1-Day Winter Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake
Description
Take in some of the highlights of Nagano with this engaging tour starting with a morning visit to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys, followed by a warming winter lunch and afternoon exploration of Zenko-ji - one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan. Led by a locally-based English-speaking guide and including a sake tasting experience to bring the tour to an indulgent conclusion this tour is a great way to enjoy the best of Nagano in winter!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Established in 1964, Nagano's world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is home to the only troop of monkeys in the world known to bathe in hot springs. With no barriers between you and the monkeys (don't worry, they are very calm) this is a unique opportunity to observe these curious creatures in close proximity as the walk about you, wrestle with each other, endlessly groom, and of course, soak in their favourite hot spring! Your guide will introduce you to everything that makes them so unique and famous while giving you plenty of time to explore for yourself. Please note that estimated time at the monkey park includes walking in and out along the forest trail - 1.6km each way / 35-minutes each way in winter. We endeavour to give our guests 1 hour in the park to observe the monkeys however this depends on your pace in and out of the park. Please also note that during winter the trail and park will be affected by snow and ice so please ensure you wear good quality shoes or boots.
The tour includes a warming winter lunch at 'Japanese Dining GOEN'. Located around 5 minutes drive from the monkey park, GOEN serves a tasty selection of Japanese and Western favourites with your choice of different rice bowls such as 'oyakadon' (chicken and egg), 'kaisen' (seafood) or 'tempura' (lightly battered and fried vegetables) with a side serve of hot 'soba' (buckwheat noodles) and more!
As one of the oldest, largest, and most important Buddhist temples in Japan, Zenko-ji is the spiritual heart of Nagano. A registered National Treasure, the temple's near-1400 year history is full of legend and myth which your guide will help you unlock as they guide you around the temple precinct followed by time to explore for yourself (time-permitting).
Nagano is Japan's second largest producer of 'sake', meaning no trip to the region is complete without sampling some of the local breweries. Your guide will introduce to the complex and warm world of sake with a guided tasting. Non-alcoholic options are also available.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking including to and from the monkey park along a 1.6km (1 mile), unsealed forest trail. Please sure your footwear is approriate and you are dressed accordingly for the season.
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travels. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
- Guests are required to follow the Snow Monkey Park rules at all times. Guests are not permitted to touch, hold, feed or bathe with the monkeys at any time.
- There are no barriers separating the monkeys from visitors to the park. Please ensure you keep a minimum distance of 1 to 2 meters between yourself and the monkeys. Your guide will explain the rules prior to entering the park.
- From mid-December until early-April the trail and park are likely to be affected by snow and ice. Please ensure that you are wearing suitable shoes/boots and warm clothing. 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. 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 however 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, arrive late or leave early. While this is unlikely, it is possible and outside of our control.
- This tour includes lunch at 'Japanese Dining GOEN', a popular local restaurant. On rare occasions it may not be possible to use this restaurant in which case we would switch to another, comparable location. Please note that the restaurant may change their menu from time-to-time and the tour lunch may different to images shown on this page.
- This tour is scheduled to conclude at Nozawa Onsen by 18:00. However, due to weather and road conditions in winter we cannot guarantee the end time.
- All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Reviews(42)
I had a wonderful day and thoroughly enjoyed all the different experiences provided. It was great seeing the snow monkeys in their environment. The Nagano temple was so interesting specially with Jen’s informing us. Jens was an excellent guide - professional, organised and very knowledgeable. He was caring and helpful and kept an eye on everyone to make sure things were going well. I would definitely recommend this tour. It was a highlight of my trip to Japan.
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your kind words! We are absolutely honored to hear that our tour was a highlight of your trip to Japan. Jens takes great care in making sure everyone in the group feels looked after and informed, so it is wonderful to know his professional and caring approach made such an impact on your day. We’re glad you enjoyed the delight of the monkeys and the history of Zenkoji! We hope the rest of your travels are just as memorable. Warmly, The Snow Monkey Resorts Team
This was an excellent tour, small group, lead by the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Lin. Loads of interesting information on the way to se the snow monkeys then plenty of time to enjoy them. It was a very cold day so most of us had decamped down the road for a surprisingly good coffee, then walked down the hill to a truly charming inn where we had our set lunch. This was again something of a surprise - excellent food in a beautiful space. Miso soup, tempura and sushi followed by individual hotpots, significantly better food than that experienced on an entire food tour in Tokyo. After lunch an interesting visit to Nagano and famous temple then a fun sake tasting, in all a great tour expertly lead.
