Best Snow Monkey Tours from Tokyo 2026

A baby snow monkey clinging to its mother in falling snow beside the Jigokudani hot spring

Steam rolls off a rock pool in a cedar-lined valley, and a macaque with frost on its eyebrows shuts its eyes and settles in up to the chin. This is Jigokudani, about 200 km from Tokyo, and you can get there and back in a day. The hard part is choosing how.

Coach tours look cheap until you count about seven hours on the expressway. A “private tour” with a low headline price can turn out to be the price for one person, with park entry and lunch extra. And this winter there’s a new rule: from December to April the park gives priority entry to people holding online tickets, so on a busy day it matters who has bought yours.

We checked the GetYourGuide listings and the operators’ own websites in October and November 2026. The tours worth booking are below, with what each one costs per person, how much time you get with the monkeys, and when doing it yourself is the better deal.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are GetYourGuide affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick answer
Best overall: take the Shinkansen to Nagano yourself and join Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip (4.9/5 from 990+ reviews), with park entry, lunch and a guide included. Sold direct by Snow Monkey Resorts for ¥21,800, it comes to about ¥38,700 per adult including the return Shinkansen.
One booking from Tokyo: a coach from Shinjuku. From Tokyo: Snow Monkey 1 Day Tour with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch (H.I.S., 4.6/5 from 360+ reviews) includes park entry and lunch, but you spend about 7 hours on the coach.
Groups of 4–6: a private car from Tokyo (from $383–443 per group on GetYourGuide) works out at roughly US$80–125 per person with park entry and lunch, and lets you decide how long you stay at the park.
DIY costs about ¥22,000 return per adult from 1 December 2026 (train, local transport and a web ticket) and gives you the most time with the monkeys.
No tour can promise bathing monkeys or snow. You have the best odds from December to February.

Which snow monkey tour from Tokyo should you book?

For most first-timers, the Nagano Station group tour plus your own bullet train gives you the best day. Choose the coach if you want one booking with everything included, and a private car if you’re a group of four or more.

Your situation	Best choice	Why
Solo or couple, happy to catch a train	Nagano Station group tour + Shinkansen	About 3.5 h less road time than the coach, a guide, and Zenko-ji and sake tasting thrown in
Want one booking from Tokyo	Shinjuku coach tour	Park entry and lunch included, you just turn up at Shinjuku
Family or friends, 4–6 people	Private car from Tokyo	The per-person cost drops below the Nagano tour, door to door
Staying in Nozawa Onsen or Hakuba	Ski-resort tour	Shortest drive. Some run in the afternoon after a morning on the slopes
Confident with trains, on a budget	DIY	Cheapest, and you can stay at the park as long as you like
Big budget, want the bullet train with a guide	Bullet-train private tour	The only GYG day trip with Shinkansen tickets included, but it’s expensive

How do the tours compare side by side?

The table below lists the main snow monkey tours from Tokyo, Nagano and Nozawa Onsen on GetYourGuide in November 2026. Prices are “from” prices as displayed and change often. Ratings are GetYourGuide’s, not ours.

Tour (exact title)	Starts	Transport	Duration	Park entry / lunch	From price	Rating (reviews)
Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip	Nagano Station 09:35	Tour vehicle (Shinkansen not included)	8–12 h	Yes / yes	¥21,800 direct; check GYG for your date	4.9 (990+)
From Tokyo: Snow Monkey 1 Day Tour with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch (H.I.S.)	Shinjuku “LOVE” sculpture	Coach	1 day	Yes / yes	Check listing	4.6 (360+)
Nagano Snow Monkey Day Trip from Tokyo by Bullet Train (MY Travel Consulting)	Tokyo pickup	Shinkansen + public transport, private guide	12 h	Yes / no	US$1,228 (shown per person)	New (no reviews yet)
Tokyo: Private Snow Monkey Park & Nagano Scenic Day Trip (Zameer Haider)	Tokyo or Nagano	Private car	10 h	No / no	US$102 headline pp	4.9 (220+)
Tokyo: Snow Monkey & Nagano Customiseable Private Day Tour	Tokyo, Nagano and others	Private car	10–12 h	Check listing	Check listing	4.8 (180+)
Tokyo: Nagano Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Private Tour (Tour Royal Japan)	Hotel in Tokyo, Nagano, Hakuba or Obuse	Private car, up to 6	10 h	No / no	US$443 per group up to 6	4.8 (80)
Nagano/Tokyo: Snow Monkey Private Day Tour At Lowest Rate	Hotel in Tokyo or the Nagano area	Private car, up to 6	10 h	No / no	US$383 per group up to 6	4.8 (55)
From Tokyo: Private Day Trip to Snow Monkey & Zenkoji (Travel Japan Together)	Shinjuku hotel	Private, with guide	1 day	No / no	US$445 per person	5.0 (5)
Nagano: Snow Monkey Park, Soba Lunch, and Shibu Onsen Tour	Nagano, Yudanaka or Iiyama station	Small group	4 h	Yes / yes	US$127 pp	5.0 (17)
From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake (Machinovate Japan)	Nozawa Onsen	Tour vehicle	10 h	Yes / yes	US$139 pp	4.9 (16)

