Nagano Day Trip from Tokyo: Zenkō-ji, Snow Monkeys, Obuse and Togakushi (2026–27)

How do you get from Tokyo to Nagano and around the city?

Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno: from about 80 minutes on a Kagayaki, longer on a Hakutaka or Asama. A reserved seat is ¥8,450 one way and a non-reserved seat ¥7,920 (as of November 2026; check before you travel).

Kagayaki trains are all-reserved, so a non-reserved ticket means a Hakutaka or Asama (about 85–110 minutes). Booking a Shinkansen e-ticket on Eki-net takes ¥200 off the reserved fare (¥8,250). The older Eki-net discount fares have ended; the only deep discount left this year is Eki-net’s Special 28 e-ticket (50% off), valid on weekdays only from 7 to 17 December 2026 on limited seats. It goes on sale one month to 28 days before travel, so seats for those December dates go on sale from early November. Full fare tables and rail-pass maths are in how to get from Tokyo to the Snow Monkey Park.

Rail passes: the new JR EAST PASS (5 days ¥35,000) and the Japan Rail Pass cover Tokyo–Nagano. The JR TOKYO Wide Pass does not reach Nagano. No JR pass covers the Nagaden railway or Nagaden and Alpico buses.

Getting around Nagano:

• To Zenkō-ji: it’s about 1.8 km uphill from the station, a 25–30 minute walk. Nagano City’s Gururin-gō loop bus leaves stop 4 at the Zenkōji Exit every 30 minutes (first 10:00, last 17:30) and costs ¥190; it accepts the local KURURU card, so carry coins as a backup. Other city buses also run to the Zenkōji Daimon stop.
• To the monkeys and Obuse: the Nagaden railway’s Nagano Station is underground, signposted from the Zenkōji Exit. The limited express reaches Yudanaka in about 45 minutes for ¥1,760 one way (¥1,660 fare + ¥100 express ticket); Nagano–Obuse is ¥870 (+ ¥100 on the limited express).
• To Togakushi: Alpico’s reserved sightseeing bus from stop 7 at the Zenkōji Exit, in front of the Alpico ticket office.
• To Matsushiro: buses from stop 3, about 30 minutes.

Itinerary A: How do you see Zenkō-ji and the snow monkeys in one day?

Do the monkeys first and the temple second. Take the Nagaden limited express to Yudanaka in the morning, spend about two hours at the park, and be back in Nagano by 15:00 so you reach Zenkō-ji’s halls before they close.

Why this order works: the park is a 30–40 minute forest walk from the bus stop and closes at 16:00 from November to March (17:00 April–October), while Zenkō-ji’s grounds stay open after the ticketed halls shut and look their best at dusk. Monkeys are usually around the pool through the day, but there is never a guarantee they’ll bathe. Winter, especially January and February, gives you the best odds. Our Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park guide covers the trail, the pools and what to wear.

Winter 2026–27 at the park: what’s changed

• New prices from 1 December 2026: ¥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.
• Online tickets get priority December–April. Tickets are date-specific and go on sale about three months ahead. Without one you may have to wait, and on crowded days you may be refused entry.
• No official 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.
• Full details: Jigokudani tickets & hours.

The Snow Monkey Pass question. Nagaden’s one-day Snow Monkey Pass bundles unlimited Nagaden trains (non-reserved limited express seats included), the Yudanaka ⇄ Snow Monkey Park bus round trip and park entry. It cost ¥4,800 (child ¥2,400) when it was sold from 1 April to 30 September 2026, and it is not sold in October–November. Nagaden has not yet announced the winter 2026–27 price of the train version (it was ¥5,100 last winter); Snow Monkey Resorts lists the express-bus version at ¥6,800 for this winter. If the train pass is on sale when you travel, compare it with paying separately (¥1,760 × 2 + ¥390 × 2 + admission = about ¥5,180 from December). If not, pay as you go.

Alternative: the express bus. Nagaden’s express bus runs from Nagano Station East Exit (stop 23/24) straight to the Snow Monkey Park stop in about 45 minutes: ¥3,000 in winter / ¥2,000 the rest of the year (one way, adults). The 2026–27 winter season runs 5 December 2026 to 5 April 2027. Buy your ticket before boarding at the Aruyo ticket office (Nagano Station East Exit, 1F) or online; don’t count on paying cash on the bus. It’s simpler than the train but dearer, and it doesn’t help with Obuse.

