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This 8-hour self-guided tour is perfect for travelers who want to visit the world-famous Snow Monkey Park and the charming town of Obuse at their own pace.
Your journey begins at JR Nagano Station, where you'll meet your English-speaking driver.
Your driver will take you to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, where you can witness Japanese macaques soaking in natural hot springs
After your visit to the Snow Monkey Park, you may choose 3 to 4 sites to visit from the itinerary/what to expect list to visit.
After spending a few hours, your driver will take you back to JR Nagano Station.
Experience two of Nagano’s must-see destinations in one convenient day trip!
1: The driver can understand basic English, but communication may be limited. They will use a translation app if needed. Plan your itinerary in advance to ensure a smooth experience.
2: Monkeys don't soak in the hot spring in warm weather. They bathe in winter to prevent from the severe coldness.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Your driver will pick you up and drop you off at JR Nagano Station or hotels near the port.
Itinerary
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1
Your driver will meet you at JR Nagano Station and drive you to Kanbayashi Onsen, the starting point of the trail to the Snow Monkey Park. The journey takes approximately one hour.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
2
The world-famous “Snow Monkey Park” is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River in northern Nagano where the troops of wild Japanese monkeys inhabit naturally through the ages. To access the monkey park, you must walk along a forest trail located at the top of Kanbayashi Onsen. Kanbayashi is small and the trail entrance is located next to the Snow Monkey Resort Information and Gift Shop. Pease note that entry tickets for the monkey park are not sold and there are no toilets. Tickets for the park are purchased at the park itself, at the end of the trail. When the weather is fine, this is an easy walk and it takes about 20 to 25 minutes. The trail to the park is 1.6 km / 1 mile in both directions. It is unsealed but well-maintained and other than a short staircase at the trail entrance and a final steep staircase and sloped path at the end of the trail / entrance to the park itself, the trail is completely level and easy to walk.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included -
3
After visitint the Show Monkey Park, your driver will take you to Obuse Town. It takes about 30 minutes from Kanbayashi Onsen to Obuse.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Katsushika Hokusai painted “Phoenix Glaring in All Directions” on the ceiling in 1848 at the age of 89. The mythical bird’s eyes seem to follow you no matter where you stand.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
5
Hokusai Katsushika was a master of Ukiyo-e, a Japanese genre of painting and woodblock printing that flourished between the late 17th and late 19th centuries. The Hokusai Museum is a diverse tribute to the renowned Japanese artist Hokusai Katsushika who visited several times near the end of his life in the charming town of Obuse.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
6
Obuse’s townscape manages to satisfy the desire of residents for convenience while providing a soothing atmosphere for visitors. Kuri no Komichi is paved with blocks of chestnuts wood, this path linking the Hokusai Museum and the Takai Kozan Museum is one of Obuse’s best-loved spots and a perfect place for a stroll. To walk along paths and enjoy the contrast of earth-colored walls and tiled roofs in almost like stepping back in time.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
Paintings and calligraphic works by Takai Kozan, the prosperous farmer and merchant who both invited Hokusai to Obuse and studied under the master, are on display in his former salon and study.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
8
Chestnuts have been cultivated in Obuse—long celebrated as one of the three top spots for chestnuts in Japan—since the fourteenth century and were presented to the shogunate as tribute during the Edo Period. It was only during the early twentieth century, though, that canning technology transformed chestnut sweets from a seasonal delicacy to a year-round product. With a history dating back to 1923, Obusedo produces a wide range of traditional chestnut sweets (like yokan, kuri kanoko, and rakugan) as well as dorayaki, pound cakes, and other delights.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9
Established during the middle of the Edo period, our brewery relocated to Obuse in 1889 at the beginning of the Meiji period. The current brewery building dates back more than 200 years. With its eye-catching red brick chimney, this is where our master brewer creates a range of sakes both vigorous and delicate. Sake made from rice steamed in our giant wagama boiler has exceptional flavor. This Japanese sake brewery offers tastings and brewery tours (with reservations, Japanese only).
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10
After Obuse sightseeing, your driver will take you back to JR Nagano Station. From Obuse to Nagano Station, it takes about 40 minutes.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Monkeys don't soak in the hot spring in the warm season because they bathe in order to prevent from the severe coldness in winter.
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Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Monkeys don't soak in the hot spring in the warm season because they bathe in order to prevent from the severe coldness in winter.
- You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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