“Check listing” means GetYourGuide shows the figure by date or option. Read the “Includes” list before you book, and treat a listing with fewer than about 30 reviews as a thin record.

Can you book direct with the operator instead?

Yes, for the main group tours and charters, and the prices are close to GetYourGuide’s. Here’s what the operators’ own sites listed on 2 October 2026:

Operator / product	Starts	Price	Season	Notes
Snow Monkey Resorts: 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano	Nagano Station 09:35 (Hakuba pickups 07:20–08:10 in winter)	¥21,800 adult (13+) / ¥14,500 child (6–12)	All year; Hakuba pickups Dec–Mar	Same itinerary as the GYG Nagano tour
Snow Monkey Resorts: (Winter Only) 1-Day Tour From Nozawa Onsen	Nozawa Grand Hotel 08:50 / Chuo Bus Terminal 09:00	¥21,800 / ¥14,500	Dec–Mar	Monkeys in the morning, Zenko-ji and sake in the afternoon
Snow Monkey Resorts: [START FROM NAGANO CITY] Private Snow Monkey Tour	Nagano City	From ¥134,200 per group	All year	Private guide and vehicle
Snow Monkey Resorts charter: Nagano Stn → park (3 h stop) → Nagano Stn	Nagano Station	From ¥77,400 (HiAce van)	All year	Transport only, no guide
Snow Monkey Resorts charter: Tokyo → Snow Monkey Park	Tokyo	From ¥170,600 (HiAce van), one way	All year	4–5 h drive
Nozawa Onsen Kotsu: Snow Monkey Tour	Nozawa Onsen Kotsu office, check-in 12:30–13:00	¥9,000 adult / ¥5,000 child (under 12)	Daily, 1 Dec–31 Mar	Minimum 2 adults. A 10% “earlybird” code was advertised until 30 Nov
Hakuba.com: Snow Monkey Tour	Hakuba pickups from 08:00	¥18,500 adult (12+) / ¥12,500 child (3–11)	Dec–Mar	Includes park, Obuse lunch and Zenko-ji; the page doesn’t state the season year

The Nozawa tour costs about the same on GetYourGuide (US$139) as direct (¥21,800, about US$141 at ¥155 to the dollar). Prices on both move with exchange rates, so compare on your date.

Is a coach tour from Shinjuku worth it?

Yes, if you want a single booking and don’t mind the bus. You get everything in one price, but roughly an hour with the monkeys for about seven hours on the road.

H.I.S.: From Tokyo: Snow Monkey 1 Day Tour with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch. You meet at the Nishi-Shinjuku “LOVE” sculpture outside Shinjuku i-Land. The listed itinerary is 3.5 hours by coach (with two or three service-area stops), a 1-hour sukiyaki lunch at Shinshu Fruitsland, 30 minutes more by coach, a 2-hour park visit, then 3.5 hours back to Tokyo Mode Gakuen. Park entry, lunch and an English-speaking guide are included, with pork, vegetarian and vegan alternatives available. Crampons are sold on board. From 23 January to 1 March 2027 the tour also visits the Kamakura snow-hut village. It’s rated 4.6/5 from 360+ reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead; check the price for your date on the H.I.S. sukiyaki coach listing.

The small print matters. The walk from the car park to the monkeys takes more than 30 minutes each way, so the 2-hour stop gives you about an hour at the pools. H.I.S. says bathing is “not guaranteed” and less likely after mid-March. The tour is for international tourists only, there are no drop-offs in Nagano, and it isn’t suitable for wheelchair users or pregnant travellers.

Other coach operators run similar Shinjuku departures with lunch at Shinshu Fruit Land. Before you book a newer one, check that it shows a star rating as well as a review count, and read its “not suitable for” list, which can exclude young children and older travellers.

Verdict: ✅ Lowest effort, one booking. ❌ Not ideal if you get carsick, have toddlers, or want time to wait for the perfect photo.

Is there a snow monkey tour that includes the bullet train?

Only one day trip on GetYourGuide includes it, and it’s expensive. For most people, buying your own Shinkansen ticket and joining the Nagano group tour costs a fraction of the price.

