Snow Monkey Tour from Tokyo & Nagano — 3 Easy Day-Trip Itineraries

Snow Monkey tour ideas + direct links to our group & private tours

Planning a Snow Monkey tour? Below are three hour-by-hour day-trip itineraries that actually work in winter, plus direct links to our group tour and private tour. If you’re carrying luggage or ski gear, we can meet you at Nagano Station, load everything into the van, and drop you later in Shibu/Yudanaka, Nozawa, or Hakuba. Still deciding routes or bases? Browse all our guides here: Snow Monkey Blog Series.

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1) Shinkansen + Private Snow Monkey Tour — Fastest & Easiest

Best for families, seniors, travelers with luggage, efficiency-first
Why it works Bullet train to Nagano is smooth; the private Snow Monkey tour handles door-to-door logistics and pacing.

Hour-by-Hour

• 07:20–08:00 Depart Tokyo/Ueno (Hokuriku Shinkansen) → 08:30–09:10 Arrive Nagano
• 08:45 Meet on the platform, load luggage into the van → Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (forest trail walk)
• 12:30 Obuse for Hokusai, sake tastings, and soba (order flexes with weather)
• 16:00 Zenkoji or Nagano town stroll → 17:30–18:30 Drop at Nagano Station
• 19:30–20:10 Back in Tokyo

2) Overnight in Nagano — Beat the Crowds

Best for photographers, crowd-averse travelers, slower pace
Why it works Arrive the night before and take the morning Snow Monkey tour to miss peak bus times; add Obuse or Zenkoji in the afternoon.

Hour-by-Hour

• Day −1 Tokyo → Nagano; check into a station-side hotel
• 08:45 Hotel pick-up → Snow Monkeys (quieter morning window)
• 12:30 Obuse’s brewery/sweets/Hokusai Museum → Zenkoji for the golden hour
• Evening Drop at Nagano Station → return to Tokyo or stay one more night

Route or overnight questions? Start here → How to Visit the Snow Monkeys from Tokyo

3) Yudanaka/Shibu Base — Closest & Easiest with Luggage (Private)

Best for ryokan stays, couples, families, slow travel
Why it works Many blogs say “just take the local train,” but winter transfers with bags and kids are real friction. We meet at Nagano Station, load luggage into the van, visit the monkeys, then drop you at your ryokan in Shibu/Yudanaka.

Hour-by-Hour

• Morning Meet at Nagano Station → luggage into the van → Snow Monkey Park
• Midday Obuse (Hokusai & sake) or Zenkoji depending on weather and pace
• Afternoon Drop at your Shibu/Yudanaka accommodation for onsen time

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Ski Gateways: Nozawa Onsen & Hakuba — Private Only

Nozawa Onsen — Rest-Day Private (Skip Ticket Queues)

Long ticket lines and winter transfers at Nagano Station? Skip them. We meet in Nagano, load ski bags and luggage into the van, visit the monkeys, then drop you back in Nozawa in time for aprés onsen. Crowd-savvy timing avoids bus peaks.

• Best for: families, multi-gen groups, anyone who hates crowded bus tours
• Combo ideas: Monkeys + Obuse sake tastings / Zenkoji at dusk
• Goal: Back by onsen hour

Hakuba — Premium Private (or Tokyo→Nagano→Monkeys→Hakuba Drop)

We don’t compete in group tours here. Instead we offer a premium private day: door-to-door comfort, warm-up breaks, weather-flex order. Another popular flow: bullet train to Nagano → load your snowboard gear into the van → Snow Monkeys → drop at your Hakuba hotel.

• Best for: luxury travelers, multi-gen families, photography-focused groups
• Combo ideas: Monkeys + Matsumoto Castle (spring/fall) / Daio Wasabi Farm (summer)

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Time, Walking, and Flexibility Compared

*The park path can be snowy/icy. Waterproof shoes with traction, gloves, and layers are essential.

