Winter
is off to a great start here in Nagano! The snow has been falling and the
resorts are already looking fantastic, with great powder and very quiet ski
runs offering an enticing reason to vi...
OPEN CATEGORY
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December 21, 2020
Say Goodbye to 2020 and ‘Hello’21!’: There’s Plenty of Great Deals in Nagano this Winter!
Winter
is off to a great start here in Nagano! The snow has been falling and the
resorts are already looking fantastic, with great powder and very quiet ski
runs offering an enticing reason to vi... -
September 30, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Japan Set to Lower Travel Advisories for Certain Countries
It’s important to start this blog by saying that at this time, travel to Japan for tourism purposes remains extremely difficult and for nationals of many countries, impossible. In total, as of Se... -
September 16, 2020
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: Nagano in Autumn – ‘Koyo’ Season Will Soon Be Here!
Over the past week, the temperature has certainly
begun to drop here in Nagano. The days remain pleasant and warm but the heat and
humidity of summer have gone, and nights are starting to feel cr... -
September 11, 2020
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: ‘Go To Travel’ Extended to Tokyo as of October 1st 2020
As highlighted in our recent blog article – ‘#SNOWMONKEYRESORTS LOCAL: What is Japan’s ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?’ – Japanese citizens and foreign residents of Japan are currently eligible for by s... -
August 31, 2020
#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: What is Japan’s ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?
For our friends living in Japan, you have no doubt heard of the national 'Go To' campaign by now. Under that campaign, those living in Japan – including Japanese citizens and foreign residents – ... -
August 4, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Fruit-picking in Nagano – an Ideal Outdoor Activity in Summer & Autumn
As we head into the middle
of summer, there’s one thing on our mind here in Nagano… fruit! Lots and lots
of tasty fruit!
Blessed with an ideal climate for growing many varieties of fruit, ... -
July 30, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Relax & Renew in the Hot Springs of Central Japan
When planning your travel in Central Japan,
we recommend staying in the region’s many outstanding hot spring towns. Known
as ‘onsen’ in Japan, natural hot springs are found throughout the prefect... -
July 3, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Discover Central Japan
When researching and planning a visit to Japan, understanding the regions and which areas are nearby others, can be a little confusing – particularly for first-time visitors.
While some n... -
July 1, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Accessing Medical Assistance in Japan during COVID-19
In anticipation of the borders opening in future
and travel resuming under the cloud of COVID-19, one of the most important
questions travellers can ask is, should I need it, what access will I h... -
June 29, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Choosing your Accommodation in Japan
When considering your future travel to Japan, one of the biggest decisions is where to stay and what to expect once you arrive.
Japan is one of the cleanest countries and hygiene-focused ... -
June 26, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – When Can I Travel to Japan & is it Safe?
At the time of writing, entry to Japan is still banned for many foreign passport-holders. There is however conversation about how and when entry bans will be lifted with a strong focus on opening... -
June 24, 2020
#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy Japan
As announced in our recent blog, our website has been updated to include a section dedicated to COVID-19 including pages intended to help you make an informed decision about travelling to Japan. ... -
June 22, 2020
Snow Monkey Resorts Update: Introducing our Dedicated COVID-19 Information Pages
In response to the ongoing impact of coronavirus on global tourism, we have revised our website to include information and updates regarding COVID-19.
From our homepage you can access our... -
June 12, 2020
How to Get to Obuse
Most visitors traveling to Obuse will do so via Nagano Station. As such, most of the directions provided below instruct how to get to Nagano and from there, follow the directions to Obuse include... -
February 3, 2020
2020 Nagano Cherry Blossom Forecast
Known as 'sakura', cherry blossoms are synonymous with Japan and are seen to embody the fragile beauty of life itself. As the weather warms in spring, the flowers bloom and Japan will emerge from th... -
January 27, 2020
Snow Report January 2020: Where’s the Best Snow in Nagano this Winter?
