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

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長野市, Japan
1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour
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1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour
The only troop of monkeys in the world known to bathe in hot springs - a naturally-learned behaviour.
This tour combines a visit to the monkeys with a guided tour of Zenko-ji - one of Japan's oldest and most important Buddhist temples.
Lunch varies between seasons - in winter, your choice of beef, chicken or vegetarian hot-pot along with appetisers and a dessert.
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From $152.12

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Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
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Safety measures
icon8 hours  (Approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English

Overview

See two of the top attractions near Nagano on this full-day excursion. Explore the tranquil grounds of Zenko-ji, a lovely religious site known for its historic Buddhist statue. Enjoy a sake tasting and lunch before heading down a beautiful forest trail to the home of the snow monkeys, a group of local macaques known for their willingness to live in the snow and bathe in the local hot spring.
  • Explore Zenko-ji, one of Japan’s oldest Buddhist temples
  • Take a break from sightseeing to enjoy a sake-tasting experience
  • Learn about snow monkeys in their natural habitat at the Snow Monkey Park
  • Enjoy a traditional Japanese lunch at a restaurant near Nagano
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From $152.12

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Transportation fee from Nagano to the Snow Monkey Park and between activities/attractions
Lunch (vegetarian and vegan options available, please try to let us know in advance)
Sake tasting
English-speaking guide
Shinkansen/bullet train tickets
Entry to paid attractions at Zenko-ji
Additional food, snacks and drinks

Departure Point

Japan, 〒380-0921 長野県長野市大字栗田５９

For guests joining in Nagano City: your guide will be waiting in front of the Information Board, directly across from the shinkansen/bullet train ticket gates at 09:35.

Departure Point

4688 Hokujō, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan

For guests joining from Tokyu Hotel in Hakuba (winter only)*: your guide will meet you at the entrance of the hotel at 07:45 holding a Snow Monkey Resorts Sign

Departure Point

Japan, 〒399-9301 Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Hakuba, Hokujō, 大字北城八方5734-1

For guests joining from Happo Bus Terminal (winter only)*: your guide will be waiting at Happo Bus Terminal at 07:55 holding a Snow Monkey Resorts Sign

Return Details

Japan, 〒380-0921 長野県長野市大字栗田５９

Tour concludes at JR Nagano Station with an estimated arrival time of 17:30

Return Details

Japan, 〒399-9301 Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Hakuba, Hokujō, 大字北城八方5734-1

Tour concludes at Happo Bus Terminal with an estimated arrival time of 18:30

Return Details

4688 Hokujō, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan

Tour concludes at Tokyu Hotel with an estimated arrival time of 18:45

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking including to and from the monkey park along a 1.6km (1 mile), unsealed forest trail. Please sure your footwear is approriate and you are dressed accordingly for the season.
  • Guests are required to follow the Snow Monkey Park rules at all times. Guests are not permitted to touch, hold, feed or bathe with the monkeys at any time. There are no barriers separating the monkeys from visitors to the park. Please ensure you keep a minimum distance of 1 to 2 meters between yourself and the monkeys. Your guide will explain the rules prior to entering the park.
  • There are a few days in the year that the monkeys might not come down to the park. In such case we will provide an alternative activity.
  • Infants (0-5) are welcome to join the tour free of charge and as such, do not receive lunch. If food is required, please order and pay directly at the restaurant.
  • This tour includes lunch at Monzen Terrace Enya. On rare occasions it may not be possible to use this restaurant in which case we would switch to another, comparable location.
  • The start and finish of the tour are arranged according to the bullet train (called Hokuriku Shinkansen) timetable. See below for specific timetables on the bullet train departure and arrival times to/from Nagano Station.
  • Departure Tokyo Station – Arrival Nagano Station: Tokyo: 07:20 – Nagano: 08:43 – Kagayaki (reserved seats only) * Tokyo: 07:24 – Nagano: 09:14 – Asama Tokyo: 07:52 – Nagano: 09:30 – Hakutaka
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Departure Nagano Station – Arrival Tokyo Station Nagano: 17:55 – Tokyo: 19:20 – Kagayaki (reserved seats only) Nagano: 18:22 – Tokyo: 20:00 – Hakutaka
  • This tour is scheduled to conclude at JR Nagano Station by 17:30. However, due to weather and road conditions in winter we cannot guarantee the end time. For guests booking shinkansen tickets to travel to Tokyo after the tour in winter, we ask that you do not book any service earlier than the 17:55 Kagayaki (reservation only) or our recommendation of the 18:22 Hakutaka. For guests booking onward tickets to other destinations we also recommend doing so for times of 18:00 or later.
  • This tour does not include bullet train/shinkansen tickets. For guests traveling to Nagano from Tokyo, Kanazawa or other hubs, please check the train schedule and pricing in advance of the day of your tour to avoid unexpected delays and costs.
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Machinovate Japan Ltd.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
See all safety measures taken by 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour?
A:The policies on sanitization are:

  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
See all safety measures taken by 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour?
A:The policy on social distancing is:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
See all safety measures taken by 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Regular temperature checks for staff
See all safety measures taken by 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "The monkeys were all over, so don't worry about not seeing any (even during the summer or off season)." See review
  • "I found a gelato bar along the way which offers premium gelato, a must to try out." See review
  • "At the end of the day, grab some sushi from the local market at the train station and settle in for the ride back to Tokyo without much of a care except remembering your experience with the monkeys!" See review

