1-Day Tour: Snow Monkey Park & Togakushi Shrine in Nagano

Experience two of the most stunning locations that Nagano has to offer: the world-famous Snow Monkey Park, with its charming hot spring-bathing macaque monkeys, and Togakushi Shrine, also known as the "Five Shrines", famous for its breathtaking forest path lined with towering ancient cedar trees.

Starting from Nagano Station, this tour will take you to Jigokudani Monkey Park, commonly known as the Snow Monkey Park, to see Nagano’s most iconic residents—the Japanese macaque monkeys that bathe in their natural hot spring. After enjoying a Japanese-style lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the 1,000-year-old Togakushi Shrine complex to learn about its deep spiritual history and walk the cedar-lined path to the "Okusha," or inner shrine. Enjoy Nagano’s unique nature and wildlife while also learning about Japanese culture, Shinto traditions, and religious history, set within a breathtaking mountain landscape.

Highlights

• Visit Jigokudani Monkey Park, and observe wild Japanese macaques up close in their natural habitat, as they relax in their very own hot spring!
• Enjoy a delicious seasonal Japanese-style lunch at a local restaurant.
• Learn about Togakushi Shrine and its fascinating origin story, spiritual significance, and deep roots in Japanese Shinto tradition.
• Walk along the breathtaking avenue of ancient cedar trees that leads towards the “Okusha” or inner shrine of Togakushi.

Description

Morning: Snow Monkey Park

Your tour will start at 9:15am inside of Nagano Station, in front of the large Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen ticket gates. Once everyone has arrived, you will board the private tour vehicle towards the Jigokudani Monkey Park, commonly known as the Snow Monkey Park. Learn about the monkeys and their unique behaviors, the rules for entering the park, and the history of the Nagano region from your tour guide, as you enjoy the 1-hour ride and watch the scenic views roll by outside.

After arriving at the park entrance, you will walk down a peaceful 1.6km forest trail towards the park, which takes about 30-45 minutes. Your guide will lead the way, answering any questions you may have about the monkeys and surrounding area, as you enjoy the natural scenery. You will also pass by "Koraku-kan", a traditional Japanese bathhouse with an outdoor bath, which was the inspiration for the monkey's very own hot spring!

Arrive at the Snow Monkey Park! The park is known worldwide for its troop of wild monkeys that you can encounter up-close—watching them play, fight, and of course soak in their hot spring bath. With their iconic red faces, silver-gray fur, and playful nature, the monkeys are fascinating to watch for hours. You will have plenty of time to take photos, so be sure to bring your camera!

Lunch

After a morning with the monkeys, you will walk back along the trail and head to the local restaurant "Hotarutei" for lunch. The building is a beautifully renovated Japanese farmhouse with over 170 years of history, where you will enjoy a seasonal Japanese-style meal featuring sushi, tempura, miso soup, and more.

Afternoon: Togakushi Shrine

After lunch, you will board the tour bus again towards the second destination of the day, Togakushi Shrine. Often called the "Five Shrines", this complex is indeed made up of five shrines: the Hokosha, Hinomikosha, Chusha, Kuzuryusha, and Okusha. Each shrine is representative of a different deity in Shintoism, the native religion of Japan.

You will first arrive at the “Chusha,” or middle shrine, where your guide will explain the history of this 1,000-year-old shrine complex, why it is made up of five parts, and how it connects to Japan’s origin myth. You will also see several sacred ancient trees, some up to 800 years old, and have time to bask in the spiritual serenity of the site.

Once you've learned about the history of Togakushi Shrine and enjoyed the middle shrine, you will board the bus again and head towards the entrance to the path leading to the "Okusha" or inner shrine of Togakushi.

The path to the Okusha is famous for its rows of 400-year-old cedar trees lining the route, which has traditionally served as a pilgrimage path to the sacred inner shrine. The full walk takes about 45 minutes, beginning on a flat trail before ending with an incline. Your guide will lead you as you begin your journey into this breathtaking forest landscape.

Along the way, you will pass the Zuijinmon, a beautiful red gate that marks the beginning of the cedar-lined path and serves as a protective structure guarding the sanctity of the inner shrine. You will also see two "komainu" statues, which act as spiritual guardians of the shrine. The Zuijinmon is especially unique for its straw-thatched roof, where plants grow naturally, filling it with greenery during the warmer seasons.

After passing by the Zuijinmon, you will enter the iconic avenue of giant cedar trees, towering overhead in rows on either side of the path. Togakushi Shrine has been a place of spiritual pilgrimage for centuries, and this section marks the final stretch, as pilgrims would be approaching the final destination of the sacred inner shrine. These giant cedars enhance the spiritual atmosphere of the path, and walking among them in truly an unforgettable experience.

At the end of the gentle uphill hike, you will arrive at the most sacred inner shrine of Togakushi. Though the building itself is small, it enshrines the Shinto God of Strength, making it the perfect place to regain energy before the hike back down.

**Please note that the path from the Zuijinmon (red gate) to the Okusha is closed during the winter months, from around late November to mid-April. If you join the tour in the winter, you will still be able to see the Zuijinmon and the giant cedar trees, but not walk all the way to the end. The rest of the tour will operate as usual.

Having completed the pilgrimage to the inner shrine, you will head back down the path with your guide, taking in the scenery and getting any last photos along the way. You will then board the tour vehicle and return to Nagano City. The tour will conclude around 17:45 at Nagano Station.

Meetup Points

NAGANO STATION @ 09:15

This tour begins and ends in Nagano Station. The meetup point is inside the station, in front of the Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket gates. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag and ensure you are there prior to the meetup time as the tour will need to depart by 09:20.

Notes

Tour Availability Disclaimer

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.

Included

• Transportation from Nagano Station to the Snow Monkey Park, Togakushi, and between activities/attractions
• Entrance to the Snow Monkey Park
• Japanese-style lunch
• Guided tour to the Snow Monkey Park, and guided tour of Togakushi Shrine grounds
• English-speaking guide

Excluded

• Additional food, snacks & drinks
• Shinkansen / ‘Bullet Train’ tickets
• Accommodation

Other Information

• There will be a significant amount of walking required, 1.6km to and from the Snow Monkey Park, and 2 km each way to the Togakushi Okusha and back. Both of these are forest trails, which can be muddy, slippery, or icy, depending on the season and weather. Please wear appropriate shoes/boots, check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point, and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travelers. 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.
• From mid-December until early April, the trail to the Snow Monkey Park and Togakushi Okusha are likely to be affected by snow and ice. 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 there. 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, and 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.
• Please note that the path from the Zuijinmon (red gate) in Togakushi to the Okusha (inner shrine) is closed during the winter months, from around late November to mid-April. If you join the tour in the winter, you will still be able to see the Zuijinmon and the giant cedar trees, but not walk all the way to the end. The rest of the tour will operate as usual.
• Infants (0-5) are free of charge. An infant lunch is not included and the order will be made directly to the restaurant according to your needs. We also cannot guarantee that a seat on the tour transport will be available for infants and they may be required to sit in the lap of an adult, especially during winter i.e. from December to March.
• Booking cut-off time is an hour before the pick up time on the day.
• Please note, there may be possible changes in the itinerary/included experiences due to local events, weather, restaurant availability, or other unforeseeable factors.