Snow Monkeys and Sake: the 11 Best Nagano Day Trips

1.1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · from $151Our pick

Spend about eight hours exploring Nagano with an English-speaking guide. Visit Zenko-ji Temple, sample local sake at Nishimon Yoshinoya, enjoy a Japanese lunch, then walk the forest trail to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Tom, Endo, Kieran, Nadine, and Dylan have helped make this a smooth, informative day.

“It was amazing. Our tour guide was A+!! That experience was unmatched. Lunch was delicious. Seeing the monkeys has always been a dream of mine and this exceeded my expectations.”

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2.Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 833 reviews · 8 - 12 hours · from $135Best value

Travel from Nagano or winter-season Hakuba to Zenko-ji Temple, a local sake tasting, a generous Japanese lunch, and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. English-speaking guides such as Dylan, Brent, Tom, Hiroshi, and Kevin lead the day, with time for both guided stories and independent exploring. Expect 8 to 12 hours, a 1.6-kilometer forest walk, and slippery winter paths.

“Jens was an excellent guide and clearly passionate about sharing the local history. The tour of the temple was interesting and there was a lot of great information shared during the sake tasting and how it’s made. The lunch was really good and the perfect fuel before trekking up the snowy/icy path to the snow monkeys. We loved seeing them so much! This day tour was a great mix of guided talk and conversation and free time to explore at our own pace. Jens really made the experience for us, he was a great host.”

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3.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

Start at Nagano Station or arrange pickup from a central Nagano hotel, then visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji, and Obuse by public transport or private vehicle. Your English-speaking guide, including guides such as Hori, Mutsumi, or Fumiko, can adjust the pace, suggest lunch, and help shape the day around monkeys, temples, sake, onsen, or Hokusai.

“Our tour guide, Emi was absolutely wonderful! So kind and full of knowledge. The visit to see the snow monkeys was an unforgettable experience-felt like you were in a National Geographic magazine! I highly recommend booking this activity.”

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4.Snow Monkey, Zenko Ji Temple, Sake in Nagano Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews

You’ll travel by private air-conditioned vehicle to Zenko-ji Temple, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Monzen Terrace Enya, and Obuse. The group price is $631.28 for up to six people. Drivers such as Bhatti have been praised for flexibility and helpful travel tips, but guide knowledge and sake tasting can vary, so confirm what is included before booking.

“The snow monkeys are worth to see. We went in the winter make sure you have good shoes to walk in the snow it can be slippery also make sure you get some delicious apple pie in the bottom of The park. The temples are incredible. The whole experience is worth it.”

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $150

Travel from Nozawa Onsen to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where wild Japanese macaques soak in a hot spring. After lunch at Japanese Dining GOEN, explore Zenko-ji Temple with an English-speaking guide, then finish with a sake tasting at Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Brewery. Expect snow, ice, walking, and a full day out.

“We had a great day out with Yama! We loved that there were only two large groups. The monkeys were great fun to watch and the walk through snow laden pines to see them was lovely! Lunch was a welcome surprise and we really enjoRead more”

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6.Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $162

Join a small group of usually 6 to 8 people with local guides such as Masa or Kei. Walk the forest path to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, eat a local lunch, taste two sakes at Masuichi Ichimura Brewery, and explore Obuse. The early departure can include Zenkoji Temple.

“Our guide was friendly, spoke great English, and answered all of our (often dumb) questions! Highly recommend this tour operator. We had plenty of time with the Snow Monkeys, went to a very high quality restaurant for a v tasty lunch, the saRead more”

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7.Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 10 hours · from $135

Travel from Nozawa Onsen to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, a local lunch, Zenko-ji Temple, and a sake tasting. An English-speaking guide such as Endo, Kieron, Lin, or Yama may lead your day. Expect snowy walking, long coach rides, and a full taste of Nagano.

“Kieron was a fantastic tour guide. Great communication, a wealth of knowledge and overall nice fellow. Our bus was clean and our driver provided a smooth ride. No complaints.”

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8.Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Free Sake Taste Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews

Travel in a private, air-conditioned vehicle from Tokyo to Nagano for a long day of temples, macaques, local food, and castle views. You’ll visit Obuse, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenkoji Temple, and Matsumoto Castle. Sake tasting and lunch are planned, but admission fees are extra and the schedule requires careful confirmation.

“We had an incredible experience on this tour! Our guide was very well-versed in English and shared fascinating insights about Japanese culture, history, and traditions throughout the day. He was friendly, approachable, and made the experience both informative and enjoyabRead more”

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9.Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews

Travel by private car with an English or Hindi-speaking driver to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenkoji Temple, Shibu Onsen, Obuse, and optional Matsushiro Castle Ruins. Drivers such as Busal, Sikandar, and Naroz have been praised for smooth driving and flexible timing. The Tokyo pickup involves about 3.5 hours of driving to Nagano.

“Amazing Snow Monkey Tour with Sikandar! Our private tour from Tokyo to the Snow Monkey Park was fantastic! Our driver, Sikandar, was incredibly friendly, professional, and accommodating. The drive was smooth, and he even gave us an extra 3 hours at no additional charge, allowing us to explore at our own pace. The Snow Monkey Park was magical—watching the monkeys soak in the hot springs was unforgettable. Sikandar made sure we had plenty of time and shared helpful tips to make the experience even better. Having a private car made the journey so much easier than public transport. If you’re looking for a stress-free, comfortable, and well-organized trip, this is…”

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10.Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 7 hours · from $160

Meet your English-speaking guide at Nagano Station for a seven-hour outing to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and Obuse. Watch macaques bathe in hot springs, enjoy a local lunch, taste two premium sakes, browse chestnut shops, and visit the Hokusai Museum. Groups usually number 6 to 8, with a maximum of 12.

“Unser Guide sprach super Englisch und konnte alle Fragen beantworten. Unser Guide hielt die ganze Zeit Ausschau nach den Affen für uns & das Mittagessen war auch super 👍🏻”

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11.Snow Monkeys Sake Tasting Zenko-ji and Monzen Terrace Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $543

Spend eight hours with a private driver exploring Nagano’s Snow Monkey Park, Obuse sake country, and Zenko-ji Temple. You’ll walk forest paths to the macaques, sample local sake, and eat at Monzen Terrace Enya near the temple. Transport, parking, bottled water, and lunch with soft drinks are included.

“Went on this trip for my birthday, easily one of the best and most memorable things I have done. Our driver was so very friendly and answered any questions. He even went above and beyond at the restaurant letting them know it was my birthday and the brought out soRead more”

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