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Crowd-Savvy & Winter Gear Tips

Beat the crowds

• Start early (08:45) to avoid peak bus windows
• When possible, choose weekdays or aim to miss the midday peak
• Private tours can flip the order based on weather and conditions

What to wear/bring

• Waterproof footwear with grip, warm gloves, beanie
• Layered clothing; lightweight rain/snow shell if needed
• Small daypack (your guide can help streamline luggage & breaks)

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Add-Ons by Season (Private tours can mix & match)

❄️ Winter (Dec–Mar)

• 🐒 Snow Monkeys soaking in natural hot springs surrounded by snow
• 🛕 Zenkoji Temple in a peaceful, spiritual winter atmosphere
• 🍶 Sake season! Visit breweries during peak brewing and taste freshly pressed new sake
• 🌲 Snow-covered cedar trails in Togakushi Forest
• 🏯 Quiet samurai townscapes in Matsushiro
• ♨️ Scenic onsen bath with snowy mountain views
• 🍜 Warm soba, grilled oyaki dumplings, and wasabi — comfort food for cold days

🌸 Spring (late Mar–May)

• 🏯 Matsumoto Castle surrounded by pink petals and alpine backdrops
• 🌸 Cherry blossoms at Matsushiro Castle Ruins and Joyama Park
• 🌸 Blooming gardens in Obuse and the Hokusai Museum
• 🐒 Baby monkeys at the park and clear spring skies
• 🏘️ Edo-period streets in Narai-juku, full of fresh greenery
• 🏔 Kamikochi opens mid-April with emerald rivers and snowy peaks
• 🌋 Karuizawa & Onioshidashi — tranquil volcanic trails and forest cafés
• 🍶 Light, floral sake and delicate seasonal side dishes
• 🍜 Fresh soba, steamed oyaki, and wasabi sprouts from mountain farms

☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug)

• 🌿 Cool forest walks in Togakushi, Matsushiro, and Narai-juku
• 🌋 Onioshidashi & Karuizawa — volcanic landscapes and shaded cafés
• 🚡 Kurobe Alpine Route — breathtaking views and crisp mountain air
• 🏞️ Cold streams and waterwheels at Daio Wasabi Farm
• 🐒 Snow Monkeys in lush greenery with no crowds
• 🍶 Chilled sake tastings in countryside breweries
• 🍜 Cold soba, grilled oyaki, and wasabi-topped mountain dishes
• 🛍 Shopping and relaxing at Karuizawa Premium Outlets

🍁 Autumn (Oct–Nov)

• 🍁 Fiery maple leaves at Zenkoji, Obuse, and Joyama Park
• 🍁 Golden cedar trails in Togakushi Forest, perfect with handmade soba
• 🍁 Hidden beauty at Matsushiro Castle Park framed in autumn color
• 🏯 Matsumoto Castle surrounded by brilliant reds and golds
• 🏘️ Quiet autumn walks in Narai-juku
• 🏔 Fall foliage along Kamikochi and the Kurobe Alpine Route
• 🌋 Golden larch trees and crisp air in Karuizawa & Onioshidashi
• 🐒 Snow Monkeys under golden hills before winter
• 🍶 Rich, matured sake and autumn dishes from local farms
• 🍜 Roasted oyaki, wild mushrooms, and warm soba by the fire

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Other Bases & Detours (Karuizawa & Matsumoto)

Karuizawa & Onioshidashi work as gentle detours outside deep winter (volcanic trails, cafés, outlets). Matsumoto pairs beautifully with spring/fall castle scenery. If you’d like to fold these into a Snow Monkey day, we’ll advise the smartest sequence—or split across two days for comfort.

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More to Read (Blog Series)

• How to Visit the Snow Monkeys from Tokyo — routes, bases, and smart options
• Snow Monkey Blog Series — every guide we’ve published, in one place
• Group Snow Monkey Tour — Monkeys + Hokusai + local sake
• Private One-Day “Everything” Tour — flexible, door-to-door

Questions about your Snow Monkey tour plan? Tell us your dates on the tour page—our team will map it out.