Nagano Snow Monkey Day Trip from Tokyo by Bullet Train (MY Travel Consulting) is a private 12-hour trip with a national licensed guide, newly listed on GetYourGuide, with no reviews yet. It includes pickup from your hotel or a station, bullet-train tickets, public transport and park admission, but not lunch. The listing notes that the bullet-train tickets need about four days’ notice. It shows a price of US$1,228, labelled per person, so confirm the total for your group at checkout. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours ahead. Our snow monkey tours by bullet train page covers the train-based options in more detail.

Verdict: ⚠️ Niche. A reserved seat on the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano costs ¥8,450 each way (¥8,250 as an e-ticket) (as of November 2026; check before you travel). Book that yourself and join a Nagano tour, and you get a similar day for roughly a fifth of the price.

Why is the Nagano Station tour our top pick?

Because it cuts your road time to about two hours, includes a real guide, and adds Zenko-ji and a sake tasting. It costs more than DIY once you add the train, but the day is far less tiring than the coach.

Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip is rated 4.9/5 from 990+ reviews on GetYourGuide. The same itinerary is sold direct by Snow Monkey Resorts for ¥21,800 per adult. You meet inside Nagano Station at 09:35. The tour spends 10:00–11:30 at Zenko-ji, followed by a tasting at the Yoshinoya sake brewery, then lunch at 12:00 and the drive to the park at 13:00. You walk the trail 14:00–14:40, have 14:40–15:40 with the monkeys, and are back at Nagano Station at about 17:35. Park entry, lunch, the sake tasting and an English-speaking guide are included. The Zenko-ji inner sanctuary fee and your Shinkansen ticket are not.

Getting there: Snow Monkey Resorts suggests the 07:52 Hakutaka from Tokyo (arriving Nagano 09:30). In winter, it asks you not to book a return earlier than the 17:56 Kagayaki and recommends the 18:23 Hakutaka (into Tokyo at 20:00), because snow can delay the drive back.

Realistic cost: ¥21,800 + ¥16,900 return Shinkansen ≈ ¥38,700 (about US$250) per adult.

If you’d rather plan Nagano yourself, our Nagano day trip from Tokyo times Zenko-ji and the monkeys by train.

Verdict: 🏆 Best overall. You get an hour with the monkeys, like the coach, but with a much easier day and two extra highlights. The trade-off is that you sort out your own train tickets.

Is a private car tour from Tokyo worth it?

For groups of four to six, yes: it costs less per head than the Nagano tour, and you control the timings. For one or two people it’s the most expensive way to go.

Most private listings on GetYourGuide charge per group: the Lowest Rate private day tour is $383 for up to six (4.8/5 from 55 reviews), and the Tour Royal Japan Nagano and Zenkoji private tour is $443 for up to six (4.8/5 from 80). The Zameer Haider private scenic day trip has the most reviews, 4.9/5 from 229, and shows a headline price of $102 per person; park entry and lunch are extra, so check the checkout total for your party. Our guide to which snow monkey tour from Tokyo is right for you compares these charters by price basis in detail.

The catches:

Park entry and lunch are often excluded. All four private listings above list them as extras, including Travel Japan Together’s guided private day trip, which costs $445 per person and allows free cancellation only up to 7 days ahead, not 24 hours.
The drive is still long. Private cars face the same 3.5–4 hours each way as the coach.
Some itineraries try to fit in too much. If a tour packs in four or five stops, the park can get just an hour. Ask how long you’ll have at Jigokudani.
Check that the vehicle is licensed for paid passengers (green plates). See our private tour guide.

Verdict: ✅ Best for families and groups of 3–6 who want door-to-door service and control over park time.

What about tours from Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba?

If you’re skiing in Nagano, these are the shortest and best-value way to see the monkeys. All run in winter only, so book early.

Nozawa Onsen Kotsu Snow Monkey Tour: ¥9,000 adult, daily 1 December–31 March. It leaves at 13:10, gives you 14:30–15:30 at the park (including the walk), and returns at 17:00, so you can ski in the morning. Minimum 2 adults.
From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake: US$139 on GetYourGuide (4.9/5 from 16 reviews, a thin record so far) or ¥21,800 direct from Snow Monkey Resorts. It’s a full day, with the monkeys in the morning and Zenko-ji and sake in the afternoon.
From Hakuba: the Snow Monkey Resorts Nagano tour adds winter pickups from 07:20, and Hakuba.com lists a ¥18,500 tour with park entry, lunch in Obuse and Zenko-ji.

Verdict: ✅ An ideal rest day for skiers. The Nozawa Onsen Kotsu afternoon tour is the cheapest guided option we found anywhere.

