Tokyo: Snow Monkey Park Private Tour with English guide
About This Experience
Highlights
- Zenko-ji first, then the monkey park — the reverse of most itineraries, and quieter at the temple
- Five stops: Zenko-ji, Jigokudani, Obuse, Shibu Onsen and the Matsushiro castle ruins
- A safety briefing before the park walk, which matters on an icy trail
- A private vehicle for up to six with tolls, fuel and parking covered
- The Hokusai museum town of Obuse built into the route
- English, Hindi, Urdu and Japanese spoken by the driver
What's Included
- ✓ A private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for a full day, up to six passengers
- ✓ An English-speaking driver throughout
- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tokyo, Nagano or Nozawa Onsen
- ✓ Highway tolls and fuel
- ✓ Complimentary bottled water
- ✓ A Wi-Fi hotspot, subject to availability
Not Included
- Entry tickets of any kind, including the monkey park
- Meals and snacks
- Airport and port pickups
- Gratuities
What to Bring
- Boots with grip
- Warm clothing
- A camera
- Cash in yen for entry fees
Good to Know & Caveats
- Be in the lobby ten minutes before pickup; drivers wait up to an hour.
- The full day runs to about ten hours including the drive, with roughly 45 minutes to an hour at each stop.
- 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 in parts of the temple buildings.
- Only your group travels in the vehicle.
Not Suitable For
- People with back problems
- Anyone unable to walk the 1.6 km park trail
Meeting Point
Hotel pickup in Tokyo, Nagano or Nozawa Onsen, in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.8/5 by 11 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
Ahmed was a great guide. He discussed with us the best time to leave to avoid traffic and was accommodating to our needs. Offered bathroom stops and explained how everything worked at the Monkey Park. We followed his recommendations at the cafe. Then he took us to the castle and explained its origins.
— Barbara, March 30, 2026
He managed the timing perfectly, shared interesting facts, and even helped us take great photos. The trip felt relaxed and enjoyable because of his positive attitude and helpful nature. I highly recommend Guide Ali to anyone planning a Snow Monkey tour — you’ll have a smooth, memorable, and fun experience. Thank you, Ali, for an unforgettable day!
— Conal, January 8, 2026
Our tour today was theNagano Snow Monkey tour which we did with driver Ali. Ali was a very good guide and took us to a very beautiful place.
— Ruiling, May 24, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why visit the temple before the monkeys?
Zenko-ji is busiest late morning, and the macaques tend to be at the pool through the middle of the day in winter. Starting at the temple puts you at each in its better hour, though it does mean an earlier pickup.
What does $443 cover?
The whole vehicle, for up to six passengers, for the day — not one seat. Tolls, fuel and water are included; entry fees are not.
Is Shibu Onsen worth a stop?
For 45 minutes you get the wooden street and, if you are quick, one of its nine public baths. It is twenty minutes from the park, so it costs little driving time.
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: Nagano Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Private Tour
Tokyo: Nagano Day Trip with Snow Monkey Park & Temple.
