Private Tour
Private Snow Monkey Tour - Conveniently Resort Hop and Sightsee
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Starting from Nagano City or any of the Nagano's 5 main ski resorts
(Hakuba, Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, Myoko Kogen, Madarao Kogen) , we will pick your party up in our private vehicle to take you on your private tour and drop you off back at the pick up location or in Nagano City.
On this tour, you will visit the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park and learn all about what makes the resident monkeys so unique, and enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and experience Nagano’s renowned food culture.
Guests will also have a chance to stroll the charming streets of the historic town of Obuse, and enjoy viewing its remaining Edo period buildings, as well as explore Zenko-ji, one of Japan’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples, and home to the first known Buddhist statue to be brought to Japan.
A Sake tasting experience with detailed explanations from your guide is also included(non-alcoholic options available).
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Once your tour begins, you will board our private tour vehicle and leave the city behind as you are transported to the Snow Monkey Park, located in the onsen town Yudanaka at the foot of the mountains. 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 you back along the trail to nearby Hotarutei for a well-deserved lunch and you will enjoy "nabe," meaning "hot pot" in Japanese. Nabe is a classic winter food in Japan and a perfect way to warm up on a cold winter day. To suit individual preferences, you may choose between beef, seafood, or vegetarian nabe. In addition, your meal will include assorted tempura, miso soup, sushi, and tea/coffee. This beautifully prepared, filling lunch is designed to match the season and highlight the best of Nagano's renowned food culture.
What‘s Included
Enjoy Traditional Japanese lunch at a nearby restaurant and experience Nagano’s renowned food culture.
Private transportation
Guided tour at Zenko-ji Temple & Obuse Town
Private Tour guide
Sake Tasting
Snow Monkey Park entry tickets
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Start from Hakuba Ski Resorts
Meetup Point: Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your accommodation
Pickup included
Start from Nozawa Onsen
Meetup Point: Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your accommodation
Pickup included
Start from Shiga Kogen
Meetup point: Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your accommodation
Pickup included
Start from Nagano City
Meetup Point: Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your accommodation
Pickup included
Start from Myoko Kogen
Meetup Point: Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your accommodation
Pickup included
Start from Madarao Kogen
Meetup Point: Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your accommodation
Pickup included
Reviews
47 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Snow Monkey Tour
W3334LZinfo,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Kay was amazing, very helpful and full of great tips and information. It was definitely more icy, slippery than I realised so crampons are a good idea. Overall loved all aspects of the tour.
Perfect visit to Monkeys and more
Skitchmp,,Jan 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ren was a fantastic guide. She was on time, friendly, entertaining and made our visit a memorable one. Snow monkeys are better than imagined!!! Our driver was fabulous too and got us around safely and up to the snowy ski slopes. Snow Monkey Resorts is an all around wonderful company, do not hesitate using the for your visit.
Best in class tour of Nagano area with Snowmonkeys!
sbmiles1979,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was hands down one of the best tours I have ever done and I've been all over the world. I booked solo because my husband and friends were doing some back country skiing in Hakuba and I really wanted to see the snowonkeys. I was met at my hotel by Hana-san (Hana) with a very nice private van. We drove about an hour and a half to the snow monkey park. It was January so proper snow boots, pants, jacket, etc were essential because the park is about a 1.8 km walk from the entrance. The walk was beautiful. Once at the park, I saw so many monkeys everywhere! Also got to see a feeding by the park guides. Stopped at the gift shop on the way out and forgot to put my shopping bag away. A cheeky little monkey saw me and grabbed my bag so be very careful with any plastic bags! After the park, Hana took me to a old traditional restaurant outside the park for a traditional japanese set lunch, which was wonderful! We then drove to the historic town of Obuse for a quick stop to see the Edo period architecture and get some chestnut pastries, the town is known for. After Obuse, we went to the Zenko-ji temple in Nagano City, a buddhist temple with beautiful art, architecture and lovely shops. We ended with a sake tasting, which was really fun and I was able to bring some sake to my friends for dinner that night. All in all, a memorable and wonderful day. Hana spoke great English and was very knowledgeable about the area. I cannot recommend this tour and company highly enough!
