Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple & Nagano Foodie Tour from Tokyo

Duration12h 40m

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

Travel from Tokyo to Nagano with included round-trip Shinkansen tickets and explore the region’s highlights on a guided day tour. Visit the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park to see Japan’s wild snow monkeys up close, with seasonal scenery throughout the year.

Discover the 1,400-year-old Zenko-ji Temple, one of Japan’s most important Buddhist temples, and explore Nakamise Shopping Street with a local expert. Learn about Nagano’s food culture through regional specialties such as oyaki, shichimi pepper, and miso while uncovering the stories behind historic shops and local traditions.

This tour combines nature, history, and local flavors for an unforgettable day trip from Tokyo.

What's included

Local expert guide for the Nakamise Foodie Tour and Zenko-ji Temple visit
Transportation via public transportation and/or chartered vehicle
National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter
Round-trip Shinkansen tickets between Tokyo and Nagano (ordinary car reserved seating)
Monkey park admission fee

Guide (during train ride between Tokyo and Nagano)
Lunch
Fees other than those listed in Includes

What to expect

1h 30m · Admission ticket included

Please make your own way to Tokyo Station. Board the Hokuriku Shinkansen (ordinary car reserved seating) and head to Nagano. There is no accompanying National Government Licensed Guide while on board the Shinkansen.
Pass by

Please meet the guide holding a JTB Sunrise Tours sign at Nagano Station Concourse (2nd floor) in front of the Nagano City Tourist Information Center by 9:50 AM. The tour will depart at 10:00 AM towards the first destination.
Zenko-ji Temple
1h

Zenko-ji is one of Japan's renowned ancient temples with a history of about 1,400 years. Its magnificent architectural beauty and deep faith, including the Main Hall designated as a National Treasure, captivate visitors.

A guide from the Bonsho-no-Kai authorized guide group will be in charge of guidance in the Zenko-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street area. There will be an accompanying English-speaking guide in Zenko-ji Temple as well.
Zenko-ji Temple Nakamisedori
30m · Admission ticket included

The accompanying Zenko-ji Temple Local Expert will introduce the profound charm of the temple and Nakamise Shopping Street in its entirety. This is a special opportunity for foodies to gain a deeper understanding of historical shops and hidden gems that would be overlooked without commentary from the local Expert, and to get in touch with the essence of Nagano Prefecture’s food culture.
Zenko-ji Temple Nakamisedori
1h · Admission ticket not included

Free Time for Sightseeing and Lunch on your own. Take advantage of the knowledge gained from the commentary by Zenko-ji Temple Local Expert, and revisit some restaurants and foodie spots that caught your eye. This is a great opportunity to deepen your own unique Nagano culinary experience by savoring various flavors at a famous oyaki shop recommended by the guide, discovering more at a long-established shichimi shop, and trying new miso sweets.
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
2h 30m · Admission ticket included

Visitors here can get to see wild Japanese macaques up close amidst scenery that changes with the season. Delight in the adorable sight of cute baby monkeys during their birth season in spring, young monkeys full of life playing in summer, or wild monkeys taking a comfortable soak in the hot springs in winter. As monkeys are wild animals, please be sure to follow the observation rules.
15m

For the last leg of the tour, enjoy a drive-in with plenty of food souvenirs of Nagano Prefecture. Behold a wide variety of seasonal fruits! Feel free to try some, and buy your family and friends some souvenirs fit for foodies. Bringing certain fruits back into some countries is prohibited. Please be sure to check on your own.
1h 30m · Admission ticket included

Depart from Nagano Station on the Shinkansen train (ordinary car, reserved seating) to Tokyo. There is no accompanying National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter while on board the Shinkansen.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

[Ticket Pickup] Please pick up your tickets at Tokyo City i at B1F KITTE JP Tower between 3 days before and THE DAY BEFORE your tour departure. [On the Day of the Tour] Board the designated Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and head to Nagano on your own. Check your voucher for more details!

End point

Tour ends around 8:00 pm upon arrival at Tokyo Station.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Exchange your voucher for a physical ticket at Tokyo City i in B1F KITTE JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Pick-up is possible from 3 days before the tour departure date until the day prior to departure
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Located in the Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit, 1st basement floor of the KITTE building
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Open Hours: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Pick-up is not available at Tokyo City i outside of open hours
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Closed Days: The last Sunday of June every year. Facility may be closed without notice due to sudden changes. For more details, please check the website
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] We will not be held responsible if the customer is late for the Shinkansen as a result of not being able to conduct pick-up during open hours
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Tickets cannot be issued or changed at Tokyo City i
[Ticket redemption at Tokyo City i] Pick-up is not available on the day of booking and the day after booking (business days only)
[Itinerary] The tour itinerary and inclusions have been revised for tours departing on or after December 1, 2026
[Itinerary] The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destination
[Itinerary] Depending on the number of participants, a route bus, sedan, or taxi van may be used instead. Seats on the bus may not be designated
[Itinerary] This is a hard walking tour covering about 50 minutes of walking each way between the Shiga Kogen Roman Museum and Jigokudani Monkey Park
[Itinerary] Observe the Japanese macaques' way of life and behavior that vary by the season
[Itinerary] The sight of Japanese macaques soaking in hot springs can be seen until around March. While it may also not be seen depending on the weather or time, etc., refunds will not be issued for this reason
[Itinerary] As monkeys are wild animals, their behavior can be unpredictable, and they cannot be fed or touched. The park may be suddenly closed due to weather or seasonal conditions, Japanese macaques' behavior, or other reason. There may be a sudden tour cancellation in such cases. A full refund will be issued if the tour is canceled
[Itinerary] Bringing certain fruits back into some countries is prohibited. Please be sure to check on your own
[Itinerary] Please note that we are unable to provide special support for those with trouble walking, or small children
[Itinerary] As Jigokudani Monkey Park is situated 850 meters above sea level, temperatures are cooler than on the plain, so please participate wearing warm clothing. Also, the walking path may be frozen and slippery if there is snow in winter. Please wear winter boots or other non-slip footwear. If it is determined by the accompanying guide that cold weather measures, etc. are insufficient, customers may be recommended to rent equipment from a rental shop near Jigokudani Monkey Park. In such cases, expenses must be shouldered by customers
[Shinkansen] Please check the tickets and final itinerary for the train number and times. Changes may not be made to the scheduled Shinkansen
[Shinkansen] The Shinkansen schedule may vary slightly due to unforeseen conditions
[Shinkansen] No refunds will be issued even if the Shinkansen tickets are not used. In such cases, please use public transportation to the destination on your own
[Shinkansen] If you must cancel your tour after receiving the Shinkansen tickets, please send the tickets back to the planning company
[Shinkansen] Changes may not be made to the scheduled Shinkansen. Customers who miss the designated Shinkansen may board a later departing Shinkansen in the non-reserved car section only (same day only)
[Shinkansen] Customers will carry their own baggage. Please check the following important notes. Please be aware that there is not much space on board the Shinkansen
[Tour Guide] The tour is accompanied by a English-speaking guide from departure from Nagano Station until arrival
[Tour Guide] A guide from the Bonsho-no-Kai authorized guide group will be in charge of guidance in the Zenko-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street area. There will be an accompanying English-speaking guide in Zenko-ji Temple as well
[Tour Guide] Drivers do not work as guides

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.5 (28)