A great tour for all seasons, this is a 1-day guided tour of the most famous attractions of Nagano City and Jigokudani or “Hell’s Valley”, home of the Snow Monkeys. Take a scenic route to see the cutest monkeys in the world, then experience the tranquility of Zenkoji Temple and lively Nakamise shopping street. For guests traveling from Hakuba, from December through March, your journey can begin with a shuttle from Hakuba Happo Bus Terminal at 7:55 AM; otherwise, meet your guide at Nagano Station at 9:35 AM (please be at your chosen pickup point in advance of the meetup time as the tour needs to depart on-time). Famous for being the temple to hold the first Buddhist statue in Japan. Zenkoji Temple has a special energy and welcomes people of all faiths and religions. The temple grounds are beautiful and tranquil; there are hidden gems to explore, such as the dark tunnel running under the temple, said to be where you can gain enlightenment by finding the “Key To Paradise”. After lunch, return to Nagano Station again by public transport and take local bus from there to the Snow Monkeys. World-famous for their rare habit of soaking in the hot spring and living in the snow, these amazing macaques will let you get really close to them for some great photo opportunities and an unforgettable experience. After saying goodbye to the snow monkeys, stroll back along the tranquil forest trail to a delicious lunch at the restaurant near the trail exit. After seeing the Snow Monkeys, head to the local Japanese sake brewery to try various types of sake maybe even find a nice souvenir for yourself.

Visit the newly reopened Nagai Botanical Garden, which is run by the art collective teamLab as a hybrid garden and art space. Wander through the grounds home to roughly 1,200 species of plants, then enjoy the interactive art installations which come alive at night. Stroll through the botanical gardens, with its 240,000 square meters of grounds and wide array of plant species to admire. Stop by the central pond and relax in the serene natural beauty of the gardens. As night draws in, stay to discover teamLab’s unique art project which explores how nature can become art. The concept of the project is that non-material digital technology like light displays can turn nature into art without harming it.  Watch incredible light spectacles which actively interact with the surrounding nature, animals, and visitors, and become part of the artwork yourself as you experience it. 

Enjoy a day out playing on the slopes of Shiga Kogen. Sample delicious Japanese or Western food for lunch and capture unforgettable pictures of the adorable snow monkeys of Jigokudani. Meet your guide at Nagano or Yudanaka station. Board the tour bus and head straight to the mountains of Shiga Kogen, Japan and Asia's largest and highest ski resort. Upon arrival, spend 1.5 hours enjoying the snow. Whizz down the mountain on a snowscoot, snowdrive, sled, or tube. After working up an appetite, stop for lunch at a restaurant adjoining the ski slopes. Choose from a daily menu of traditional Japanese fare and Western favorites. After lunch, board the tour vehicle for the short journey out of the mountains and onto the Snow Monkey Park. As the only troop of monkeys in the world known to bathe in hot springs, the monkeys of Jigokudani have achieved global fame and observing them going about their monkey business is a real treat.  Finally, return to the station after a snow-filled adventure that promises to leave a lasting impression. 

This tour takes you from JR Nagano Station to the world-famous Jigokudani snow monkeys and to some of the most beloved cherry blossom viewing spots in Nagano. Seeing the blooming cherry blossoms (called hanami in Japanese) is one of the most Japanese things one can do whilst being in the land of the rising sun. Located in a chilly, mountainous region, northern Nagano’s blossoms start blooming later than those in cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. Every year, the blossoms normally come into bloom from the middle of April. Nagano is not as famous as an aforementioned city but has many lovely places where you can see the brightly colored flowers. If you wish to get off the beaten track and see the wild monkeys and cherry blossoms on the same day, this tour is perfect for you. First, you will be taken to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you can observe the wild Japanese macaques at an incredibly close distance. April is generally the month when newborn babies arrive to the Jigokudani monkey troop. Usually there are 20 to 30 babies born every spring, and it’s endearing to see the newborns taking their first step and climb. After being filled by a Japanese lunch, the tour will take you to the hanami spots where cherry blossoms can be seen. The spots are selected depending on the degree of bloom of the blossoms on the tour date. Each spot has different types of cherry blossoms with overall more than 500 to 1000 sakura trees. Experience the yearly tradition to welcome spring in full. After enjoying the cherry blossoms, you will be taken to the train that takes you back to JR Nagano Station. The tour is scheduled to conclude at JR Nagano Station by 6:30 PM. Don’t miss this special opportunity to witness Japan’s beautiful spring.