It’s no secret that the snowfall in Nagano this winter is much less than usual. Unusually warm weather patterns have led to higher than normal temperatures and as a result, lower snowfall. Many ski ... -
September 21, 2019
[START FROM NAGANO CITY] Private Snow Monkey Tour
... -
September 18, 2019
Obuse & Yamada Onsen – 15 Things To Do
Obuse and Yamada Onsen, located just 20 km south of the Snow Monkey Park area, offer their visitors a perfect picture of how Japanese people used to live in the past. Surrounded by mountains and river... -
September 17, 2019
How to Get to Snow Monkey Park from Yamada Onsen – The Best Kept Secret Onsen Village
If you are thinking of visiting the Snow Monkey Park this year, you might be wondering where to stay in Nagano. Nagano Prefecture is one of the largest prefectures in Japan and is stretched out over 2... -
July 23, 2019
Onsen In & Around Nagano
As one of the most volcanic countries in the world, Japan is home to countless natural hot springs. Known as ‘onsen’, Japanese have a long history of seeking-out hot springs for their medicinal and he... -
June 4, 2019
SNOW MONKEY RESORTS WINTER TOURS & CHARTERS! START PLANNING YOUR NAGANO SKI & SNOWBOARD ADVENTURE FOR WINTER 2019/20!
Winter is never far away – or at least never out of mind – here in Nagano. With the past winter having come late but then refusing to call it quits, and ultimately blessing us with a massive amoun... -
May 20, 2019
Enjoy the Fruit of Nagano
The elevation of Nagano and resulting temperature difference between day and night, bless the region with an ideal climate for growing fruit. As such, Nagano produces some of Japan’s best fruit; most ... -
April 30, 2019
Explore Obuse
Once an important Edo Period (1603-1868) trading town, Obuse is a small historic town accessible using the Nagano Dentetsu (Nagaden) train line. Now known for its chestnut confectionaries, sake and mi... -
February 22, 2019
Introduction of Matsukawa Valley – Nagano’s Best Kept Secret
Less than an hour from Nagano Station, there is a place of tranquillity where orchards and farmlands lead to ravines, waterfalls and mountains beyond, and quiet communities go about their lives un... -
January 24, 2019
2019 NAGANO CHERRY BLOSSOM FORECAST
Spring in Japan brings beautiful weather and a welcome end to the cold of winter. As the weather warms and winter clothing is shed, the spirits lift and the world seems fresh and new again. A popu... -
August 20, 2018
THE 3 BEST ‘ONSENS’ (HOT SPRINGS) NEAR THE SNOW MONKEY PARK
The snow monkey region is famous for its numerous 'onsens' (natural hot springs) that bubble to the ground throughout the mountains. Mainly found in the town of Yudanaka, Shibu, and Kanbayashi Onsens,... -
August 16, 2018
STAYING OVERNIGHT AT THE SNOW MONKEY AREA: 9 THINGS TO DO
Many visitors headed to this region see the famous Snow Monkey Park as the primary destination and don't allocate time to explore other sights nearby the park. Given the global fame of the hot spring-... -
July 24, 2018
Autumn Leaves of Matsukawa Valley
Known as 'koyo' in Japanese, the autumn leaves of Nagano are an attraction to themselves and there is no better place to view them than the forests and mountains of Matsukawa Valley.
As t... -
July 20, 2018
Tacochi Backcountry Course
Starting at an altitude of 1750 meters in the Yamaboku Wild Snow Park, the Tacochi Course is something of a legend, running over 13kms down to Yamada Onsen below. Completely ungroomed, this is Japan's... -
Yamaboku Wild Snow Park
While small, Yamaboku Wild Snow Park makes-up for its compact size with deep powder and ungroomed runs giving the park a unique atmosphere that you won’t find elsewhere.
The entire park i... -
The Waterfalls Of Matsukawa Valley
Known for its natural beauty, the mountains and steep ravines of Matsukawa Valley are dissected by rivers and streams that lead to several famous waterfalls. Most notably, the Kaminaridaki, Shichi... -
May 3, 2018
SNOW MONKEYS & CHERRY BLOSSOM TOUR: THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GUESTS & LOOKING FORWARD TO CHERRY BLOSSOM TOURS IN 2019!
