Snow Monkey Park & Zenko-ji Temple Tour with Foodie Guide

Wild monkeys soaking in hot springs, a 1,400-year-old temple, and Nagano's hidden food shops in one day

A full-day tour of Nagano with an English-speaking guide combines Jigokudani Monkey Park, where you watch Japanese macaques in their natural habitat (including hot spring bathing in winter), the ancient Zenko-ji Temple with its National Treasure Main Hall, and a guided walk through Nakamise Shopping Street led by a local food expert who reveals the stories behind oyaki, shichimi pepper, miso and other regional specialties. Monkey park admission and transport are included. Lunch is on your own. The tour covers roughly 50 minutes of walking each way to the monkey park at 850 meters elevation, so moderate fitness and warm clothing are essential.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Zenkoji Temple1h
2. Jigokudani Monkey Park2h 30m · entry included

Explore Nagano's culture and nature

• Visit Zenko-ji Temple with guide
• Tour Nakamise Shopping Street
• Free time for lunch and sightseeing
• Observe wild snow monkeys at Jigokudani Park
• Shop for Nagano food souvenirs

The experience

You arrive in Nagano with a free day and want to see the things that matter most (the monkeys, the temple, the food culture) without piecing it together yourself. This tour threads all three into a single itinerary. An English-speaking guide meets you and handles the route, which moves between the 1,400-year-old Zenko-ji Temple in the city center, the Nakamise Shopping Street where a local food expert walks you through historic shops and explains what makes Nagano's culinary traditions distinct, and the Jigokudani Monkey Park in the mountains where wild Japanese macaques live year-round. In winter, you'll see them soaking in the hot springs; in spring, baby monkeys appear; in summer, young ones play in the trees. The monkeys are wild, so behavior shifts with the season and the weather.

The walk to the monkey park itself is substantial: about 50 minutes each way on a mountain path at 850 meters elevation, where temperatures run cooler than the plain below. The path can be frozen and slippery in winter, so non-slip footwear is essential, and the guide may recommend renting equipment if conditions warrant it (at your own cost). This is not a casual stroll. You need moderate fitness and warm layers. The monkeys cannot be fed or touched, and the park may close suddenly due to weather or the animals' unpredictable behavior, though a full refund applies if that happens.

After the temple and the monkey park, the tour ends at a drive-in stocked with Nagano's seasonal produce and food souvenirs. You can taste and buy regional specialties to take home, though some fruits are prohibited in certain countries, so check before packing. Lunch happens on your own time: the guide recommends spots based on what caught your eye during the Nakamise walk, so you revisit a favorite oyaki shop, a long-established shichimi vendor, or a miso sweet maker with the knowledge the local expert provided. Transport is by public transit and/or a chartered vehicle depending on group size. Drivers do not guide, so the English-speaking guide and the local food expert carry all the commentary.

What’s included

• Local expert guide for Nakamise Shopping Street and Zenko-ji Temple.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• monkey park admission.
• transport via public transportation and/or chartered vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and ThursdayDeparts at 09:50Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 23 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by JTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're visiting Nagano for the first time and want to see the major sights without arranging transport between them. The full-day pace works best for travelers with moderate fitness who can handle 50 minutes of mountain walking each way and are prepared for unpredictable weather. If you have spinal injuries, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns, this tour is not suitable.

Traveler reviews

4.85★★★★★★★★★★

20 verified traveler reviews

5 ★17

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What are the Japanese macaques doing when I visit Jigokudani Monkey Park?

The monkeys' behavior changes by season: in spring you'll see baby monkeys, in summer young ones play actively, and in winter the wild macaques soak in the hot springs. The most iconic sight, visible until around March depending on weather. Since they are wild animals, their actions are unpredictable and cannot be guaranteed on any given day.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The path to and from Jigokudani Monkey Park requires roughly 50 minutes of walking each way on a mountain trail at 850 meters elevation. The terrain can be frozen and slippery in winter, so you need sturdy non-slip footwear and moderate fitness. The temple and shopping street portions involve less strenuous walking through the city.

What does the local food expert show me on Nakamise Shopping Street?

The local expert guides you through the historic shops on Nakamise, explaining the stories and traditions behind Nagano's regional specialties: oyaki (a savory dumpling), shichimi pepper, miso, and other local foods. You learn which shops are long-established and which are hidden gems, then have free time to revisit your favorites for lunch and to taste before buying.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is on your own. The guide recommends restaurants and food spots based on what interests you during the Nakamise walk, so you can return to a favorite oyaki shop, shichimi vendor, or miso sweet maker with the knowledge the local expert provided.

What should I wear and bring for this tour?

Wear warm clothing appropriate to the season. Jigokudani Monkey Park sits at 850 meters where it is cooler than the city. In winter, wear sturdy non-slip boots or winter footwear because the walking path may be frozen and slippery. If the guide determines your cold-weather gear is insufficient, you may need to rent equipment at a shop near the park (at your own cost).

What happens if the monkey park closes due to weather or the monkeys' behavior?

The park may close suddenly due to weather, seasonal conditions, or unpredictable monkey behavior. If the tour is canceled for these reasons, a full refund is issued. No refund is given if you simply do not see the hot spring-bathing monkeys, as their appearance depends on weather and timing and cannot be guaranteed.