The Best Snow Monkey Tour for You
Nine snow monkey tours compared on price, length, what's included and where they start: the classic Nagano day trip, the 4-hour budget pick, private guides, and tours from Tokyo and the ski resorts.
There are more snow monkey tours than there are good reasons to choose between them, so here is the short version. Most people should book the classic Nagano day trip. It has nearly three times the reviews of any other snow monkey tour, it includes the park ticket and lunch, and it pairs the monkeys with Zenko-ji Temple, which is worth the trip on its own. The other tours win for specific travellers, and they are below.
The classic pick: Nagano day trip with Zenko-ji and sake
4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138 per person (October 2026). A guided group day from Nagano: the monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple, a regional lunch and a sake tasting. The park ticket is included, and so is a winter-only shuttle from Hakuba. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Bullet-train tickets to Nagano are not included, and the day runs 8 to 12 hours.
If you are based in Nagano or Yudanaka
Monkeys, Zenko-ji & Sake
The full guided day with lunch and the park ticket. The default choice for a first visit.
See the day trip →Monkeys, Soba & Shibu Onsen
About 4 hours, up to 7 guests, with the park ticket, a soba lunch and a bath in Shibu Onsen. Pickup from set points around Yudanaka, so best if you are staying there.
See the soba tour →Private Guide, Half or Full Day
Your own guide and car with hotel pickup, 5 to 9.5 hours. Park admission is paid on site.
See the private tour →Three more Nagano days, for specific tastes:
| Tour | Best for | From | Rating | Park ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkeys & Shiga Kogen snow play | Families who want snow, 9 hours | $163 | 5.0 (55) | Included |
| Monkeys, Obuse & sake | Art (Hokusai’s town) and food, 7 hours | $157 | 5.0 (11) | Included |
| Monkeys & Togakushi Shrine, private | Cedar forest shrine, no crowds, 8 hours | $202 | 4.9 (46) | Paid on site |
Prices per person, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 check of each listing; operators change prices by season, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
If you are starting in Tokyo or a ski resort
Coach Day Trip with Sukiyaki Lunch
From Shinjuku, park ticket and lunch included. Up to three and a half hours on the bus each way, so a long day.
See the Tokyo tour →Monkeys, Zenko-ji & Sake
The classic day with transport from Nozawa Onsen, park ticket, lunch and sake included.
See the Nozawa tour →Shuttle or Private Car
The classic day runs a winter shuttle from Hakuba; a private car takes up to five. Both options, explained.
Compare the Hakuba options →From Tokyo there are also private cars from about $99 per person; the full Tokyo-side picture, Shinkansen included, is in this from-Tokyo guide.
What actually differs between them
- The park ticket. The group day trips include it; the private guides mostly leave it for you to pay on the day. From 1 December 2026 that is ¥1,000 at the gate or ¥880 as a dated web ticket bought in advance.
- The walk. Every tour, private ones included, ends with the same 30 to 35 minute forest walk. No vehicle reaches the gate.
- The second stop. Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, Togakushi Shrine, Shiga Kogen or an onsen town. Pick the tour by the half-day you want around the monkeys, not by the monkeys, who are the same on every tour.
- The season. In winter the monkeys bathe and the dates sell out; the rest of the year they rarely go in the water. Book December to March early.
Questions people ask
Which is the best snow monkey tour?
For most people, the Nagano day trip with Zenko-ji Temple, lunch and a sake tasting: 4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138 (October 2026), park ticket included, free cancellation up to 24 hours. It is the most reviewed snow monkey tour by a wide margin. On a tight budget, the 4-hour tour with a soba lunch and a Shibu Onsen bath is from $76. For a private day, Omotenashi-travel’s guided tours start from $136 per person.
Can you see the snow monkeys without a tour?
Yes. From Nagano Station take the express bus towards Shiga Kogen (about 41 minutes) or the Nagaden limited express to Yudanaka and a 15-minute local bus, then walk the forest trail, about 30 to 35 minutes. Buy the dated web ticket on the park’s site in winter. A tour adds the timing, a guide and, on most group tours, the ticket and lunch.
How much does it cost to see the snow monkeys?
Park admission is ¥800 until 30 November 2026, then ¥1,000 at the gate or ¥880 as a dated web ticket. Getting there from Nagano by bus or train costs a few thousand yen return. Guided tours from Nagano run from $76 for a 4-hour tour to $202 per person for a private day (October 2026); from Tokyo, a coach day trip is from $149 and private cars from $99 per person.
Can I take a day trip to Nagano from Tokyo to see the snow monkeys?
Yes. The fastest Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Nagano in 79 minutes, then either join a Nagano day trip or go on by bus. There are also tours that start in Tokyo: a coach day trip from Shinjuku (4.6/5 from 361 reviews, from $149, admission and lunch included, about three and a half hours each way by bus) and private cars from about $99 per person.
What is the best time to see the snow monkeys?
December to March, when the park says the monkeys use the hot spring; January and February are the surest. The monkeys come to the park all year, so a spring or summer tour still shows you the troop at close range, but rarely in the water. Book winter dates early: they sell out first, and web-ticket holders get priority entry.
Book the Classic Day Trip
Snow monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple, lunch and sake from Nagano, park ticket included. 4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138 per person (Oct 2026), free cancellation up to 24 hours.
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