Dear Fiona, What an incredible compliment! Hearing that our lunch was a highlight compared to a full food tour in Tokyo is a huge win for our local chefs. We are so glad you enjoyed our lunch venue at Hotarutei; there’s nothing like a hotpot to warm you up after a cold morning at the park! Lin was absolutely delighted to hear your feedback. She loves sharing those extra layers of history on the way to the monkeys, and she’s thrilled you had such a fun time at the sake tasting. We hope that you come back to Nagano or Japan sometime soon so we can see you again! Warmly, The Snow Monkey Resorts Team
Dillion was an amazing guide. His deep knowledge was put to the test by our endless curiosity. If he didn’t know the answer he knew who to ask. We had a wonderful day that just kept getting better. We expected the snow monkeys to be the highlight and they certainly were, but the rest of the day was just as fascinating. Lunch was delicious and the conversation never slowed. The temple tour was quite interesting and Dillion shared his knowledge and personal experience freely. We bumped in to another tour group and their guide learned a few tidbits from Dillion. We enjoyed a little free time to explore and sampled a few treats at the temple complex. The final highlight was learning about the Sake brewing process and sampling a variety of excellent variations. A truly informative and adventurous day.
Thoroughly enjoyed the walk to snow monkey park and the apple pie after. The temple tour was outside my interest though I loved the buildings. Sake tasting was fun. Overall a great day & very good value. Maybe 9 hours was a bit long (at least for me)
Such a fun tour and our guide Lin made it even better! I’d do the whole tour over again when I come back !
The best day with the best guide! Everything from seeing the monkeys to lunch, the temples and sake tasting was awesome. Our guide was so knowledgeable and knew everything we needed to know about the area. Definitely recommending to friends and family.
This tour is a little bit on the expensive side but we found it to be worth it for a few reasons. 1) Our tour guide, Jens, was fantastic. I especially enjoyed his knowledge and passion about Japanese Buddhism which taught me a few things I didn't know. But, even if you aren't interested in Buddhism, I still think you'd like Jens. 2) It was a convenient way for us to leave Nozawaonsen and end up in Nagano for the night with all of our luggage, which is what we wanted for our itinerary. 3) The combination of the snow monkeys, temple, and sake tasting, was perfect.
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for the review! We are thrilled that you found the tour worth it. We know that our prices reflect a more all-inclusive experience, so it’s wonderful to hear that the convenience of the luggage transfer and the quality of the itinerary hit the mark for you. Jens was absolutely delighted to hear your feedback! He is indeed very passionate about the history of Japan, and he’s glad he could share a few new insights with you. We’re so happy we could help make your transition from Nozawa Onsen to Nagano a smooth and interesting one. Even though the winter season is behind us, we hope to welcome you back to Nagano or show you another side of Japan through our various experiences from now on! Warmly, The Snow Monkey Resorts Team
The tour to Jigokudani Monkey Park with Lynn was absolutely exceptional. From the moment we arrived, her knowledge and enthusiasm made the experience so much richer. We saw around 200 monkeys, with several relaxing in the onsen — an unforgettable sight and even more fascinating with Lynn’s insights into their behavior and the park’s history. Beyond the park, the day was perfectly rounded out with a visit to the charming town of Nagano, where we enjoyed wandering the streets and finishing with a wonderful sake tasting. This was easily one of the highlights of our trip — highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area!
Great day. Well organised and very enjoyable. Lovely lunch. Beautiful walk through the forest to the snow monkeys took about 25 minutes.
Kieron was an incredible guide, bringing over 20 years of experience in Japan to every part of the tour. His insider knowledge and fascinating stories made the journey so much more engaging and memorable. The pick-up from the bus station was smooth and stress-free, and the small group size gave the whole experience a personal touch. The sake tour itself was both educational and fun, with well-chosen stops that highlighted the region’s traditions and culture. I especially appreciated being dropped off at Nagano Station, which made my onward travel to Hakuba seamless. Thank you, Kieron, for making this such an unforgettable experience. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour to anyone looking for an authentic and enriching adventure in Japan.
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled that your experience starting from Nozawa Onsen was unforgettable. Kieron was absolutely delighted to hear your feedback. We are so glad those stories and the small group atmosphere made the day feel more personal for you. We’re also happy that the drop-off at Nagano Station helped make your journey to Hakuba seamless, as helping our guests navigate the region easily is a top priority for us. We hope you’re enjoying the slopes in Hakuba! We would love to welcome you back for another authentic adventure in the future. Warmly, The Snow Monkey Resorts Team
