About this tour
A private eight- to ten-hour circuit from Nagano City or nearby ski resorts, visiting the macaques at Jigokudani Monkey Park, the thousand-year-old Zenko-ji Temple, and the preserved Edo-period streets of Obuse. Includes a traditional lunch showcasing local Nagano cuisine and a guided sake tasting. Your own vehicle and driver handle the logistics; you focus on the sights.
Highlights
- Watch wild macaques bathe in geothermal pools at Jigokudani
- Tour Zenko-ji, Japan's oldest Buddhist temple complex
- Wander Edo-period timber buildings in Obuse village
- Taste local sake with expert guide commentary
- Eat traditional Nagano lunch at a working restaurant
- Private vehicle pickup from your resort or city hotel
What to expect
You'll be collected from your base—whether a ski resort or Nagano proper—and driven to Jigokudani, where you'll spend time observing the snow monkeys in their natural habitat. From there, the day unfolds as a cultural triangle: lunch at a local establishment serving Nagano specialities, a guided walk through Obuse's intact historic quarter, and a proper tour of Zenko-ji Temple with its significance explained. The sake tasting wraps things up before your return drive. Expect moderate walking on uneven surfaces and occasional exposure to cold, particularly around the monkey pools.
Good to know
Availability of specific activities varies by date and requires confirmation with venues. Infant car seats are available. Non-alcoholic alternatives offered for the sake tasting. Should any planned activity prove unavailable, your guide will suggest workable alternatives and contact you in advance.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.