7 Snow Monkey and Sake Day Trips in Nagano

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

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

Travel from Nagano to Zenko-ji Temple, a local sake tasting, and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park with an English-speaking guide. Expect a traditional lunch, forest walking, free time at each stop, and a real chance to see macaques near the hot spring. Winter guests from Hakuba can use the shuttle service.

“We were lucky to have Tom as our guide. He is extremely knowledgeable not only about Japanese history but also gave an excellent summary of sake production and the different types as well as the snow monkeys and Nagano attractions. Tom was also very generous with recommendations for other areas in Japan. The tour was an excellent combination of the temple tour and snow monkey forest. Fantastic lunch included. Plenty of time to see the Zenkoji temple as well as the monkeys. Thanks Tom”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

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

Follow an English-speaking guide through Zenkoji Temple, a local sake tasting and a generous Nagano lunch before walking 1.6 km to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Dylan, Brent, Tom and Hiroshi add local stories, practical help and humor. Winter pickup from Hakuba is available.

“What a wonderful day! The guides were great and very informative. The transportation was perfect. The meal was amazing. So fun and wonderful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Start at 8:45 am for a private Nagano day with an English-speaking guide. Walk to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, visit Zenko-ji, explore Obuse and the Hokusai Museum, then choose sake tasting or Shibu Onsen. Private-car and public-transport options are available.

“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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews

This private 8 to 10-hour Nagano tour links Zenko-ji Temple, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, a local lunch stop, and Obuse. An English-speaking guide or driver-guide such as Bhatti, Ahmed, or Waheed handles transport for up to six people. Expect walking, extra entry fees, and a flexible day.

“Visiting the snow monkeys was amazing and highly recommend. However be warned that this is in no way a wheelchair accessible, stroller accessible or if you’re unfit in any way physically to go, as it requires you to walk 1.25 miles each way in muddy/wet terrain and colRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with an English-speaking local guide to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, and Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Brewery. The day includes park admission, lunch, temple guiding, sake tasting, and transport, with guides such as Jens and Yama leading past tours.

“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”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Join a small group of up to 12 with guides such as Masa or Kei for a 7 to 8-hour Nagano day. Walk to Jigokudani’s macaque hot springs, eat lunch in Obuse, taste two sakes, visit the Hokusai area, and add Zenkoji Temple on early departures.

“This is a wonderful tour with Mr Masa if you have never been to Nagano. He is very knowledgeable and took us to see the snow monkeys , Obuse where we had a wonderful lunch and shopping and then to the Zenkoji temple.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake

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

Spend 10 hours with an English-speaking guide such as Endo, Lin, Kieron, or Yama, visiting the Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji, and a local sake stop. You’ll get transport, lunch, park entry, and tasting for $135, but expect a snowy forest walk and several hours on the bus.

“This trip and guide exceeded all expectations! Yama was a friendly local beekeeper guide, who was informative and very attentive to the group. It was amazing to be so close to the monkeys in such a beautiful location. I recommend trackers for your shoes for this tour. The monkeys wandered in between us and the little ones ran around playing and bathing! We did the snow monkey tour with a fantastic local cuisine lunch in a 200 year old farm house, visit to Nagano (beautiful town - be sure to walk the dark monk trail in the temple) and sake sampling. Highly recommend this tour for a taste of the…”

Check availability →Read our full review