What does each option really cost per person?

For one or two travellers, DIY is the cheapest way. The Nagano tour costs around US$100 more than DIY, and private cars only win in groups.

Illustrative figures for a winter visit (from 1 December 2026), using ¥155 = US$1. Check your card’s rate. Where lunch isn’t included we’ve assumed ¥1,500, and where park entry isn’t included we’ve used the ¥880 web ticket.

Option	1 traveller	2 (each)	4 (each)	Time with monkeys	Time in transit
DIY (Shinkansen + Nagaden + local bus + web ticket)	≈¥23,600 ≈ US$152	same	same	As long as you like (within opening hours)	~3–3.5 h each way
H.I.S. coach	Check listing	Check listing	Check listing	~1 h (2 h stop incl. walk)	~7 h coach
Nagano group tour + own Shinkansen	≈US$250	≈US$250	≈US$250	1 h (14:40–15:40)	~3.3 h train + ~2 h van
Private car, US$443 per group (park + lunch extra)	≈US$458	≈US$237	≈US$126	Your choice	~7–8 h car
Private car, US$383 per group (park + lunch extra)	≈US$398	≈US$207	≈US$111	Your choice	~7–8 h car
SMR private from Nagano (¥134,200) + own Shinkansen	≈US$975	≈US$542	≈US$325	Flexible	~3.3 h train + car

How we priced DIY (adult, round trip, from 1 Dec 2026): Shinkansen Tokyo–Nagano ¥8,450 × 2 = ¥16,900 · Nagaden limited express Nagano–Yudanaka ¥1,760 × 2 = ¥3,520 · local bus Yudanaka–Snow Monkey Park ¥390 × 2 = ¥780 (check the fare chart on board) · park web ticket ¥880. Total ≈ ¥22,080, plus lunch. Taking the Nagaden express bus instead (¥3,000 each way in winter, 5 Dec 2026–5 Apr 2027) adds about ¥1,700. All prices as of November 2026; check before you travel. Full details are in our Tokyo to the snow monkey park guide.

How do the new winter ticket rules affect tours?

From December to April, people with online (Webket) tickets get priority entry, and without a ticket you may be refused on crowded days. Before you pay for a tour, find out who’s buying your ticket.

What the park says: web-ticket holders get priority December–April. Walk-ins may have to wait, and on crowded days visitors without a ticket may not get in. Tickets are for a specific date.
When tickets go on sale: about three months before your visit date (Snow Monkey Resorts says 90 days ahead, at midnight JST). Christmas dates are already on sale, and Lunar New Year (February 2027) dates open in November.
Daily cap: AFP reported in June 2026 that the park was considering a cap of about 2,000 visitors a day. The park itself has not announced a number.
Prices: until 30 November 2026, adults pay ¥800 and children ¥400. From 1 December 2026 the park charges ¥880 for an online (Webket) ticket or ¥1,000 at the gate (children ¥440 / ¥500), according to the park’s 20 September 2026 notice as reported by japan-guide. Check the official site before you go. See Jigokudani tickets & hours.

If a tour says “park entry included”, ask the operator in writing whether they hold a dated ticket for you or whether you need to buy your own. If it’s you, buy it the day your date goes on sale.

When should you book, and when will the monkeys be bathing?

Book 4–8 weeks ahead for Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year, and book ski-resort tours as soon as you know your dates. You have the best odds of seeing the monkeys bathing from December to February.

Year-round: the Nagano Station group tour, most private cars and the coach tours. The park is open every day (Nov–Mar 9:00–16:00, Apr–Oct 8:30–17:00), but may close without notice in bad weather.
Winter only: Hakuba pickups, the Nozawa tours (Dec–Mar) and the H.I.S. Kamakura snow-hut add-on (23 Jan–1 Mar 2027).
Bathing: the monkeys usually use the pool most in the coldest months. Operators warn it’s less likely from mid-March, and in the green season you’ll see plenty of monkeys but little bathing. See best time to see the snow monkeys, and for snow odds, snow in Japan.
Cancellation: most listings above offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Travel Japan Together requires 7 days.

What should you check before you pay?

Five minutes with the “Includes” list can save you a wasted day. Before you pay, check:

Is park admission included, and who holds the dated web ticket from December to April?
How long will you have at the park? You want at least a 2-hour stop, since the trail takes about 30 minutes each way (allow longer on snow).
Is the price per person or per group, and does the checkout total match the headline for your group size?
What’s the cancellation window, 24 hours or 7 days, and what happens if snow closes the roads?
Hidden costs: lunch, the Zenko-ji inner sanctuary, the Hokusai Museum in Obuse, crampons, drinks.
Where exactly do you meet, and when? Coach tours leave on time.
Is there room for luggage, if you’re moving on afterwards?

