Snow Monkeys & Sake: The Ultimate Private Winter Tour in Nagano

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Looking for the perfect winter day in Japan?
Picture this: steaming outdoor onsen, wild monkeys soaking in hot springs, and a sip of rare local sake served directly from a centuries-old brewery.
This isn’t a dream — it’s one of our most popular Snow Monkey & Sake tours from Nagano, available both as a small group tour and a fully private customizable tour.

Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family and friends, you can choose the style that fits your pace:

🍶 Why Nagano Is a Hidden Paradise for Sake Lovers

Nagano Prefecture quietly ranks second in Japan for the number of sake breweries — with over 80 kura scattered across snowy villages, castle towns, and serene forest regions.

While most international travelers head to Niigata or Kyoto, true sake connoisseurs know: Nagano is the real hidden gem.

Thanks to its pristine alpine water, cold winters, and deep-rooted brewing traditions, Nagano produces some of the country’s most elegant and balanced sake — especially refined junmai daiginjo and local favorites like Kawanakajima Genbu or Shinshu Kirei.

This tour isn’t just about drinking. You’ll step into the world of sake, meet real brewers, and explore towns where this culture is still alive and personal.

🧽 From Monkeys to Breweries: A Day You’ll Never Forget

This Snow Monkey and Sake Brewery tour from Nagano combines two of the region’s greatest winter highlights: the world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and a guided visit to a sake brewery or boutique sake shop — all in one unforgettable day.

If you’re wondering how to visit the Snow Monkeys from Tokyo, it’s easier than you think. You can hop on a morning Shinkansen and join our tour from Nagano, or request private pickup from Tokyo or Karuizawa through our custom tour service.

Unlike large group tours, our private Snow Monkey tours are completely flexible. Want to visit a second brewery? Pair your sake with oyaki? Stop at a hidden shrine or tea house? Just let us know — we’ll tailor the day to your tastes.

🍶 What Makes Our Sake Tours Different?

Most tours in Nagano visit the well-known city-center breweries that locals have loved for generations — and we do, too. Our
Nagano Sake Tasting & Walking Tour
and
Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji Temple in Nagano
take you to these historic sake spots in a more personal, culturally rich way.

But what sets us apart is that the
Snow Monkey Tour, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano
doesn’t just stay in the city — it takes you to a premium small-batch brewery in Obuse, a picturesque town known for its refined sake and craftsmanship.

And if you’re visiting Matsumoto, our
Explore Matsumoto: Castle, Sake & Taste of Local Life
tour brings you to a warm, family-run brewery where a kind grandmother still pours the sake — a hidden gem you won’t find on large group tours.

🍶 What Kind of Sake Experience Can You Expect?

Depending on the season and route, your day might include:

  • A traditional brewery in Obuse with small-batch seasonal releases
  • A family-run kura in Matsumoto where the tasting room is still run by a kind grandmother
  • A hidden shop carrying rare bottles like Kawanakajima Genbu (Nagano), Shinshu Kirei (Ueda), or cult favorites such as Denshu (Aomori) and Aramasa No.6 (Akita)
  • Limited-edition bottles from boutique brands like Kame no Umi, Zenkichi, or Nifudasake (Niigata)

These are not commercial tasting halls — they’re quiet, personal spaces that even most locals don’t know.

❄️ Why Winter Is the Best Season for This Tour

  • 🐒 The Snow Monkeys are at their most photogenic, with snow-covered fur and steam rising around them.
  • 🍶 Sake just tastes better in the cold — a warm honjozo or chilled junmai daiginjo after a snowy walk is pure bliss.
  • 🏭 Winter is kanzukuri (brewing season): you may smell fermentation in the air or see rice steaming inside the kura.
  • 🚪 Breweries are at their most active, yet far less crowded. You’ll have more time to chat with brewers and taste at your own pace.
  • 🛍️ Exclusive shopping: Our guides know shops that carry bottles even locals can’t find — like Kame no Umi, Zenkichi, Nifudasake, or Aramasa No.6.

✅ Recommended Tours & Blog Guides

Explore these tours if you’re visiting Nagano in winter:

Plan your trip smarter with these blog articles:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I book a private Snow Monkey and sake tour from Tokyo?
A: Absolutely. Most guests take the Shinkansen from Tokyo in the morning. We also offer private pickup from Tokyo or Karuizawa.

Q: Will I get to taste rare sake?
A: Definitely. Many of the bottles you’ll try are not available outside Japan — and sometimes not even outside the region.

Q: Are breweries open in winter?
A: Yes. Most operate year-round, and winter is actually their peak season for brewing.

Q: What if I don’t drink alcohol?
A: No worries — we offer tastings of amazake (sweet non-alcoholic sake), local juices, or Japanese tea.

📩 Want a Custom Sake & Snow Monkey Tour?

👉 Check out our Custom Trip page or just send us a message.
We’ll build something unforgettable — just for you.