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Prefer a tour? GetYourGuide sells Nagano-based day tours that meet you at Nagano Station, such as Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip (4.9/5 from 990+ reviews), which combines the monkeys, Zenkō-ji and a sake tasting. From Tokyo there are private full-day cars such as the Tokyo: Nagano Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Private Tour ($443 per group of up to six, 4.8/5 from 80 reviews; park entry and meals extra). Group tours from Nagano make sense if you want lunch and logistics handled; private tours only add up for groups of four or more or for travellers with mobility needs. We compare them in the best snow monkey tours from Tokyo, private drivers in private tours and drivers to the snow monkeys, and the tours that pair the park with the temple on our snow monkey and Zenko-ji tours page.

Itinerary B: Is Zenkō-ji + Togakushi worth it without the monkeys?

Yes, from late April to November. Togakushi’s 400-year-old cedar avenue is one of the most atmospheric walks in central Japan, and Alpico’s reserved bus makes it an easy morning from Nagano. In winter, scale it back: the inner shrine is closed and the avenue beyond the red gate is off-limits.

Alpico Nagano–Togakushi bus (checked 2 Oct 2026)

• Green season: 1 April–4 December 2026. ¥2,500 one way to the Togakushi area (adult). One-way tickets only; no round-trip fare.
• Reserve ahead. All seats are reserved; you can board without a booking only if seats are free. Book online up to one month ahead; cancelling costs ¥100 per person.
• Payment: online by credit card, or on board by contactless Visa or cash. Suica and other IC cards are not accepted.
• Winter: last winter (6 December 2025–31 March 2026) the fare was ¥2,000 to Chūsha or ¥2,500 to the Okusha stop. Alpico usually posts the winter timetable in late November, so check the 2026–27 fares before you go.
• Old passes are gone. The Togakushi & Zenkoji 1-Day Pass was discontinued on 1 April 2025. Ignore blogs quoting it.

About Togakushi. Five shrines – Hōkōsha, Hinomikosha, Chūsha, Okusha and Kuzuryūsha – are strung across a highland plateau at about 1,200 m, tied to the myth of the god who flung open the cave where the Sun Goddess hid. The star is the roughly 2 km approach to Okusha: halfway along stands the thatched, red-pillared Zuishinmon gate, and beyond it an avenue of towering cryptomeria climbs to stone steps. Togakushi soba, served in small bundles on bamboo baskets, is one of Japan’s celebrated regional styles; eat it near Chūsha.

Winter reality check. Okusha and Kuzuryūsha closed for winter on 7 January 2026 and normally reopen in late April once the snow melts; their deities are enshrined at Chūsha in the meantime. The Togakushi tourism association says entry beyond Zuishinmon is strictly prohibited in winter because of avalanche and falling-debris risk, including snowshoe treks and guided tours. Hōkōsha also closed from 18 December last winter, while Chūsha and Hinomikosha stayed open. So a winter Togakushi day means Chūsha, the lower approach and a bowl of soba – lovely in fresh snow, but don’t book anything sold as “snowshoe to Okusha”. The association also advises against starting walks after 15:00 in winter. Expect the 2026–27 rules to follow the same pattern; check togakushi-21.jp before you go.

Itinerary C: Can you combine Obuse and the snow monkeys?

Yes, easily. Obuse sits on the same Nagaden line as Yudanaka, so you ride out to the monkeys first and hop off at Obuse on the way back for Hokusai’s paintings, chestnut sweets and a sake tasting.

Passes: until 30 November 2026, Nagaden’s one-day rail pass (¥2,820, child ¥1,410, express seats included) covers all your train hops; add the ¥390 bus each way and park admission. From December, use the winter Snow Monkey Pass if it’s on sale, or buy single tickets.

Obuse sights (checked 2 Oct 2026)

• Hokusai-kan: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed 31 December; about 12 minutes’ walk from Obuse Station. Admission depends on the exhibition: ¥1,200 for the Nantes “EXPOSITION HOKUSAI” homecoming show (24 October 2026–17 January 2027) and ¥1,200 for “Beautiful Hokusai” (23 January–28 March 2027). Special shows can cost more (¥1,800 for the bird-and-flower prints show that ended on 12 October 2026). Expect brief closures between exhibitions.
• Gansho-in: ¥600 for the main hall with the ceiling painting; the garden is free. Hours are reported as 9:00–16:30 (April–October), 9:00–16:00 (November) and 9:30–15:30 (December–March). Explanations of the ceiling run every 30 minutes. About 30 minutes’ walk from the station.