Seamless, informative , fun and unique cultural tour
Tour274625,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fantastic and well organised trip. Started with picking us up from our hotel in heavy snow which was so kind . We headed to the monkey park and after an easy 30 minute walk we came across the beautiful monkeys relaxing in the onsen and just running around our feet. Scenery was beautiful walking through, like a snow bush walk. We then had lunch at a nearby restaurant which catered for us with meat seafood and vegetarian options. Beautifully presented with hotpot, sashimi , miso soup and such a pretty restaurant setting of our own private room. We were 2 families of 10 people travellingvtogether and it was perfect. We then headed to the temple which was a lovely snap shot of their beliefs and culture followed by a stroll through the streets where Endo our guide told us about Apple pie at Beni Beni ! It was incredible on a cold winters day with custard , salted caramel all made from their local Fuji apple orchards. We drove through snow covered Apple orchards, rice fields and cherry trees . It was very relaxing on the bus and picturesque. Endo was the perfect guide who told us about everything and answered many questions about the region. We finished off with saki tasting and non alcoholic saki for the 6 children. He dropped us off to Nagano train station and helped us with the correct exit for the Shinkansen . A wonderful experience from start to finish ! We are keen to come again for blossom season and have Endo guide us again. Well done to the bus driver nishi who navigated the bus through snow storm conditions and closed off highways ! Thanks again and we will be back. If you are looking to get from myoko ski area down to Osaka or Tokyo , do this tour as it’s on your way and a great use of the day before the train at 5:30pm .
Private snow monkey tour
adamtT3630BI,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Dillon is an amazing tour guide. Passionate friendly and accomodating. We dont feel rushed at all and he is knowledgable on most parts about the tour. Definitely one of the reason we will book a tour again with him!
An amazing, unique experience, paired with delicious food
lucaaF9548KG,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was a wonderfully unique experience through the snowy mountain landscape of Nagano, in a beautiful and well-maintained park that exceeds expectations: the trail, which takes around a couple of hours, leads through a beautiful valley where historic buildings still stand, and monkeys roam freely. For this track, I highly recommend bringing appropriate footwear and crampons if visiting in snowy weather, as I've seen plenty of tourists risk slipping. Our guide, Nadine, provided ample and clear explanations, sharing with our group her passion and knowledge of the area; both during the delicious provided lunch and the sake tasting, she was happy to answer our questions about the history and traditions of the region. The hotpot meal was great, providing a variety of local flavors that, especially in the cold weather of early january, were very appreciated, all in a traditional building of beautiful design. This tour has been one of my best vacation experiences maybe ever, and I suggest it to all those who love to walk mountain trails and immerse themselves in a well-rounded local experience!
Excellent day visiting the monkeys and learning about Japan.
andrewpH4166ZF,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an excellent day with Dillon from start to finish. He provided us with lots of interesting information during our journey, and answered many questions. The bus was very comfortable and our driver great also. We enjoyed lunch and tasting recommended treats. The monkey forest was a highlight but not the only one during our tour. Highly recommend!
A top tier tour
emilyy279,,Jan 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family of six had a great time on this tour! Huge shout out to our guide Hana-san and to our driver; we felt very taken care of and learned so much. The snow monkeys were adorable, the chestnut desserts we bought were delicious, and the history and customs of Zenkoji were super interesting to learn about. 10/10 would recommend!
Great tour, worth paying for private if able to.
S5330KYmelaniec,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The private tour was well worth the extra cost. Our guide Lin was so lovely. She provided us with options during the tour to ensure we had the best experience. Lin is so knowledgeable, especially around Japanese history, which added so much to the temple and Obuse aspects of the tour. The lunch provided was amazing and the pick up and drop off at our accommodation was so convenient especially as we’d had a lot of snow in the days leading up. The snow monkeys are the stars of the tour, very cute, able to get up close for great photo opportunities. Highly recommend this tour.
Professionalism and courtesy, rating to Nadine = 10/10
giovanni b,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Nadine was very helpful and told us everything there was to know about both the SNOW MONKEY PARK, and the restaurant where we ate. Very professional.
Related Experiences
Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)