Snow Monkeys from Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen
Yes, you can see the snow monkeys from Hakuba or Nozawa Onsen on a ski-break day. The winter shuttle on the classic day trip, a private car from Hakuba, the Nozawa day tour, and the DIY route.
Yes, you can see the snow monkeys from Hakuba or Nozawa Onsen, and a lot of skiers do, usually on a rest day. It is a full day: the park is in the next valley system over, and every visitor finishes with a forest walk of about half an hour. Here are the realistic ways to do it, best first.
From Hakuba: the classic day trip’s winter shuttle
The most-reviewed snow monkey tour, the Nagano day trip with Zenko-ji and sake, lists a Hakuba shuttle service in winter among its inclusions. You get the monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple, a regional lunch and a sake tasting, with the park ticket included, for from $138 per person (October 2026), rated 4.9/5 from 978 reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. The listing has several meeting points: choose the Hakuba option when you pick your date and check the pickup details in the confirmation.
The other ways, by who you are
Private Car & Driver from Hakuba
Hotel pickup in Hakuba, fuel, tolls and parking covered, flexible stops on the way. A driver rather than a guide; check whether the park ticket is included.
See the private tour →Monkeys, Zenko-ji & Sake from Nozawa
Transport from and to Nozawa Onsen, the park ticket, lunch, a sake tasting and an English-speaking guide.
See the Nozawa tour →Bus via Nagano
Cheapest, and about three hours each way with two buses and the walk. Works best with an early start.
Read the DIY route ↓Prices, 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.
Doing it yourself from Hakuba
- Alpico express bus, Hakuba to Nagano Station. Roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes depending on the service. Check the winter timetable the evening before.
- Nagano Station to the park. The express bus towards Shiga Kogen from the East Exit stops at Snow Monkey Park in about 41 minutes, or take the Nagaden limited express to Yudanaka (about 38 minutes) and a 15-minute local bus.
- The walk. From the bus stop, 30 to 35 minutes on a forest trail that is packed snow and ice all winter. Wear proper boots with grip, not ski boots.
- The ticket. From 1 December 2026, ¥880 as a dated web ticket on the park’s own site or ¥1,000 at the gate; web-ticket holders get priority entry from December to April.
Leave Hakuba by about 8:00 and you will have a comfortable hour with the monkeys before the park closes at 16:00. Driving is possible, but the car parks near the trail close to private cars on winter weekends and holidays, so check before you go.
Is it worth a ski day?
In January and February, yes: the monkeys are in the hot spring, the valley is under snow, and it is a sight you will not find anywhere else. Pick a day when the snow is poor or your legs need a rest, book ahead, and let someone else handle the transport. For which tour suits you if you are not tied to a resort, see the best snow monkey tour for each traveller.
Questions people ask
Can you visit the snow monkeys from Hakuba?
Yes, as a full day off the slopes. The most-reviewed snow monkey day trip (4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138, October 2026) lists a winter-only shuttle from Hakuba and includes the park ticket, lunch, Zenko-ji Temple and a sake tasting. For a group of up to five, a private car from Hakuba is from $401. Or go yourself: bus to Nagano, then on to the park.
How do I get to Monkey Park from Hakuba?
By public transport, take the Alpico express bus from Hakuba to Nagano Station (roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes depending on the service), then the express bus towards Shiga Kogen to the Snow Monkey Park stop (about 41 minutes), then walk 30 to 35 minutes. Allow around three hours each way. By car it is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours each way, but the car parks near the trail close to private cars on winter weekends and holidays.
Can you visit the snow monkeys from Nozawa Onsen?
Yes. A day tour from Nozawa Onsen (4.9/5 from 16 reviews, from $138, October 2026) includes transport from and to the village, the park ticket, lunch, a sake tasting and Zenko-ji Temple, with free cancellation up to 24 hours. On your own, the Nozawa Onsen Liner bus links the village with Iiyama and Nagano stations.
How long do you need at the Snow Monkey Park?
About an hour at the pool, plus 30 to 35 minutes’ walk each way from the bus stop. From Hakuba that makes a full day either way, which is why it suits a rest day from skiing. The park closes at 16:00 from November to March.
What is the best way to see the snow monkeys from a ski resort?
A tour, for most skiers: the travel time is long, the trail is icy, and winter weekends close the car parks near the trail, so having the transport and the ticket handled is worth more than usual. Plan it for a non-ski day, wear winter boots with grip rather than ski boots, and book early: January and February dates go first.
Book the Day Trip with the Hakuba Shuttle
Snow monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple, lunch and sake, park ticket included, with a winter shuttle option from Hakuba. 4.9/5 from 978 reviews, from $138 per person (Oct 2026).
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