Snow Monkeys and Snow Fun In Shiga Kogen - Full-Day Tour

This tour has several meeting points in Nagano City as well as Yudanaka, Shibu and Kanbayashi Onsen. Your guide will get guests on the bus quickly and off high into the mountains.

As Japan’s largest and highest ski resort, Shiga Kogen’s proximity to the monkey park makes it the perfect destination to experience Nagano’s powder snow!

You will be transported to the ski fields of Maruike – one of Shiga Kogen’s many ski areas – for a morning of snow fun, with an activity area sectioned off for you to enjoy using snowscoots, snowdrives, and good old-fashioned sledges and tubes. Suitable for the whole family, guests who get their confidence up have the option of heading-up to the nearest ski lift, accompanied by a guide (skiing or snowboarding is not included in the activity).

While there, you’ll have time to have lunch at a nearby restaurant, looking onto the ski field. Your guide will provide you with a lunch coupon which can be used to select your lunch at the restaurant with options including Katsu Curry, Katsu Udon, Hamburger Steak, Pizza, Sansai soba, and different types of Udon. There is plenty of choice to warm yourself before heading out of the mountains and toward your next stop, Kanbayashi Onsen – home of the Jigokudani Monkey Park.

Arriving at Kanbayashi around 1:20pm, your guide will lead you along the forest trail in the monkey park, where you’ll be introduced to these truly curious creatures. As the only troop of monkeys in the world known to bathe in hot springs, the monkeys of Jigokudani have reached global fame and observing them go about their monkey business – foraging, wrestling, grooming and of course, soaking in the hot spring – is a must-see when in Nagano!

You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy with the monkeys before heading out of the park and boarding the bus around 4pm with the tour concluding back at Nagano Station around 5:30pm with drop-off at Yudanaka Station (if required) along the way and Hotel Kokusai 21 (please note, due to weather and road conditions in winter, tour end times cannot be guaranteed).

Important information

Please note that in the event of extreme weather conditions or road closures we will visit Zenko-ji Temple. This activity is subject to adequate weather conditions and may be subject to changes

Please be aware that there are a few days in the year when the monkeys might not come down to the park or that the monkeys may leave the park early. While this is unlikely to happen, it is possible and is outside of our control.

The temperature in Shiga Kogen is cold and could be as low as -5°C to -15°C. Please be dressed in warm, waterproof clothing and boots for snow activities. If required, clothing including snow jackets, pants, gloves and snow boots can be rented at the Snow Monkey Park. Please note that there is limited availability for snow outfits, so if you have waterproof, warm clothes fit for snow activities, please bring these with you on the day of the tour.

You are required to walk in and out of the monkey park along a 1.6km / 1 mile trail. In winter, the trail and park will be affected by snow and ice. Rental boots (JPY500) are available close to the monkey park if required. Crampons (metal spikes that attach underneath your shoes/boots) can also be purchased if required.