximity.

Price

Price	Included	Included
Adult (13 yrs~) Child (6~12 yrs) Infant (~5 yrs)	- Round-trip transportation - English-speaking guide - Snow Monkey Park entrance fee - Lunch - Sake tasting

Children under 6 years old are free of charge. Lunch is not included and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs. Seats on the tour transport cannot be guaranteed and they may be required to sit on the lap of an adult, expecially during winter from December to March.
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.

Itinerary

7:20am

Pick up from Tsugaikekogen Heights Bus Stop (winter only)

7:40am

Pick up from Hakuba Tokyu Hotel (winter only)

7:55am

Pick up from Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal (winter only)

8:10am

Pick up from La Vigne Hakuba Echoland (winter only)

9:35am

Pick up from Nagano Station

10:00am

Arrive at Zenko-ji Temple
- Explore the precinct with your guide followed by 25~30 minutes of free time.

11:30am

Arrive at Yoshonoya Sake Brewery
- Taste various sakes and learn more about the iconic Japanese beverage.

12:00pm

Enjoy a delicious lunch

1:00pm

Depart for the Snow Monkey Park

2:00pm

Arrive at the Snow Monkey Park area
- Walk along the forest trail (25~30 minutes) into the park.

2:40pm

Arrive at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
- Enjoy watching the wild macaques bathing in the onsen and going about their lives.

3:40pm

Depart the park and walk back out along the forest trail.

4:20pm

Depart for Nagano

5:35pm

Drop off at Nagano Station

6:30pm~6:45pm

Drop off at Hakuba (winter only)

The itinerary is subject to change depending on local/traffic/weather conditions.
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.
Joining from Hakuba is only available in the winter, from December 15th to March 31st.
Due to weather and road conditions in winter, the tour end time cannot be guaranteed. In winter, those booking onward tickets to other destinations should do so for times of 6:00pm or later.

How to book

1. Complete your booking.
2. Check your email.
3. Enjoy it.

Please keep in mind

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.
During the winter it is common to see the monkeys enjoying the hot spring. 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.
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.
Due to weather and road conditions in winter, the tour end time cannot be guaranteed. In winter, those booking onward tickets to other destinations should do so for times of 6:00pm or later.

Cancellation policy

All times are based on Korea Standard Time (KST) (GMT + 9 hours)
12 days before the reserved date: 96% refund
11 days before the reserved date: 76% refund
8 days before the reserved date: 66% refund
2 days before the reserved date: 46% refund
1 day before the reserved date or less: Non-refundable
*If you would like to reschedule your reservation, please check the availability with us at least 12 days before the original reserved date (no later than 5:00pm KST).
*A cancellation fee of 4% applies to all cancellations.

FAQ

I'd like to join this tour from Tokyo. Which Shinkansen service should I use to arrive in Nagano on time?

You can book the following services on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line when joining this tour at Nagano Station.

Departing Tokyo Station - Arriving Nagano Station
Tokyo: 7:20am - Nagano: 8:42am - Kagayaki (reserved seats only)
Tokyo: 7:24am - Nagano: 9:13am - Asama
Tokyo: 7:52am - Nagano: 9:30am - Hakutaka

Departing Nagano Station - Arriving Tokyo Station
Nagano: 5:56pm - Tokyo: 7:20pm - Kagayaki (reserved seats only)
Nagano: 6:23pm - Tokyo: 8:00pm - Hakutaka

How does the winter-only Hakuba shuttle service work?

The winter-only shuttle service operates between December 15th and March 31st at no additional charge.

Can I start in Hakuba and leave the tour in Nagano or start in Nagano and end in Hakuba?

Yes, just select your preferred drop-off point upon booking.

I have specific dietary requirements. Can these be catered for?

Yes, the lunch venue can accommodate dietary restrictions such as pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergies. Please let us know in advance upon booking.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible or suitable for mobility-impaired guests?

Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired guests. The tour requires a significant amount of walking – suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness – including along a 1.6km/1-mile forest trail leading to and from the park. There is also a relatively steep staircase at the end of the trail leading into the park.