4-Day Central Japan Tour: Nagano to Kanazawa with Snow Monkeys

Four days moving through Central Japan without arranging a single train transfer

A 4-day guided tour starting in Nagano and ending in Kanazawa, traveling through Central Japan's mountains, temples and traditional villages with an English-speaking guide and all transport and entry fees included. The itinerary covers Jigokudani Monkey Park where snow monkeys bathe in hot springs, Matsumoto Castle and the Kamikochi river valley, the thatched-roof UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go, and Kanazawa's samurai house, castle gardens and geisha districts. Lunch is included on day one. Accommodation is not included but the guide meets you each morning at your hotel or station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake

• Visit Zenkoji Temple
• Enjoy sake tasting and lunch
• Hike to Jigokudani Monkey Park
• Observe snow monkeys and onsen baths

Day 2: Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle

• Travel to Matsumoto city
• Explore Matsumoto streets
• Tour Matsumoto Castle
• Drive to Kamikochi valley
• Hike and relax in Kamikochi
• Travel to Takayama city

Day 3: Explore Takayama and Shirakawa-go

• Visit Takayama Jinya
• Try local snacks and shop
• Travel to Shirakawa-go village
• Tour Shirakawa-go village

Day 4: Kanazawa Samurai, Gardens & Geisha

• Travel to Kanazawa
• Walk Kanazawa city tour
• Visit Samurai house
• Enjoy Matcha tea at Kanazawa Castle
• Explore Higashi-chaya Geisha District
• Walk Kazue-machi Geisha District
• End tour at Kanazawa Station

The experience

Nagano Station is where the tour opens, with a visit to Zenkoji Temple: one of Japan's most important Buddhist temples, its main building 300 years old and the complex itself stretching back over a thousand years. The day includes sake tastings (non-alcoholic options available) and lunch, then moves into a forest hike to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where snow monkeys soak in onsen baths in a volcanic valley and walk within centimeters of visitors.

Day two takes you to Matsumoto Castle, a 400-year-old structure ranked among Japan's finest, where samurai armor and firearms inside tell the story of feudal life. From there the tour bus drives deep into the Japanese Alps to Kamikochi, one of Japan's original national parks, for an easy hike through a river valley. You stay overnight in Takayama, a city of preserved wooden streets that rivals Kyoto, where the morning includes a guided walk through the Takayama Jinya: the last remaining Shogun administrative office in Japan, now open to visitors. The afternoon continues to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage village of steep thatched roofs built to withstand heavy snow, where your guide shows you the best routes through town.

The final day is a walking tour of Kanazawa starting at the station. It includes entry to a samurai house, matcha tea served on the grounds of Kanazawa Castle, and a visit to Higashi-chaya, Kanazawa's main geisha district. Your guide also leads you through Kazue-machi, a smaller geisha district across the river where working geisha still walk the streets. The tour ends at Kanazawa Station, from where Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are easily reached by train.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for all four days.
• transportation by tour bus between all destinations.
• entry tickets to Jigokudani Monkey Park, Zenkoji Temple, Matsumoto Castle, Takayama Jinya, Kanazawa's samurai house, Kanazawa Castle grounds and Higashi-chaya geisha district.
• lunch on day one.
• guided walks at each location.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayLast departure this season: 14 Nov

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)

Is this one for you?The four-day length fits the route from Nagano to Kanazawa without backtracking, so you move through Central Japan's mountains and villages in one direction and end at a major station. If you have fewer days, the route compresses and some stops drop. If you have more, you can add time in Kyoto or Osaka after Kanazawa.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6).

What are the Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park actually doing when I get there?

The monkeys bathe in natural hot spring pools in a volcanic valley, soaking in the onsen baths while you watch from close range. The hike through forest to reach them is part of day one, and the monkeys walk within centimeters of visitors as they move around the park.

Do I need to book my own accommodation for the four days?

Yes, accommodation is not included in the tour. Your guide meets you each morning at your hotel or at Nagano Station on day one, and you arrange where you stay in Takayama on night two and in Kanazawa on night three.

Is lunch included every day of the tour?

Lunch is included on day one in Nagano. On days two, three and four, lunch is not included, so you can choose where and what to eat during those stops.

What is Takayama Jinya and why does the tour include it?

Takayama Jinya is the last remaining administrative office built by the Shogun in Japan, located in the heart of Takayama's preserved old town. Your guide takes you inside and explains its history during the height of Takayama's importance as a regional center.

How does the tour handle getting between Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa?

The tour bus picks you up each morning and handles all transport between destinations. You do not arrange trains or buses yourself. The guide and driver manage the route, and all transportation fees are included in the tour price.

What is Shirakawa-go like, and why is it on the itinerary?

Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage village famous for its steep thatched-roof homes designed to withstand heavy snow and cold winters. The village is beautiful year-round (spring flowers, summer greens, autumn colors and winter snow all frame the traditional architecture), and your guide shows you the best walking routes through town.