As spring continues to warm this year’s cherry blossom season has come to an end. During April, Snow Monkey Resorts welcomed many guests to the region on our 1-Day Snow Monkeys and Cherry Blossom Tou... -
April 12, 2018
2018/4/12 NAGANO CHERRY BLOSSOM UPDATE
Cherry blossoms, known locally as 'sakura', play an important role in Japanese society. Blooming sometime between late-March (at the earliest) and early-May (at the very latest), these beautiful flow... -
January 19, 2018
LIMITED PLAN: SNOW MONKEY TRANSPORTATION PASS & ACCOMMODATION
Senjukaku is celebrating their 90th year and has decided to provide an extra service to those coming to stay at the ryokan. In order to get to Senjukaku, you'll have to travel from JR Nagano Station t... -
September 2, 2017
HIGHWAY OASIS
Here you can find plenty of Japanese sweets and pickled vegetables, but also things like key rings and phone straps.
A spacious dining hall offers Japanese curry, noodles and delicious ice-cream made... -
July 9, 2017
Obuse Area
The town where Hokusai, a famous woodblock print artist, spent his last years. Hokusai was mainly for his Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji series. Obuse is a truly beautiful town which is shown by the fac... -
May 7, 2017
SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN THE SNOW MONKEY AREA
Even though this region is called the Snow Monkey area, we have more than six months without snow. Our Spring, Summer, and Autumn all have their own attractions. In this article we will expand on the ... -
April 8, 2017
CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON/SITES IN NORTHERN NAGANO
When you ask people to name three things that define Japan they usually name Mount Fuji, geisha, and cherry blossoms. Nagano Prefecture is quite far from Fuji and we would advise you to go to Kyoto to... -
October 17, 2016
Matsukawa Valley Hot Springs
Matsukawa Valley is blessed with many 'onsen' (natural hot springs), known for their therapeutic properties set within the rural and alpine beauty of the region. Approximately 30 minutes by bus from S... -
December 10, 2015
WHAT IS SNOW MONKEY RESORTS ?
“Snow Monkey Resorts” refers to numerous resorts nestled within northern Nagano prefecture in Japan, home of the world famous Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen).
Our landscape, which... -
December 1, 2015
Visit Ganshoin Temple
The Ganshoin Temple in Obuse is one with a long history. The most famous item of the temple is a painting made in 1848. Inside the temple you will find the last masterpiece of famous painter Hokusai w... -
Obuse Highway Oasis
The Obuse Highway Oasis is kind of a souvenir market where you can find everything from local wine to pickles, keys rings, and many more. There are also restaurant within the main building that serve ... -
November 25, 2015
SAKURAI KANSEIDO SENSEKITEI
Kanseidou's restaurant "Senseki-tei" is built on the place where the old house owned by the Takatsu family used to be. The restaurant was re-opened in September 2013 after some heavy renovation. The b... -
KURINOKI TERRACE
Enjoy a pot of tea and some Japanese cake in this shop with their Japanese take on a European café. There are many antiques and beautiful wooden seats and tables found in the cafe. They have a wide va... -
Takai Kozan Memorial Museum
Takai Kozan was one of the wealthiest farmer-merchants of Obuse. Highly cultured and intelligent, he studied Confucianism, Sinology and Western sciences. His house was frequented by all sorts of intel... -
Obuse Onsen: Kannon No Yu
Just outside the historic town of Obuse you will find Kannon-no yu, a hot spring on a hillside overlooking the mountains. There are separate indoor and outdoor baths for men and women. The water is na... -
Hokusai-kan Museum
Certainly Japan’s most famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai – more commonly referred to simply as Hokusai – spent some of his final years residing and painting in Obuse. Under the patronage of a wealthy ... -
November 24, 2015
Visit Onsen Ponpoko-No Yu
Ponpoko onsen is located in Shinshu Nakano City, the neighbouring city to Yudanaka, home of the Snow Monkeys. It has separate indoor and outdoor baths for men and women. The outdoor bath overlooks Nak... -
May 5, 2015
Yudanaka To Obuse Cycling
Obuse is a beautiful town where you can spend half a day roaming around, taking in the environment and trying all kinds of delicious treats. But why go there by train if you can have a beautiful cycle... -
December 4, 2014
Cherry Blossom Viewing in Matsukawa Valley
'Hanami' or 'flower viewing' is perhaps the quintessential Japanese activity and one of the highlights of any visit in spring. Given it's higher elevation, the cherry blossoms of Nagano including Mats...