Reviews

5.0
star-5
194 Reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-10 of 194 reviews
star-5
Wonderful Day!
jptraveleranon
, Nov 2020
There was only five of us in the group so it felt more casual and relaxed than it would have in a bigger group. Our guide, Pete, was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable and knew interesting facts about the temple, the customs, and the history. He was also very approachable and flexible during the tour. We didn't feel rushed and it was very enjoyable. The temple was very interesting and the fall colors were beautiful. There were many things to do and see at the temple so don't worry about being bored. The sake tasting was great and one of the employees explained things about the sake and miso in english. The lunch portion of the tour wasn't that remarkable but the food was good and the service was nice. The restaurant was also beautiful and clean. You only get two options: vegetarian or chicken. Dessert is included in the lunch as well. The snow monkey park was the best part of the tour (not by much). Walking to the park was easy and took about 20 minutes. The walk itself was nice and relaxing. The park was beautiful and picturesque. We lucked out that day and the park was full of snow monkeys. There were so many I wasn't sure where to look. You can get so close to the monkeys and they run around your feet unafraid. Don't be afraid to sign up even if it is raining. From my understanding the rain makes it more likely the monkeys will go down and get in the onsen. They didn't go in the onsen that day but that was hardly a detriment. The monkeys were so cute and interesting to watch. I definitely recommend this tour if you're visiting Nagano specially in the fall or winter time. You will get your money's worth.
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icon Response from Host , Nov 2020
Thank you for taking the time to write a review and thank you for choosing us! We are very happy to hear you enjoyed the day and there was lots of monkeys at the park. Autumn is a pretty spectacular time of year in Nagano and when you get lots of monkeys at the park, it's a pretty enjoyable experience. Again, thanks for taking the time to write a review and all the best for Christmas and into the New Year!
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star-5
Shrines, Sake, Snow Monkeys
Jordan_W
, Mar 2020
An excellent day with great company! The snow monkeys were a treat. The temple tour was very comprehensive and the sake tasting plus lunch were very good. Highly recommended.
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star-5
wonderful trip!
millim1682
, Jan 2020
that was a really fun day for me. lunch was yummy. the temple visit is really interesting. The tour guides were extremely helpful and excited to take us around
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star-5
Fantastic
Nomad369814
, Dec 2019
I had an amazing time on this tour. The temple was especially beautiful, the monkeys were as full of monkey-ness as anyone could hope, and the guides added so much depth to the experience, while still giving plenty of space to explore on our own (a trickier balance to achieve than it might seem). Really thoughtfully arranged.
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star-5
Amazing experience
mlgunder13
, Dec 2019
We had an incredible time on this full day tour. Our guide was nice, informative, and really enjoyable to spend the day with. The temple visit was interesting and beautiful, and the time we were able to spend with the monkeys was a once in a lifetime experience. It was December which meant the monkeys were out in huge numbers, but not many were bathing. Would love to come back in deep winter to see them truly in snow. We even got to stop in to taste local fruit and buy some snacks for the road. Absolutely would recommend this tour.
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star-5
Snow monkeys!
Deirdre O
, Dec 2019
Even though it was off season, this was a great tour. There was only 2 of us and we had the guide to ourselves for the day. He was a very nice Australian fella who has lived there for years and has a great knowledge and enthusiasm for the area. The temple tour, sake tasting and lunch we had at the start were very enjoyable but the highlight was definitely the monkeys who we were lucky enough to see for a great length of time even though it was off season. Our guide had a great knowledge of the monkeys and was able to identify individuals, their different personalities and how they affect the group's behaviour. The guide also had many suggestions for what we could do for the rest of our time in the area. All in as all this was a great tour with a great guide and we would highly recommend it!
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star-5
Monkeys rock
7ilkkar
, Nov 2019
Our tour guide was fantastic! She able to gave us a deeper understanding of what we were experiencing! Although we were told No monkeys many times, 7 male monkeys came down to eat. We were a couple feet from them. Wow. Monkeys made the experience!
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star-5
Fun time, lots of Monkeys
Curiosity05506132729
, Oct 2019
Great tour guide, one of the best from our trip. She was helpful, informative, and willing to take photos. The monkeys were all over, so don't worry about not seeing any (even during the summer or off season). It was a great experience that definitely made our Japan trip more enjoyable. Highly recommended. Even the walk/train ride there was fun. We did go when it was warm outside. We might want to try again when it's colder to get some more iconic pictures of the snow. The monkeys did go for a swim despite the heat, plus we got to see a lot of baby monkeys around this time of year.
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star-5
Amazing
syoung3315
, Oct 2019
Zenko-Ji is a superb example of a Buddhist temple and the sake tasting was informative and fun. The highlight of the trip was the Snow Monkey Park. I was slightly concerned that there were warnings that the monkeys may not make an appearance in Autumn. Fear not! There was one sitting on the entrance building and the whole troup of around 150-160 monkeys were around the river and the hot spring. Lots of babies as well - brilliant! And our guide Mai was great - lots of good information and superb English!
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star-5
A great tour
overcc
, Sep 2019
Our tour guide Peter made sure this would be a tour to remember for the best of reasons. From beginning to end it was obvious that customer experience was the goal. Clear concise arrival/meeting/departure information. Made for a stress less arrival from Tokyo. Good decision to do temple in the cool of morning. We were a small group and it was obvious Peter had great local and cultural knowledge as we asked a lot of questions. Good amount of free time. Temple was beautiful, bonus got a good fortune. Sake tasting with local no pressure to buy, devine lunch at local restaurant. Then in to see the monkeys a leisurely stroll with a few steps through the forest was pleasant even in the light rain. Peter has made it clear that they are wild animals and they may not be there but they were much to our delight. We have no hesitation in recommending this tour Peta and Phil
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