Tokyo: Nagano Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Private Tour
About This Experience
Highlights
- Jigokudani Monkey Park and Zenko-ji, Nagano's 1,400-year-old temple, in one day
- Five stops in total: the monkey park, Zenko-ji, Obuse, the Matsushiro castle ruins and Shibu Onsen
- A private vehicle for up to six people, so the price does not climb with the size of your group
- Hokusai's Obuse — the town where the printmaker spent his last years — on the return leg
- Highway tolls, fuel and parking already covered, with no on-the-day extras to settle
- English, Hindi, Urdu and Japanese spoken by the driver
What's Included
- ✓ A private air-conditioned vehicle for up to six passengers, for ten hours
- ✓ An English-speaking driver for the whole day
- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tokyo, Nagano, Hakuba or Obuse
- ✓ Highway tolls, fuel and parking charges
- ✓ Bottled water and tea in the vehicle
- ✓ A Wi-Fi hotspot, subject to availability
Not Included
- Admission to Jigokudani Monkey Park and any other paid entry
- Meals and snacks
- Airport and port pickups
- Gratuities
What to Bring
- Boots with grip for the park trail
- Warm clothing
- A camera
- Snacks for the drive
Good to Know & Caveats
- Be in the hotel lobby ten minutes before your pickup time; the driver will wait up to an hour.
- The stated ten hours includes roughly seven hours of driving, so five stops is an ambitious day — agree the order with your driver at pickup.
- The park is reached on foot: 1.6 km each way from the Kanbayashi Onsen trailhead, about 25 to 30 minutes, mostly level but frozen underfoot for much of the winter.
- Park admission is paid at the gate and is not included: ¥800 for adults and ¥400 for children, rising to ¥1,000 and ¥500 on 1 December 2026 (¥880 / ¥440 if you buy an e-ticket online).
- Photography is restricted inside parts of the temple buildings.
- Groups larger than six need a second vehicle.
Not Suitable For
- People with back problems
- Anyone unable to walk the 1.6 km park trail
Meeting Point
Hotel or Airbnb pickup anywhere in Tokyo's 23 wards, and also in Nagano, Hakuba or Obuse. Airports and ports are not served.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.8/5 by 80 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
Had a great day despite the inclement weather. Ali knew the roads, all the rules and had a great international take on things. The long slippery track to the snow monkees was worth the challenge and Zenjoki Temple was just beautiful.
— Ian, February 25, 2026
Ali picked us up on time from Nozawaonsen and took us to the snow monkey park, Obuse, and Zenkoji Temple. He made sure to get us back to Tokyo in time for our dinner reservations. He was a safe driver. This is a great way to get a quick overview of some of the sites in Japan with easy transportation and highly customizable to your schedule.
— Leah, February 11, 2026
We had such an incredible time on this private day tour! Our tour guide, Fahed was a very awesome driver. He was very kind to us and gave us so many tips to make the best of our day. He also allowed us to customize the stops we wanted to take and didn't rush us in any way.We had such an incredible day seeing the beautiful monkeys at snow monkey park, exploring the Zenkoji Temple, and spending time with Fahed during the drive. We recommended Fahed !!
— Michelle, January 25, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the price per person or for the whole vehicle?
For the whole vehicle — $443 covers up to six people. Split four ways that is about $111 each, which is where a per-group charter starts to beat the per-person tours.
Can you really fit five stops into one day?
On paper yes, and the listing allows an hour at each. In practice the drive from Tokyo takes three and a half hours in each direction, so most groups drop one or two stops. Tell the driver at pickup which ones matter to you.
Is Zenko-ji worth the detour?
It is the reason most people pick this itinerary over a monkeys-only trip. The main hall is a National Treasure, and the pitch-dark passage beneath it is the part visitors remember. Entry to the inner sanctuary is paid separately.
Does the tour include park admission?
No. Entry tickets of any kind are excluded, so budget ¥800 per adult at the monkey park gate — ¥1,000 from 1 December 2026.
Other Snow Monkey Day Trips
From Tokyo: Private Day Trip to Snow Monkey & Zenkoji
Nagano: Snow Monkey Park, Soba Lunch, and Shibu Onsen Tour
Nagano/Tokyo: Snow Monkey Private Day Tour At Lowest Rate
Tokyo: Private Snow Monkey Park & Nagano Scenic Day Trip
Tokyo: Snow Monkey Park Private Tour with English guide
Tokyo: Nagano Day Trip with Snow Monkey Park & Temple.
