Jigokudani Snow Monkeys & Nagano Brewery Tour: Private with Guide

Watch snow monkeys soak in hot springs, then taste Nagano's sake heritage

A private tour of Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano where you walk forest paths to observe wild Japanese macaques in their natural habitat, then visit a local sake and beer brewery for optional tastings. An English-speaking guide leads the five-hour itinerary with dedicated transportation and park entry included. The private format lets you set the pace and linger where the monkeys gather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit snow monkeys and local brewery

• Walk scenic forest to monkey park
• Observe wild Japanese macaques
• Visit local sake and beer brewery
• Learn traditional sake brewing

The experience

Jigokudani Monkey Park sits in a forested mountain valley where wild Japanese macaques live freely year-round. The park's natural hot spring draws the monkeys in colder months, and you'll walk designated forest paths to watch them soak, groom each other, forage and rest without barriers between you and their daily behavior. The surrounding landscape shifts with the season (snowy winters, lush summer growth, autumn color), so what you see depends on when you go. Your guide navigates the terrain and points out the monkeys' movements while you move at your own rhythm through the valley.

After the park, the tour heads to a local sake and beer brewery where traditional Japanese brewing methods meet Nagano's clean mountain water and quality rice. You'll learn how the region's cool climate and generations of craftsmanship shape the character of its sake, and you can taste for yourself if you choose. This brewery stop anchors the second half of the day and gives you a direct look at how local ingredients and heritage techniques define Nagano's food culture beyond its mountains.

Private transportation with an English-speaking guide means no fixed group schedule. You control how long you spend at the park and whether you join the brewery tastings. The vehicle picks you up, handles the route between stops, and brings you back, so you focus on the monkeys and the brewery without managing logistics. Park admission is included. Meals are on you.

What’s included

• Park admission to Jigokudani Monkey Park.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full tour.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• optional tastings at a local sake and beer brewery highlighting Nagano's brewing heritage.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard rateGuide in English · 08:00includes pickup

Rate with OBUSEGuide in English · 08:00Stop in the picturesque town of Obuse, where you can see the Hokusai Museum and, time permitting, Gansho-in Temple. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Peaks and Paths

Is this one for you?The private format and English guide mean you move at your own pace through the park without a fixed group schedule, and you decide whether to participate in brewery tastings. Book this if you want flexibility to linger where the monkeys gather and control how much time you spend at each stop.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the snow monkeys actually doing when I visit Jigokudani?

Japanese macaques in Jigokudani live freely in their natural habitat and behave as they would without visitors. Depending on the season and time of day, you'll see them playing, grooming each other, searching for food, or resting around the valley. In colder months, they're known for soaking in the natural hot spring, though their presence there is never guaranteed on any given visit.

Do I have to taste sake and beer at the brewery, or can I skip that part?

The brewery visit is part of the tour itinerary, but tastings are optional. You can explore the brewery, learn about the brewing process and local ingredients, and choose whether to sample the sake and beer they offer.

How much walking is involved in the forest at Jigokudani?

You'll walk forest paths through the park to reach viewing areas where the monkeys gather. The paths are designated and manageable for most fitness levels, though the terrain is natural and uneven in places. Your guide sets a relaxed pace and you can move at your own speed through the valley.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

Park admission and private transportation with your English-speaking guide are included. Optional brewery tastings are available at the brewery stop. Meals and any additional purchases are separate.

Does the tour operate year-round, and is there a best time to see the monkeys in hot springs?

The monkeys live in the park year-round, but they're most often seen soaking in the natural hot spring during colder winter months when the water's warmth is most appealing. The surrounding forest changes dramatically with the season, from snowy winter landscapes to lush summer growth and autumn foliage.