5 Temple & Shrine Tours in Nagano, Ranked by Travellers

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…”

Check availability →Read our full review

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $91Best value

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”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.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”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Snow Monkeys & Togakushi Shrine Two-Spot in-One Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 35 reviews · 8 hours · from $202

Private Nagano day linking Jigokudani snow monkeys and Togakushi shrines with a car, English guide, and photo captures after your tour.

“We got to see lots of monkeys! Also, Chris is an amazing guy and guide. Due to the private nature of the tour, everything was chill and we did not get tired even though you visit both the snow monkey park and Togakushi shrine in one day. I totally recommend this company.”

Check availability →Read our full review