Why go. Hokusai visited Obuse several times from 1842, in his eighties, as the guest of the merchant-patron Takai Kōzan. The Hokusai-kan shows his late paintings and two festival floats whose ceilings he painted with dragon, phoenix and surging waves. At Gansho-in, his vast “phoenix glaring in eight directions” covers the main-hall ceiling – painted when he was in his late eighties and still vivid. Between the two, Obuse is chestnut country: sweet shops sell chestnut rice and kuri-kanoko, and the Masuichi-Ichimura brewery (founded 1755) pours its own sake at a small tasting bar near the station.

Itinerary D: What’s a good rainy-day plan in Nagano?

Zenkō-ji in the morning, then Matsushiro in the afternoon: the free Zōzan underground bunker and the Sanada Treasure Museum are both indoors. Avoid Tuesdays, when the museum closes.

Matsushiro practical info (checked 2 Oct 2026)

• Zōzan underground bunker: 9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30), free, no reservation. Helmets are compulsory; floors are uneven. Closed on the third Tuesday of each month and 29 December–3 January, and closed for safety work from 24 February to 12 March 2027. Bus from Nagano Station stop 3 (about 30 min) to Matsushiro Hachijūni Ginkō-mae, then about 20 minutes on foot.
• Sanada Treasure Museum: ¥600. April–October 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); November–March 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Closed Tuesdays (except holidays) and 29 December–3 January.

Why go. Matsushiro was the Sanada clan’s castle town from 1622 to 1868; the reconstructed castle gates and stone walls are free to wander. The Sanada Treasure Museum holds the clan’s armour, swords and letters. In the hillside, the Zōzan bunker is part of a roughly 10 km tunnel network dug in the last months of the Second World War to shelter the Imperial headquarters. Much of the labour was done by mobilised Korean and Japanese workers, and the city presents the site as a war relic for passing on the importance of peace. Visit with respect. Matsushiro is reached by bus only; the old Nagaden Yashiro line closed in 2012.

What should you see at Zenkō-ji?

Walk the pitch-black Okaidan tunnel under the main hall, climb the Sanmon gate, and – if you can stay overnight – catch the dawn service. The grounds are free; the ¥1,500 set ticket covers everything ticketed.

Zenkō-ji predates Japan’s Buddhist sects and welcomes everyone; it is run jointly by Tendai and Jōdo lineages. Its principal image, an Amida triad said to be the first Buddhist statue brought to Japan, is a hidden Buddha that no one, not even the priests, sees. The present main hall, rebuilt in 1707, is a National Treasure and one of the largest wooden buildings in eastern Japan.

• Okaidan-meguri: keep your right hand on the wall in total darkness until you feel the “key to paradise”, a lock said to bind you to the hidden Buddha. It’s short; staff can direct anyone claustrophobic around it.
• Sanmon gate: climb to the upper storey for the view down Omotesandō, and look for the five doves hidden in the temple’s name plaque.
• Kyōzō sutra hall: push the revolving sutra case once for the merit of reading the whole canon.
• O-asaji (morning service) and Ojuzu-chōdai: the service starts at sunrise, from about 5:30 in summer to 7:00 in midwinter. As the chief priests walk to and from the hall, they touch kneeling pilgrims’ heads with their rosaries; this blessing is free and needs no booking. It’s the best argument for a night in a temple lodging.

Zenkō-ji tickets and hours (official, prices since 1 April 2026)

Ticket	Adult	JHS/HS	Elementary
Set ticket (inner sanctuary + Okaidan, Sanmon, Kyōzō, history museum)	¥1,500	¥600	¥200
Inner sanctuary + Okaidan	¥800	¥300	¥100
Sanmon gate (9:00–16:00)	¥800	¥300	¥100
Kyōzō sutra hall (9:00–16:00)	¥500	¥300	¥100

Inner sanctuary: opens one hour before the morning service; closes 16:30 (April–October), 16:15 (March and November), 16:00 (December–February); 13:00 on 31 December. Grounds: free, always open.

