(Spring Only) 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano

This tour combines a visit to Nagano's Jigokudani Monkey Park with an afternoon of cherry blossom-viewing at some of Nagano's best blossom spots. Known as 'sakura' in Japanese, the beautiful and fragile flowers are a must-see for any visitor to Japan, with Nagano's countless blossom trees coming into bloom later than other areas - the perfect activity to combine with your visit to the Snow Monkeys in spring!

**PLEASE NOTE - In the case that the cherry blossoms are not in bloom at any of the sites, we will contact you in advance to provide the option of switching onto our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour or a full refund. In that case, we will notify you of the change in itinerary a minimum of 2 days in advance.

Highlights

• Visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park in the morning and learn all about what makes the resident monkeys so unique
• Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant (including vegetarian options)
• Spend an afternoon wandering beneath the cherry blossoms and experience the Japanese tradition 'hanami' or 'flower viewing' as we take you to some of Nagano's best blossom sites, each selected for the quality of their bloom on the day of your tour
• Led by a locally-based guide and including transport and entry to all venues

Want to join this tour from Tokyo? It’s easy to do! Scroll to the bottom for our FAQs including train services that you can use to join the tour!

Review

Description

Morning: Spring Notes and Newborn Babies at the Snow Monkey Park

Witness the world-famous macaques in their natural habitat. The journey begins with pickups at Hotel Kokusai 21 (09:10) and Nagano Station (09:35). Your guide leads you along a beautiful 1.6km forest trail into the "Hell's Valley," home to the world’s only troop of monkeys known to bathe in natural hot springs.

• Spring Highlights: Spring is a magical time at the park as expectant mothers give birth. From mid-April to May, you may spot adorable newborns with their oversized eyes exploring the world for the first time.
• Expert Insight: With no barriers between you and the monkeys, your guide will explain the unique social hierarchy and behaviors of this famous troop.

Midday: Seasonal Nagano Lunch

Recharge with a delicious local meal near the park. After exiting the trail, enjoy a relaxed lunch at Hotarutei, a resorted 170-year-old historic farmhouse turned restaurant.

• Dietary Friendly: We offer a variety of meal choices, including excellent vegetarian and vegan options. Take this time to discuss the morning’s sightings with your guide before our afternoon 'hanami' flower viewing adventure.

Afternoon: The Art of 'Hanami' (Cherry Blossom Viewing)

Experience Japan’s most iconic spring tradition at the peak of the bloom. In the afternoon, we head to Nagano’s best cherry blossom sites. Because Nagano is mountainous and cooler than Tokyo, our "Sakura" typically bloom later (early to mid-April), offering a second chance for those who missed the blossoms in the south.

• The Best Bloom: We monitor a variety of famous local spots daily. We don't stick to a rigid route; instead, we take you to the specific site where the flowers are in their best condition on the day of your tour.
• Fragile Beauty: Your guide will share the cultural significance of the blossoms, which symbolize the fleeting and beautiful nature of life in Japan.

Evening: Return to Nagano

A relaxing conclusion to a day of nature and culture. As the afternoon light fades, we board the bus for the return journey.

• Flexible Drop-off: We arrive back at Nagano Station between 17:30 and 18:30, with drop-off at Hotel Kokusai 21 available upon request.
• Note: Return times vary slightly depending on which blossom site was selected for that day’s peak bloom.

Meetup Points

This tour operates from two meetup points in Nagano City - Hotel Kokusai 21 and Nagano Station:

HOTEL KOKUSAI 21 @ 09:10

The meetup point is at the entrance of Hotel Kokusai 21. Please note that this is group tour and there are other pick-up points therefore the tour will need to depart on-time. Please be at the entrance prior to the meetup time and look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. The tour will need to depart on-time.

NAGANO STATION @ 09:35

The meetup point is inside the station, in front of the Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen 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 09:40.

Notes

Included

• Transport from Nagano Station to the Snow Monkey Park and between all listed activities / attractions
• Snow Monkey Park entrance fee
• Lunch (vegetarian options are available)
• English-speaking guide

Excluded

• Shinkansen / 'Bullet Train' tickets to & from Nagano Station
• Additional food, snacks & drinks
• Accommodation (unless requested)

Other Information

• This tour involves a reasonable amount of walking and is therefore suitable to anyone of reasonable fitness. To access the monkey park guests must walk along a 1.6km / 1 mile forest trail. It takes most guests 20 to 25 minutes to walk in both directions. It is unsealed and in spring, typically dry and in good condition. Please wear suitable shoes for the walking forest trail and clothing suitable for changing weather conditions.
• This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travellers. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
• There are a few days in the year that the monkeys might not come down to the park. While it is unlikely it is possible and outside of our control.
• Newborn babies typically appear in the park from mid-April onward. We cannot however guarantee that babies will be present in the park on the day of your tour.
• Blossom-viewing sites are selected upon which is in best condition on the day of the tour. Chosen site/s for an individual tour cannot therefore be confirmed until the morning of that tour.
• In the case that the cherry blossoms are not in bloom at any of the above-mentioned sites on the day of the tour, we will instead take you to Zenko-ji Temple and 'sake' tasting. In that case, we will notify you of the change in itinerary a minimum of 2 days in advance.
• This tour uses restaurants nearby the monkey park, including 'Enza Cafe' and 'GOEN'. Operating days of those restaurants can vary so we cannot confirm which restaurant we will use in advance of the tour.
• 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.
• The tour application deadline is 1 day before the tour date at 17:00.
• Please note, there may be possible changes in the itinerary/included experiences due to local events, weather, restaurant availability, or other unforeseeable factors.