Snow Monkeys & Obuse from Nagano: Self-Guided Day Trip

Japanese macaques bathing in steaming hot springs, then a walk through Obuse's chestnut-wood paths and centuries-old temples.

This 8-hour self-guided tour from Nagano pairs a visit to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park (where wild Japanese macaques soak in natural hot springs) with your choice of 3 to 4 sites in the charming town of Obuse, including the Hokusai Museum and historic sake brewery. A private vehicle and English-speaking driver pick you up at JR Nagano Station and handle all transport. You set the pace and itinerary at each stop. Monkeys bathe in the hot springs only in winter to withstand the cold. In warmer months they stay on land. Entry fees to individual sites are separate from the tour price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Snow Monkey Park and Obuse Town

• Meet driver at JR Nagano Station
• Drive to Kanbayashi Onsen (1 hour)
• Walk trail to Snow Monkey Park (20-25 minutes)
• Explore Snow Monkey Park
• Drive to Obuse Town (30 minutes)
• Visit Phoenix Glaring ceiling painting
• Visit Hokusai Museum
• Stroll Kuri no Komichi path
• Visit Takai Kozan Museum
• Explore Obusedo chestnut sweets shop
• Visit sake brewery (tastings and tours)
• Drive back to JR Nagano Station (40 minutes)

The experience

Your driver meets you at JR Nagano Station and drives you to Kanbayashi Onsen, the trailhead for the Snow Monkey Park: a journey of about an hour. From there, you walk a well-maintained forest trail that takes 20 to 25 minutes each way. The path is 1.6 km in both directions, mostly level and easy, with a short staircase at the start and a steeper one at the end where the park entrance sits. The trail itself is unsealed but clearly marked, and you buy your park entry ticket at the park itself, not before you start walking.

Once you've spent time watching the macaques in the hot springs (a sight unique to winter months, when they soak to stay warm), your driver takes you to Obuse, about 30 minutes away. There you choose which 3 to 4 sites to visit from the options available: the Hokusai Museum, where the artist's 1848 ceiling painting "Phoenix Glaring in All Directions" seems to follow you; the Takai Kozan Memorial Museum, displaying works by the merchant who studied under Hokusai; Kuri no Komichi, a chestnut-wood-paved path lined with earth-colored walls and tiled roofs that feels like stepping into another era; Obusedo, a chestnut-sweet maker operating since 1923 with traditional confections and modern cakes; or a sake brewery with its distinctive red brick chimney, offering tastings and tours (tours in Japanese only, by reservation). You decide how long to spend at each, and your driver waits or meets you afterward. The return to JR Nagano Station takes about 40 minutes from Obuse.

Communication with your driver is basic English, supported by a translation app if needed. Plan your Obuse stops in advance so the day runs smoothly. You cannot combine multiple tour groups on this booking, and the vehicle size (regular car for up to 3 passengers, minivan for up to 5, or van for up to 8) determines how many people travel together.

What’s included

• Private vehicle with English-speaking driver.
• pickup and drop-off at JR Nagano Station.
• transport to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and Obuse.
• your choice of 3 to 4 sites to visit in Obuse from the available attractions.

Options for this experience

3 options

Van (up to 8 passengers)Up to 8 per booking · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Van (up to 8 passengers), includes pickup

Minivan (up to 5 passengers)Up to 5 per booking · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Minivan (up to 5 passengers), includes pickup

Regular car (up to 3 passengers)Up to 3 per booking · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00Regular car (up to 3 passengers), includes pickup

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to2d before

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

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 27 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteJP¥ 4,800

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Japan Guide Agency

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to move at your own pace without a guide narrating each stop. The self-guided format means you linger as long as you like at the monkey park or spend extra time in Obuse's museums and shops, and your driver simply provides the transport and waits for you to finish.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

Do the monkeys actually soak in the hot springs when I visit?

Japanese macaques bathe in the natural hot springs only during winter months, when they soak to protect themselves from the severe cold. In warmer weather, they stay on land and do not enter the water, so the most iconic sightings happen between roughly November and March.

How much walking is involved to reach the Snow Monkey Park?

The trail from Kanbayashi Onsen to the park is 1.6 km each way and takes 20 to 25 minutes to walk when the weather is fine. The path is unsealed but well-maintained, mostly level, with a short staircase at the entrance and a steeper one at the end leading into the park itself.

What are the main sites I can visit in Obuse?

Obuse offers the Hokusai Museum, displaying works by the master artist who spent his final years there; the Takai Kozan Memorial Museum in a former merchant's study; Kuri no Komichi, a scenic chestnut-wood path between museums; Obusedo, a traditional chestnut-sweet maker with a shop and cafe; and a historic sake brewery with a red brick chimney offering tastings and tours by reservation.

Do I need to buy park entry tickets in advance?

No. Entry tickets for Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park are purchased at the park itself, at the end of the trail. Tickets are not sold at Kanbayashi Onsen or anywhere else beforehand, so you pay when you arrive.

What languages does the driver speak?

Your driver understands basic English, though communication may be limited. A translation app is available to help bridge gaps. Planning your Obuse itinerary in advance ensures the day runs smoothly despite the language constraint.

How much time do I have to spend at each stop?

You set the pace. After the Snow Monkey Park visit, you choose which 3 to 4 Obuse sites to visit and how long to spend at each one. Your driver accommodates your schedule and either waits or meets you afterward, so the day is entirely on your terms.