From Tokyo: Snow Monkey Park & Zenkō-ji Day Trip by Shinkansen

Japan's wild "snow monkeys" are one of winter's most memorable sights, and they are closer to Tokyo than many travellers expect. This guided day trip uses the Hokuriku Shinkansen, whose fastest trains reach Nagano in about 80 minutes, to take you to Jigokudani Yaen-Kōen (Snow Monkey Park) in the mountains of northern Nagano, with a stop at the historic temple of Zenkō-ji before the evening train back to Tokyo.

Your guide meets you at Tokyo Station in the morning and handles tickets and connections all day. From Nagano Station we continue by express bus or chartered vehicle, depending on group size, to the trailhead at Kanbayashi Onsen. The last stretch is on foot: the Yu-michi forest trail runs about two kilometres through tall cedars and, in winter, packed snow, taking around 30 to 35 minutes each way. It is mostly gentle, with a few slopes and steps near the end.

Jigokudani means "Hell's Valley", after the steam and boiling springs that rise from its steep slopes. A troop of Japanese macaques lives freely here; park staff draw them in with a regulated feeding routine, and in cold weather some climb into an outdoor hot-spring pool to keep warm, creating the famous scenes of frosted fur and steaming water. They are wild animals, so numbers and bathing vary from day to day; sightings are most dependable in the coldest months, and the park itself notes that on rare days the monkeys may not appear. You will have about an hour to watch and photograph them.

After the walk back there is time for lunch, at your own cost, in Shibu Onsen, an old hot-spring town of wooden inns and narrow stone lanes. We then return to Nagano for Zenkō-ji, a temple whose origins tradition dates to the 7th century. It belongs to no single Buddhist sect and has welcomed pilgrims of every background for centuries. Walk the shop-lined approach, see the main hall, a National Treasure, and, if you like, join the Okaidan, a pitch-dark passage beneath the altar where visitors feel along the wall for the "key to paradise" (ticket payable on site). An evening shinkansen brings you back to Tokyo Station at around 19:00.

The tour runs from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027, the snowy season when the monkeys are most likely to bathe. In winter the park is open from 9:00 to 16:00 and gives priority entry to visitors holding date-specific online tickets, which we book for you. The park has also announced an admission fee revision from 1 December 2026; admission is included in your price at whatever rate applies on your date.

The trail to the park is unpaved and, from December to March, usually covered in packed snow and ice. The park recommends rubber or snow boots and advises buying simple slip-on crampons in advance. Wear warm layers, a hat and gloves, as temperatures in the valley are often below freezing.

You will walk about 5 km during the day, including roughly 4 km on the forest trail with some slopes and steps. The route is not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers, and a reasonable level of fitness is needed.

Park rules are strict: never feed, touch or stare at the monkeys, keep your distance from youngsters, and do not bring food into view. Selfie sticks, drones and placing a camera inside the bath are prohibited, and pets are not allowed.

Heavy snow can delay trains and buses or close the park at short notice. If rail services are suspended or the park closes before we arrive, we will adjust the itinerary or offer a full refund if the trip cannot run.

It is a long day of about 11.5 hours. Bring a small amount of cash for lunch and snacks, and charge your phone, as batteries drain quickly in the cold.