Nagano Snow Monkeys Day Trip & Sukiyaki Lunch from Tokyo

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/13

Duration13h

GroupUp to 45

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

See wild monkeys in snowy Nagano then warm up with sukiyaki

You’ll leave Tokyo behind for snowy Nagano, sharing laughs over sukiyaki lunch before trekking to see wild snow monkeys bathing in hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park. If you’re here in winter, you’ll even step inside glowing Kamakura snow huts. It’s a day full of small surprises and real moments you’ll remember long after you’re back on city streets.

13h

Step-by-step itinerary

Nagano snow monkeys and lunch tour

Gather in Shinjuku by 07:45
Depart Tokyo at 08:00
Bus journey with 2-3 stops
Enjoy beef sukiyaki lunch at Shinshu Fruit Land
Walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park
See snow monkeys bathing in thermal water
Visit Kamakura snow huts (Jan 23–Mar 1 only)
Return to Shinjuku by 20:00 or 21:00

The Experience

I didn’t expect the bus ride out of Tokyo to feel so… quiet. Maybe it was the early start, or maybe everyone was saving energy for the snow monkeys. Our guide, Emi, pointed out Mt. Asama on the way — I only half-heard her because I was busy watching the landscape turn from city gray to white fields. Somewhere near Nagano, we stopped at a service area and I grabbed a hot can of coffee from a vending machine. It warmed my hands but not my toes, which were already regretting my choice of socks.

Lunch was beef sukiyaki at Shinshu Fruit Land — honestly, I thought it’d be touristy but it tasted like something someone’s grandma might make. The broth was sweet and savory and there were these mushrooms that soaked up all the flavor. Emi explained how locals dip everything in raw egg (I tried, made a mess). There was a little shop with apples and weirdly cute pickles — I bought some for later but forgot them on the bus.

The walk to Jigokudani Monkey Park took about 35 minutes, through trees weighed down with snow. My breath fogged up my glasses every few steps. When we finally reached the hot springs, there they were: snow monkeys just lounging in the steam like they owned the place. One baby monkey scratched its ear and stared at me — not sure who looked sillier. Someone behind me whispered “don’t stare too long,” which made me laugh (but I stopped anyway). The smell of sulfur mixed with cold air stuck to my scarf for hours after.

If you come between late January and February, there’s this extra bit — Kamakura snow huts glowing softly against the dusk. We ducked inside one for a minute; it was smaller than I thought but oddly peaceful. On the way back to Tokyo, everyone dozed off except Emi, who told us stories about growing up in Nagano. I still think about that walk through the woods — so quiet except for boots crunching snow and those strange little monkey faces watching us pass by.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transport from Shinjuku with guided commentary en route to Nagano, a Japanese-style set meal (beef sukiyaki or alternatives), entry to Jigokudani Monkey Park with time to watch wild snow monkeys, plus (in late Jan–Feb) a stop at Kamakura snow huts before returning by evening—all led by an English-speaking guide.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

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