Snow Monkey Park and Miso Production Tour Bullet Train from Tokyo
Description
This 1-day tour from Tokyo led by an English-speaking National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter visits a miso brewery to watch the miso production process in Nagano Prefecture, Japan’s leading miso-producing region; and Jigokudani Monkey Park, which is famous as a place where Japanese macaques soak in hot springs during the cold season. Miso is a traditional food in Japan which has been sustaining the dietary life of the Japanese since ancient times. To watch how miso is made, a historical brewery established about 300 years ago. Obuse, a beautiful town famous for chestnuts. Feel free to stroll around the town and try some local food. Jigokudani Monkey Park is where the behavior of Japanese macaques can be seen up close in every season. As they soak in hot springs characteristic of winter, these Japanese macaques are also called snow monkeys. Enjoy the delightful sight of playful young monkeys and adorable newborns in spring and summer.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Please make your own way to Tokyo Station. Board the Hokuriku Shinkansen (ordinary car reserved seating) and head to Nagano. There is no accompanying National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter while on board the Shinkansen.
Please meet the guide holding a JTB Sunrise Tours sign at Nagano Station Concourse (2nd floor) in front of the Nagano City Tourist Information Center by 9:50 AM. The tour will depart at 10:00 AM towards the first destination.
See the manufacturing process of miso, the indispensable ingredient of miso soup and is said to be synonymous with washoku (Japanese cuisine), which has been designated as an intangible cultural property. After the tour, experience Japan’s food culture by sampling some miso soup and amazake.
Enjoy your stroll around Obuse. Obuse is the town where renowned ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai spent his twilight years. It is also famous for chestnuts. Relish the beautiful traditional townscape while strolling around, check out some shops featuring chestnut products, and take some time for lunch (meal charges not included in the tour).
Here, you can get to see wild Japanese monkeys up close amidst scenery that changes with the season. Delight in the adorable sight of cute baby monkeys during their birth season in spring, young monkeys full of life playing in the summer, or wild monkeys taking a comfortable soak in the hot springs in winter.
Depart from Nagano Station on the Shinkansen train (ordinary car, reserved seating) to Tokyo. There is no accompanying National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter while on board the Shinkansen.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please go to Tokyo City i and pick up the tickets on your own. Pick-up at Tokyo City i is possible starting from 3 days before the tour departure date until the day prior to departure. However, pick-up is not available on the day of booking and the day after booking (business days only)
- Tokyo City i (Tourist Information Center) Address: B1F KITTE JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Open Hours: 9:00 - 19:00. Facility may be closed without notice due to sudden changes. For more details, please check the website. Pick-up is not available at Tokyo City i outside of open hours. Tickets cannot be issued or changed at Tokyo City i
- Tickets and the final itinerary may be picked up at Tokyo City i. The designated Shinkansen may not be changed at the pick-up location
- The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations
- Seats on the bus may not be designated
- Depending on the number of participants, a sedan or taxi van may be used instead
- This is a hard walking tour covering about 50 minutes of walking each way between the Shiga Kogen Roman Museum and Jigokudani Monkey Park
- As Jigokudani Monkey Park is situated 850 meters above sea level, temperatures are cooler than on the plain, so please participate wearing warm clothing. Also, the walking path may be frozen and slippery if there is snow in winter. Please wear winter boots or other non-slip footwear. If it is determined by the accompanying guide that cold weather measures, etc. are insufficient, customers may be recommended to rent equipment from a rental shop near Jigokudani Monkey Park. In such cases, expenses must be shouldered by customers
- Observe the Japanese macaques’ way of life and behavior that vary by the season
- The sight of Japanese macaques soaking in hot springs can be seen until around March. While it may also not be seen depending on the weather or time, etc., refunds will not be issued for this reason
- As monkeys are wild animals, their behavior can be unpredictable, and they cannot be fed or touched. The park may be suddenly closed due to weather or seasonal conditions, Japanese macaques’ behavior, or other reason. Please note there may also be a sudden tour cancellation. Thank you for your understanding. A full refund will be issued if the tour is canceled
- Please note that we are unable to provide special support for those with trouble walking, or small children
- The Shinkansen schedule may vary slightly due to unforeseen conditions
- No refunds will be issued even if the Shinkansen tickets are not used. In such cases, please use public transportation to the destination on your own
- If you must cancel your tour after receiving the Shinkansen tickets, please send the tickets back to: Address: 2-3-14 Higashi Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo (JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.)
- Changes may not be made to the scheduled Shinkansen. Customers who miss the designated Shinkansen may board a later departing Shinkansen in the non-reserved car section only (same day only)
- Customers will carry their own baggage. Please be aware that there is not much space on board the Shinkansen
- Parental permission in writing is necessary for all tour participants under the age of eighteen. Any participant under the age of fifteen or not yet enrolled in middle school must be joined by a parent or guardian on the tour
- There is also a tour operating round-trip from Nagano
- Photos ©地獄谷野猿公苑 Jigokudani Yaen koen Inc All Rights Reserved.
- 2025 Update: The tour now includes a miso production tour and Obuse town visit instead of Zenkoji Temple, offering a more diverse cultural experience