On the approach: the Nakamise and Omotesandō streets are lined with temple-gate shops – oyaki dumplings (nozawana greens, pumpkin, red bean), Shinshu soba, miso and Yawataya Isogorō’s shichimi spice. The Nishinomon Yoshinoya brewery, founded in 1637 at the temple’s west gate, has a tasting counter.

When is the Zenkō-ji Gokaichō 2027?

4 April to 19 June 2027 (77 days). It is the temple’s biggest event, held roughly every seven years (counted inclusively, so in practice every six) and brought forward to 2027. A replica of the hidden Buddha, the Maedachi Honzon, is shown in the main hall, and a tall pillar outside is linked to its hand by a cord, so touching the pillar counts as touching the Buddha. Crowds are enormous: Nikkei reported about 6.36 million visits (preliminary) to the 2022 edition, and the 2015 edition drew a record 7.07 million. Book Nagano rooms early, avoid weekends if you can, and check gokaicho.com for 2027 ticket prices, which had not been announced in early November 2026.

When is the Nagano Tōmyō Matsuri?

The 24th Nagano Tōmyō Matsuri runs 10–14 February 2027, 18:00–21:00 (Nagano City, updated 16 September 2026). The lantern festival commemorates the 1998 Winter Olympics and lights Zenkō-ji in five colours, and Omotesandō’s winter illuminations run from mid-November to mid-February. Pair it with Itinerary A for a full winter day, but you’ll need a later Shinkansen home.

How much does a Nagano day trip cost?

Budget about ¥26,000–27,500 per adult for a DIY day with a reserved Shinkansen return, or a little less on a rainy-day Matsushiro plan. The Shinkansen is almost two-thirds of the bill.

Booking Shinkansen e-tickets saves ¥400 on the return; a winter Snow Monkey Pass, if released at a similar price to last year, would barely change Itinerary A’s total but saves queuing for tickets. Itinerary A uses the December online park price; before 1 December admission is ¥800. Itinerary C uses the October–November rail pass; from December swap in the winter Snow Monkey Pass or single tickets. Prices change; check before you travel.

DIY or tour? DIY is cheapest and perfectly manageable – the Nagaden line is simple and well signed in English. A group tour from Nagano suits you if you want lunch, sake and timings handled in winter; see our tour comparison and is GetYourGuide reliable?.

What changes with the seasons?

For more on timing your visit to the park, see the best time to see the snow monkeys.

Should you stay overnight instead?

If you want the dawn service at Zenkō-ji, or both the monkeys and Togakushi, yes. One night lets you do the 5:30–7:00 O-asaji blessing, then Togakushi or Obuse the next morning without watching the clock. Stay at one of Zenkō-ji’s temple lodgings (shukubō) or a station hotel, or base yourself in Yudanaka or Shibu Onsen for an early start at the park – see where to stay near the Snow Monkey Park, our Shibu Onsen guide, and our 10-day Japan itinerary with the snow monkeys if you’re carrying on west to Kanazawa and Kyoto. Nagano Prefecture charges an accommodation tax of ¥200 per person per night (from 1 June 2026; not charged on room-only rates under ¥6,000).

Frequently asked questions

Is a Nagano day trip from Tokyo worth it?

Yes. The Shinkansen takes from about 80 minutes, so you can see Zenkō-ji and the snow monkeys and be back in Tokyo for dinner.

How much does Zenkō-ji cost?

The grounds are free. The set ticket is ¥1,500 and the inner sanctuary + Okaidan ticket ¥800 (prices since 1 April 2026).

What time does Zenkō-ji open?

The grounds are always open. The inner sanctuary opens an hour before the sunrise service and closes between 16:00 and 16:30 depending on the month.

Can I see Zenkō-ji and the snow monkeys in one day?

Yes. Do the monkeys first (about 45 minutes to Yudanaka by limited express, then a bus and a 30–40 minute walk), and aim to reach Zenkō-ji by 15:30 in winter.

Is the Snow Monkey Pass worth it?

Usually, when it’s on sale. It isn’t sold in October–November, and Nagaden hadn’t announced the winter 2026–27 price of the train version in early November 2026 (it was ¥5,100 last winter).

Will the monkeys be bathing?