Red flags: brand-new listings with no reviews and vague inclusions in peak season; itineraries with four or five stops that leave the park just an hour; and any promise that the monkeys will be bathing.

What to wear: the trail is unpaved, with stairs and slopes, and is icy in winter. Wear warm layers and boots with grip, and bring or buy crampons. It isn’t suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. See our Jigokudani park guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see the snow monkeys as a day trip from Tokyo?

Yes. Coach tours from Shinjuku take about 12–13 hours door to door. With the Shinkansen and the Nagano tour, you leave Tokyo at about 07:52 and get back at about 20:00.

What is the best snow monkey tour from Tokyo?

For most people, it’s the Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip (4.9/5 from 990+ reviews; ¥21,800 direct) plus your own Shinkansen. The H.I.S. coach from Shinjuku is the best single-booking option.

How long is the bus ride from Tokyo?

About 3.5 hours each way on the H.I.S. itinerary, including two or three rest stops. Private drivers take 3.5–4 hours each way.

How much time do tours spend with the monkeys?

Usually about an hour. Most group tours schedule a 2–2.5 hour stop, and you’ll spend around an hour of that walking the trail (about 30 minutes each way).

Do snow monkey tours include park entry?

The H.I.S. coach and the Nagano Station group tour do. Many private car tours don’t, so check the “Includes” list.

How much is the park entrance fee?

¥800 for adults until 30 November 2026. From 1 December 2026 it’s ¥880 online or ¥1,000 at the gate, according to the park’s notice as reported by japan-guide (check before you travel).

Do I need a park ticket if I’m on a tour?

Ask your operator. From December to April, people with online tickets get priority, and visitors without tickets may be refused on crowded days.

Are the monkeys guaranteed to be bathing?

No. They’re wild, and they spend most of their time out of the water. The odds are best in December–February and drop from mid-March.

Is there a tour that includes the bullet train?

One private GetYourGuide day trip includes Shinkansen tickets, at US$1,228 as shown in November 2026. Buying a ¥8,450 Shinkansen ticket and joining a Nagano tour is far cheaper.

Is a private tour worth it?

For groups of 4–6, yes: about US$80–125 per person including park entry and lunch. For a solo traveller it costs about US$400 or more.

Is it cheaper to do it yourself?

Yes. DIY costs roughly ¥22,000 per adult round trip from 1 December 2026, plus lunch, and you get as much time at the park as you like. See how to get from Tokyo to the snow monkey park.

Does the JR Pass cover the trip?

The JR Pass and the new JR EAST PASS cover the Shinkansen to Nagano, but not the Nagaden train or buses. The JR TOKYO Wide Pass doesn’t reach Nagano.

Are there tours from Hakuba or Nozawa Onsen?

Yes, in winter. Nozawa Onsen Kotsu runs a ¥9,000 afternoon tour, Snow Monkey Resorts runs a ¥21,800 full day from Nozawa, and Hakuba.com lists one for ¥18,500.

Can I add Shibu Onsen or Zenko-ji?

Yes. Many private tours stop at Shibu Onsen, and most group tours include Zenko-ji. See our Shibu Onsen guide and Nagano day trip.

Is GetYourGuide safe to book with?

It’s a large, established platform, and most of these listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. See is GetYourGuide reliable?.

Practical info

Park: Jigokudani Yaen-koen, Yamanouchi, Nagano. Open daily: Nov–Mar 9:00–16:00, Apr–Oct 8:30–17:00. May close without notice in bad weather.
Admission: ¥800 adult / ¥400 child until 30 Nov 2026. From 1 Dec 2026, ¥880 web / ¥1,000 gate (children ¥440 / ¥500), as reported. Gate payment by card or e-money; no QR-code payments.
Web tickets: date-specific, on sale about 3 months ahead. Web-ticket holders get priority Dec–Apr.
Trail: about 1.6–2 km and 30–40 minutes each way from Kanbayashi Onsen (allow longer on snow). Unpaved; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Shinkansen Tokyo–Nagano: ¥8,450 reserved (¥8,250 as an e-ticket), from about 80 minutes.
Best group tour: Nagano Station 09:35. ¥21,800 direct; 4.9/5 from 990+ reviews on GetYourGuide.
All-in coach from Tokyo: H.I.S., from Shinjuku (4.6/5 from 360+ reviews).
Prices as of November 2026; check before you travel.

Best Snow Monkey Tours from Tokyo (2026–27): Coach, Bullet Train and Private Car Compared