Spend the day with your guide exploring the highlights of the amazing city of Hiroshima. Explore the city's downtown, learn about the events of 1945, and visit the beautiful island of Miyajima. Walk around the Peace Memorial Park which is dedicated to the memories of the direct and indirect victims of the nuclear bomb attack in 1945. Continue to Genbaku Dome, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded. Visit the Peace Memorial Museum where you will see belongings left behind by victims of the nuclear attack, artifacts from the bomb, and read testimonies from survivors. As you explore the museum you will learn about the horrors, inhumane nature, and events of the 1945 attack. Try some local foods like Hiroshima-yaki or oysters for lunch before you finish up your tour of downtown Hiroshima. Board a ferry downtown and head to Miyajima, the Island of the Gods. Marvel at the floating red torii gate in high tide and go inside the Itsukushima shrine built over the sea.

Your tour begins with pickup from one of two locations: Hakuba’s Happo Bus Terminal at 11:45 AM or JR Nagano Station at 1 PM. After meeting your guide, you’ll hit the road and head towards Yamanouchi, home to the only hot spring-bathing monkeys in the world, Japanese snow monkeys.  After arriving near the monkey park area at 2 PM, your guide will lead you along a snow-covered forest trail to the park itself. Found deep inside Jigokudani, or “Hell’s Valley”, your guide will explain the history and importance of the park and give you plenty of time to enjoy the unique experience of observing the snow monkeys in close proximity. Then enjoy an early dinner at a nearby restaurant where you’ll learn all about Nagano’s renowned food culture. Next, you’ll head to Nozawa Onsen, where you’ll witness one of Japan’s three great fire festivals. After arriving at around 6 PM, you’ll have ample time to explore the village before the main event begins. Preparations start at 7 PM with singing, drumming, fireworks, and more. Then it’s time for the main event, during which the town will converge on a wooden shrine. Fueled by tradition, bravado, and drinking, the mock battle takes place with an explosion of embers. After the gods have been deemed happy and ready to bless the villagers with good luck, harvest, and happiness, the shrine will be set on fire at 10 PM.  At 10:45 PM you’ll regroup with your guide at the designated meeting point and be transported back to your original pickup point.

Located around 35KM to the north-east of Nagano Station, the Jigokudani Monkey Park – often referred to as the ‘Snow Monkey Park – is open all year round and home to one very curious troop of monkeys known best for their hot spring-loving antics. Whether you are headed this way in winter, spring, summer or autumn the monkey park is always worth visiting and one of Nagano’s most popular destinations. Based in Nagano and operating all year round, we are a fully-accredited charter operator with the expertise to ensure your journey is safe, comfortable and convenient. With vehicles suitable for single travelers, couples and families to groups of up to 45 people, we can transport you to and from the monkey park including oversized luggage such as ski, snowboards and other outdoor gear. Which vehicle suits you best depends on your group size and amount of luggage. We can arrange any of the following vehicles for transport to and from the monkey park:

This tour offers amazing value for those keen skiers wanting to hop between ski resorts for their Nagano ski vacations, while seeing some of the best of what Nagano has to offer along the way! Once your tour begins, you will board our private tour vehicle and begin your journey to the Snow Monkey Park. Your guide will take you along the forest trail which leads to the park and into Jigokudani – rather dramatically translating to ‘Hell’s Valley’. Home to the only troop of monkeys in the entire world known to bathe in hot springs, there are no barriers separating you from the wild monkeys, making this a unique and memorable experience. Your guide will introduce these truly curious creatures and provide you time to enjoy the unique experience of observing them in close proximity. Make sure to bring your camera as you`re going to need it! Your guide will then accompany back along the trail and you will enjoy a traditional Japanese ‘Bento’ Box Lunch with variety that is sure to please any tastes. This specially prepared bento is locally sourced and offers a visually pleasing and decadent experience that will leave you wanting more! This lunch is designed to match the season and highlight the best of Nagano’s renowned food culture. Well-fed and content, it’s time to head-out of Yudanaka to explore the picturesque town of Obuse, and its remaining Edo-style buildings. Known for its historic character, chestnut delicacies and sake breweries, walking the streets of Obuse provides an incredible opportunity to sample some local specialties and appreciate the local culture of Nagano and Japan as a whole in this stroll through time. After spending some time in Obuse, you will once more board the private vehicle bound for Zenko-ji Temple. As a registered National Treasure, the temple is the most important cultural site in Nagano and one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in the entire country! A place of true historic importance, full of legends and myths, you will be guided around the temple before your guide will give you the opportunity to explore the surrounding precinct of smaller temples, shops, and food by yourself. As Japan’s second largest producer of sake, Nagano is synonymous with sake and no visit to the region is complete without delving into Japan’s most famous beverage. Your guide with lead your party to a local producer of sake, and introduce how to differentiate one brew from another as you taste a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The information provided by your guide will allow you to continue to enjoy sake in a meaningful way even after the tour concludes. After sake tasting concludes, the guide will say their goodbyes as you board the bus to your selected drop-off location. The ride back is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and look through all those monkey photos before you finally arrive safe and sound at your destination!