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View all Tokyo toursSnow Monkeys and Zenko-ji: Private Nagano Day Trip from Tokyo
Ten hours to Nagano and back for the hot-spring macaques and a 1,400-year-old temple, in a private car.
Highlights
- Jigokudani macaques, the world's only hot-spring-bathing monkeys
- Zenko-ji, founded in the 7th century, sect-less for 1,400 years
- The temple's pitch-dark underground passage
- Private car — no transfers, no last-train anxiety
- Japanese Alps scenery on the drive
Full description
Jigokudani's macaques are the only monkeys on earth known to bathe in hot springs, and they have been doing it since the 1960s. The valley name means 'hell valley' — steam vents through steep forested walls and the snow sits on the cliffs for months — and the troop comes down to the man-made pool most of the year, not only in winter.
Getting there by public transport eats the day in transfers. A private car makes it a manageable single day: you sleep on the expressway, arrive when the light is good, and come back without watching the clock for the last train.
Zenko-ji in Nagano city is the other half. Founded in the 7th century, it predates the split of Japanese Buddhism into sects and so belongs to none of them, which is why it has drawn pilgrims from every school for 1,400 years. Its main hall is a National Treasure, and beneath it runs a pitch-dark underground passage where visitors feel along the wall for a key said to grant salvation.
Your driver-guide handles the whole day and knows the monkey park's own rhythms — when the troop comes down, and when the trail is worth the walk.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Tokyo hotel pickup
Early start for the drive north into the mountains.
Drive to Nagano
Expressway north with Japanese Alps scenery and a rest stop.
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Forest trail walk to the valley and time with the troop at the hot pool.
Zenko-ji Temple
The National Treasure main hall and the underground passage.
Return to Tokyo
Drive back, arriving Tokyo in the evening.
Detailed Itinerary
The day starts early — around 07:00 — because Nagano is roughly three hours from Tokyo and the monkeys are most active in the middle of the day. The drive runs north on the expressway with a rest stop, and the scenery turns mountainous in the second half.
Jigokudani needs a walk. The trail from the car park is about 1.6 km through forest, mostly level but unpaved and slippery when it snows, and it takes 25–30 minutes each way. The troop is wild and unfenced; they ignore people entirely but you are asked not to touch or feed them and not to make eye contact.
Zenko-ji follows in the afternoon. The main hall is the draw, and the underground passage — completely dark, following a wall by hand — takes only a few minutes but is the part most people remember. You are back in Tokyo in the evening.
Includes
- Private vehicle with English-speaking driver-guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tokyo
- Fuel and all expressway tolls
- Guidance at both the monkey park and the temple
Excludes
- Jigokudani Monkey Park entrance fee
- Food and drinks
- Zenko-ji inner sanctuary fee
- Gratuities
Important information
Meeting point
Your Tokyo hotel — confirm the address when booking
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts
About this activity
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Traveler Reviews
We really enjoyed our today's experience with the guide named Ali. Very good driving skills, flexible with stops and the schedule, very polite, and knowledgeable with the area and it's history. The huge plus is the car- very clean spacious, and very comfortable. We are highly recommending this trip. we saw lots of monkeys in the park (mid Aug 2026 time), and the template is worth every penny to see.
The trip was fabulous. Ali allowed us to totally dictate what we did and we loved the monkeys and the castle. Definitely recommend. A long day.
Comfortable vehicle, friendly flexible driver took us on side trip to Candy Alley at our request
Overall we had such a wonderful time experiencing all the beautiful nature around Japan countryside and the spiritual temple. A special shout out to our driver Ali who went over and beyond for us. Thankyou so much for being so helpul and kind to us. Ali made our trip a very memorable one. Thanks heaps.
The Monkey park was fantastic, and the trip to the temple was just as interesting. Our tour guide, Ali, was very friendly and informative, would recommend!
Our guide Ali was very knowledgeable and courteous. We had a fabulous day and were lucky to see a huge number of very cute snow monkeys, which was the highlight of the tour. The visit to the beautiful temple was also amazing. Would highly recommend this tour.
Loved our day with Ali. He was a super guide. Took us to see the snow monkeys and the Zenko-ji temple. He told us this was our day and he was able to accommodate for us. He even bought us some delicious samosas during a stop. Highly recommend him. Thanks Ali.
We had a fantastic day! Ali was very professional and friendly and provided great communication throughout the whole experience. Very flexible with our itinerary and gave us a bit more time at the end of the day. Non smoking vehicle would be preferred. But overall a great trip!
Very pleasant trip Good and understanding driver. Ali is real professional :)
The highlight of the trip was definitely the visit to Jigokudani Monkey Park. Seeing the snow monkeys up close in their natural environment was a unique and unforgettable experience. Watching them relax in the hot springs and interact with each other felt very authentic and special. The walk to the park was scenic and enjoyable, adding to the overall experience rather than feeling like a long trek. The visit to Zenko-ji Temple was another great part of the day. The temple has a peaceful and historic atmosphere, and it was nice to explore at a relaxed pace. It provided a perfect cultural balance to the nature-focused experience at the monkey park. The guide was excellent, friendly, professional, and very accommodating throughout the day. Everything was handled smoothly, and the experience felt relaxed and well-managed without being rushed. Transportation was top quality. The vehicle was clean and comfortable, and despite the long journey, the drive felt easy and well-paced. Pickup an