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Led by a locally-based guide, visit the famous hot-spring bathing monkeys of Nagano from Nozawa Onsen and Iiyama.
The final stop on the tour is Yoshihoya, one of Nagano's oldest and best sake breweries.
Lunch is at Enza Cafe nearby the park. Your choice of chicken ramen, teriyaki chicken pizza or nozawa & mushroom pizza.
The only troop of monkeys in the world known to bathe in hot springs - a naturally-learned behaviour.
Always popular, the monkeys attract visitors from all over the world.

1-Day Winter Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake

By Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)
10 out of 10
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$259 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 9h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
Overview

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!

Activity location

  • Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
    • 6845 Heion,
    • 381-0401, Yamanouchi-machi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Chuo Terminal
    • 豊郷
    • 389-2502, 野沢温泉村, 長野県, Japan

Multiple meeting/redemption points available, see location information for full list

Check availability

Start from Nozawa Grand Hotel
  • Activity duration is 9 hours9h9h
  • English

Starting point:
Nozawa Grand Hotel, 8888 Toyosato, Nozawaonsen, Shimotakai District, Nagano 389-2502, Japan

Language options: English
Starting time: 8:50 am
Price details
NZ$259.19 x 1 AdultNZ$259.19
Total
Price is NZ$259.19
Until Sat, 28 Dec
Start from Chuo Bus Terminal
  • Activity duration is 9 hours9h9h
  • English

Starting point:
Chuo Terminal, 県道 38 号線, 豊郷 野沢温泉村 下高井郡 長野県 389-2502, Japan

Language options: English
Starting time: 9:00 am
Price details
NZ$259.19 x 1 AdultNZ$259.19
Total
Price is NZ$259.19
Until Sat, 28 Dec

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedLunch
  • What's includedWhat's includedGuided 'sake'-tasting
  • What's includedWhat's includedTransport from / to Nozawa Onsen and all listed destinations
  • What's includedWhat's includedGuided tour at Zenko-ji Temple
  • What's includedWhat's includedJigokudani Monkey Park entry ticket
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedAdditional food, snacks & drinks
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedOptional entrance fee to the inner sanctuary of Zenko-ji Temple
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedShinkansen / 'Bullet Train' tickets
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedAccommodation

Know before you book

  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Specialised infant seats are available
  • Travellers 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 metres 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.

Activity itinerary

Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
  • 2h
  • Admission ticket included
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.
Japanese Dining GOEN
  • 50m
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!
Zenko-ji Temple
  • 1h 30m
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).
Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Sake Brewery
  • 20m
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.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESJigokudani Snow Monkey Park
    • 6845 Heion,
    • 381-0401, Yamanouchi-machi, Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLEChuo Terminal
    • 豊郷
    • 389-2502, 野沢温泉村, 長野県, Japan
  • PEOPLEPEOPLENozawa Grand Hotel
    • 8888 Toyosato
    • 389-2502, Nozawaonsen, Nagano, Japan

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