Not guaranteed. They’re wild. Your best odds are on cold, snowy days in January and February.

How do I get from Nagano to Togakushi?

Alpico’s reserved sightseeing bus from stop 7 at the Zenkōji Exit takes about an hour: ¥2,500 one way to the Okusha area in the 2026 green season. Suica isn’t accepted.

Can I visit Togakushi Okusha in winter?

Not the shrine itself. It closes from early January to late April, and entry beyond the Zuishinmon gate is prohibited, including on snowshoe and guided tours.

How do I get to Obuse from Nagano?

Take the Nagaden railway: ¥870 one way, plus ¥100 if you ride the limited express. The Hokusai-kan is about 12 minutes’ walk from Obuse Station.

How much is the Hokusai-kan?

It depends on the exhibition: ¥1,200 for the shows running 24 October 2026–17 January 2027 and 23 January–28 March 2027. Special exhibitions can cost more.

Is the Matsushiro underground bunker free?

Yes. It’s open 9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30), closed on the third Tuesday of each month, 29 December–3 January, and 24 February–12 March 2027 for safety work.

When is the next Zenkō-ji Gokaichō?

4 April–19 June 2027. Expect very large weekend crowds.

When is the Nagano Tōmyō Matsuri 2027?

10–14 February 2027, 18:00–21:00.

Can I use Suica on Nagano buses?

Not on the Alpico Togakushi bus (contactless Visa or cash). City loop buses take the local KURURU card; carry coins as a backup.

Does the JR Pass cover the trip to the snow monkeys?

It covers Tokyo–Nagano, but not the Nagaden railway or buses beyond Nagano. The JR TOKYO Wide Pass doesn’t reach Nagano at all.

Practical info

• Tokyo–Nagano: Hokuriku Shinkansen from about 80 min; ¥8,450 reserved / ¥7,920 non-reserved / ¥8,250 e-ticket (as of November 2026; check before you travel).
• Nagano Station bus stops (Zenkōji Exit): 3 Matsushiro · 4 Gururin-gō (¥190) · 7 Togakushi (Alpico). Express bus to the Snow Monkey Park: East Exit stop 23/24.
• Nagaden: Nagano–Yudanaka ¥1,760 incl. limited express (about 45 min); Nagano–Obuse ¥870 (+ ¥100 express). JR passes not valid.
• Jigokudani park: ¥800 until 30 Nov 2026; from 1 Dec ¥880 online / ¥1,000 gate. Hours Nov–Mar 9:00–16:00, Apr–Oct 8:30–17:00. Online ticket holders get priority Dec–Apr.
• Zenkō-ji: set ticket ¥1,500; inner sanctuary closes 16:00 (Dec–Feb).
• Winter closures: Togakushi Okusha (early Jan–late Apr); Zōzan bunker 24 Feb–12 Mar 2027.
• Etiquette: shoes off in temple halls; silence in the Okaidan; no photography inside Gansho-in’s hall.
• Bathing monkeys are never guaranteed; the park is a wild habitat.

Sources

• Zenkō-ji: worship guide and fees
• Zenkō-ji: FAQ (morning service, Ojuzu-chōdai)
• Zenkō-ji Gokaichō official site
• Alpico: Nagano–Togakushi bus, green season
• Alpico: Nagano–Togakushi bus, winter season
• Togakushi Tourism Association: Okusha winter closure (7 Jan 2026)
• Togakushi Tourism Association: winter notice
• Hokusai-kan: exhibitions
• Hokusai-kan: visitor information
• Gansho-in official site
• JR East Media: Obuse sights (Gansho-in hours)
• Nagano City: Matsushiro Zōzan underground bunker
• Sanada Treasure Museum
• Nagano City: Omotesandō illumination and Tōmyō Matsuri 2027
• Nagano Tōmyō Matsuri official site
• Nagano City: Gururin-gō bus
• Nagaden: tickets and passes
• Nagaden: fare revision of 1 December 2025
• Jigokudani Yaen-kōen: fees and hours
• japan-guide: Jigokudani Monkey Park
• Snow Monkey Resorts: Nagaden express bus
• JR East press release: Eki-net discount changes (7 Aug 2026)
• Nikkei: Gokaichō 2027 dates and 2022 visitor count
• Nagano Prefecture: accommodation tax