15 Nagano Tours Worth the Booking

1.1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · from $151Our pick

A full day in Nagano combining Zenko-ji Temple, a guided sake tasting, and the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park for a classic winter wildlife fix.

“Our guide Tom was a great guide! He was fun to listen to and super knowledgeable about the locations we visited. He made learning about the history really fun. Zenkoji temple was beautiful and the snack recommendations were on point. Bring ice cleats for trekking up to see the monkeys, the combination of slope, ice and trampled snow makes it very slippery. They do sell cleats onsite but if you bring your own then you dont have to buy more. Tom even took us on a quick walk thru of the nagano station food area and recommended some snacks that were satisfactory purchases 👍🏻 especially after knowing some of the…”

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2.Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 833 reviews · 8 - 12 hours · from $135

Guided Nagano day trip with Zenko-ji Temple, sake tasting, and Jigokudani snow monkeys soaking in hot springs, from Hakuba or Nagano.

“I had a great time on this tour. Brent our guide was informative, friendly and professional in sharing his deep local knowledge regarding the locations we visited.”

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3.Snow Monkey 1 Day Tour with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 295 reviews · 1 day · from $151

Tokyo day trip to Jigokudani for beef sukiyaki lunch and close-up snow monkeys in thermal springs, with optional winter snow huts.

“The guides were absolutely incredible and so helpful to me! I walk with a cane and doing this hike was very difficult for me but because she stayed with me to help me make it up to the monkeys I got to see these amazing little animals!! They take such good care of you, it’s very organized, communication is clear, the bus driver is very safe, everything was so lovely!”

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4.Snow Monkey & Nagano Customiseable Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 138 reviews · 1 day · from $466

Private Tokyo to Nagano day tour to Jigokudani Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji, customize stops, luxury car, door-to-door pickup.

“Jazib was our guide - we had a great time on our trip! We loved seeing the snow monkeys and pick up and drop off were so easy and seamless”

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5.1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $201

One day from Nagano to Matsumoto Castle and Kamikochi, with guided history, Frog Street stroll, and included park time.

“Our tour was amazing! Our tour guide (Endo) and the driver were fantastic and very accommodating. Extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Would recommend to anyone!”

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6.1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · from $184

Shiga Kogen snow play plus Jigokudani snow monkeys and lunch on a guided Nagano day trip. Convenience, warm meals, and hot-spring primates.

“I am rating the tour, not the experience - the snow monkey park was amazing, but the tour was terrible. Someone already covered the 'bunny hill' snow activity experience in the 1-star review here, so I will not repeat that part. Our main Read more”

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7.Wild Japanese Flying Squirrel Watching Tour in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · from $28Best value

Spot Japan’s giant flying squirrels in Karuizawa, Nagano. A guide teaches at Picchio, then you scan the trees with binoculars.

“We met at the Karuizawa Wild Life Sanctuary where our tour guide (I cannot place his name at the moment but was absolutely lovely) walked us through the ecology of the Musasabi (Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel) before taking the grouRead more”

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8.Full-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 78 reviews · 12 hours · from $180

12-hour tour from Nagano to Matsumoto Castle and Kamikochi, with guided castle entry and a Frog Street stroll. $180 pp.

“This was a great way to get to see both Matsumoto Castle and Kamikochi. Both were absolutely fantastic. Our guide Shin was really gracious and helpful. Personally, I would reduce the amount of time before and after the castle to get an earlier start for Kamikochi. Starting and ending at Matsumoto and arriving back at a bit after 6PM was fine for us. Leaving and ending in Nagano would have made for a really looong day though. All in all, a fantastic day!”

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9.(Spring Only) 1-Day Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · from $254

Spring-only day trip from Nagano to the Tateyama Kurobe Snow Walls, with an English guide and included rail to Ogisawa.

“Very organised. Everything went well as planned. Had a great time. Very good tour guide. He had knowledge and wit!!”

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10.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

A private Nagano day that strings together wild snow monkeys, Zenko-ji, Obuse, Hokusai, and a Shibu Onsen soak for a tight schedule.

“Our guide Hori was very knowledgeable and well prepared. We had a great day and highly recommend this tour. The snow monkeys were amazing and the local food delicious.”

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11.Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $91

Taste Nagano through oyaki, matcha, and sake on a small-group walk around Zenkoji temple, with local shops and photos.

“Masu is a fantastic guide. We had a few hours in Nagano after leaving our onsen in Shibu before heading to Kyoto. Masu only does very small tours, up to 8 people, and my husband and I were the only 2 on our tour. Masu knows secret, local pRead more”

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12.Nagano/Tokyo: Snow Monkey and Zenkoji Temple Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 54 reviews · from $505

Private Nagano day trip from Tokyo featuring Zenko-ji Temple and Jigokudani snow monkeys, plus Obuse, Shibu Onsen, and castle ruins in a luxury vehicle.

“Ali was an exceptional tour guide! Polite, patient, and incredibly accommodating. Despite booking the tour 2 days prior, the company and Ali were very responsive and helpful with organising the day. He went out of his way to ensure everyone felt comfortable and engaged throughout the tour. He made sure we arrived at the snow monkey park early enough before it got super busy, and was flexible as we decided to go to Obuse instead of Zenkoji Temple. The day didn’t feel too rushed considering it’s a ~ 11 hour tour from Tokyo with about 7 hours total driving time. Highly recommend!Read more”

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13.1 Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 9 hours · from $165

Shiga Kogen snow play and Jigokudani Snow Monkeys in one 9 hour day trip from Nagano, with lunch and an English guide.

“Quick and easy booking. Reasonable price and value. Very courteous and helpful tour guide.”

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14.Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 45 reviews · 1 day · from $232

Nagano to Murodo (2,450 m) via ropeway, trolley, and snow corridor, plus a guided stop at Kurobe Dam on a one-day tour.

“Great an tour that should not be missed if you are in the area.”

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15.1-Day Tour from Matsumoto: Walk the Nakasendo Trail

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · from $211

8km Nakasendo hike from Tsumago to Magome with an English guide, waterfalls and post towns, plus pickup from Matsumoto.

“Kevin was a great guide traveling along the old Nakasendo trail. He knows the history and is an avid hiker in Japan. You will experience some of what commuters faced back in the day traveling between Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo). Bring fit legs (some stairs) and you will have a great time.”

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