Snow Monkey Resorts Tours
Operating every day of the year, Snow Monkey Resorts is Nagano’s No.1 rated tour and charter operator. We offer a range of group tours, most of which include a visit to the Jigokudani Monkey Park.
A visit to the Snow Monkey Park is one of Nagano’s most unique experiences! Over recent years, Nagano’s favourite furry residents have become famous around the world for the hot spring-loving habits. Adorably cute and highly entertaining, you are certain to love their antics!
Whether you are visiting Nagano in autumn or winter, summer or spring, joining one of our tours is a great way to enhance your experience and understanding of what makes the monkeys so special.
Named one of Japan’s Top 10 Experiences in 2019, our longest running and most popular tour – our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – operates every day of the year. This enjoyable day-trip takes you from Nagano Station to Nagano’s near-1400 year old Zenko-ji Temple before treating you to lunch and complementary ‘sake’-tasting at one of the city’s best restaurants – Monzen Terrace Enya – and then onto the world-famous Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Always popular, our 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano Tour combines a visit to the monkeys with an afternoon of ‘hanami’ or flower-viewing. Known as ‘sakura’, the stunning cherry blossoms of spring are perhaps the quintessential Japanese experience. We choose viewing sites based on where the blossoms are at their best each day with a mix of famous and very local destinations chosen, giving each tour its own unique character.
For guests wanting to combine their visit to the Snow Monkeys with something a more energetic, our 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen Tour combines a morning of snow activities at Japan’s largest ski resort – Shiga Kogen – before enjoying a warming winters lunch and early afternoon visit to the Snow Monkey Park.
True thrill-seekers will also love our 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snowmobiling in Shiga Kogen Tour. Combining a morning riding your own snowmobile through the alpine landscape of Shiga Kogen, this tour then treats guests to the same warming winter lunch at Hotaru-tei – a 160 year old traditional mansion – and then early afternoon visit to the monkeys. With the option of both single and tandem ride, and all led by a certified instructor, this tour is sure to leave a lasting impression!
And it doesn’t stop there! We offer a range of tours throughout the year, all of which can be booked via our group tours page.
Regional Tours
While the monkeys are great there is plenty more to see in Central Japan!
Our 1-Day Matsumoto Castle & Local Food Experience Tour introduces guests to the regional cuisine of Nagano with visits to Daio Wasabi Farm followed by a hands-on soba-making experience. These tasty and healthy noodles are synonymous with Nagano and a delicious way to delve into the local culture. Also including a visit to a historic sake brewery and the iconic Matsumoto Castle – one of the last remaining original castles in Japan – this tour makes for a great day-trip from Nagano City.
A visit to the castle is also included in our 1-Day Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley Tour in combination with an afternoon exploring the one of Central Japan’s most stunning mountain landscapes. The alpine of oasis of Kamikochi has long been heralded for its pristine nature and awe-inspiring vistas. Quickly becoming known to international visitors, this tour is sure to become one of our most popular.
Our 1-Day Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Tour takes in another of Nagano (and Japan’s!) most iconic landscapes by heading high above to the ‘Roof of Japan’. In early spring, the fabled Snow Walls of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route tower above the heads of visitors, ascending to 20 meters in height. A truly remarkable and unique sight, this tour thrills guests and leaves a lasting impression.
Please check our group tours page for a full list of available regional tours.
Special Event Tours
In addition to your regular group tours, we offer a range of special event tours throughout the year.
Taking place on November 23rd, our 1-Day Ebisu-ko Fireworks Festival & Snow Monkeys Tour includes reserved seating at Japan’s largest autumn fireworks festival. Drawing a crowd of over 400,000 people, the massive fireworks display looks stunning in the clear, crisp autumn night. Combined with a visit to the monkeys and a late lunch, this is one of our most popular tours each year.
Soon after in December, our 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Zenko-ji Winter Illumination Tour captures the best of Nagano in winter as the city’s famous temple emerges from the evening darkness, awash with colour and light. This tranquil and welcoming festival is popular with locals, offering visitors an authentic local experience which captures the festive spirit of early winter.
On January 15th things heat-up and get boisterous with our 1-Day Nozawa Fire Festival & Snow Monkeys Tour. With pickup and drop-off in both Hakuba and Nagano City, this tour combines an afternoon visit to the monkey park followed by a warming winters dinner and then onto Nozawa Onsen for one of Japan’s most famous fire festivals. Hugely popular with both Japanese and international visitors alike, the Nozawa Onsen Dosojin Matsuri is one of the region’s most exciting and memorable events.
Please check our group tours page for a full list of available special event tours.
Open every day from 9AM until 6PM,tours can be booked at the office, by phone on +81(0)26-219-6256 or via email at snowmonkeyresorts@machinovate.com.
Private Tours and Charters
For guests wanting the convenience and comfort of a private tour or charter, we also provide fully customizable tours to the monkey park along with any other destination of interest. With a fleet of vehicles suitable from small groups – from a single travellers, couples, group of friends or family – to large expeditions – of up to 44 passengers – we are here to get you to and from the monkey park with minimal hassle, maximum comfort, and timely services.
All of our vehicles and drivers are properly registered and accredited, and being locally-based we offer the most reliable service based on local know-how. Charters are fully customizable to your needs are can be arranged to include pick-up and drop-off directly at your accommodation or ski resorts of choice, luggage transportation, and other activities as you move from one point to the next.
For our pricing table for charters between the Nagano resorts, please see our CHARTER PAGE including estimated pricing table. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please contact us with some answers and a quote!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano and Central Japan.
Locally-based and operating all year round, we offer the local knowledge, support, and service you need to get the most out of your time in Japan – with tours and charters designed to highlight the very best of Nagano!
