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The day in short
Snow monkeys, samurai
and a passage in the dark.
The longest day we run, and the furthest: wild macaques bathing in a mountain hot spring, one of Japan’s great pilgrimage temples, and an original black castle from the samurai era.
- Private transportation with a professional English-speaking guide
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off within Tokyo’s 23 wards
- Wild Japanese macaques at Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
- Zenkō-ji Temple and the dark passage beneath the main hall
- Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan’s twelve surviving original keeps
- Fuel, highway tolls and parking already included
Where the day takes you
The itinerary.
Yours to adjust.
Your guide coordinates the route, timing and photo stops around your interests, the weather and seasonal conditions. Nothing here is fixed.
- 01
Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
Japanese macaques bathing in a mountain hot spring, entirely wild and entirely unbothered by anyone watching. Reached by a forest trail of roughly 25 minutes each way.
- 02
Zenkō-ji Temple
One of Japan’s most important Buddhist temples, and a place of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. Beneath the main hall runs a pitch-dark passage where you feel along the wall for the key to enlightenment.
- 03
Matsumoto Castle
The black-walled “Crow Castle”, one of only twelve original keeps left in Japan. The wooden interiors and steep defensive stairs are exactly as the samurai left them.
- 04
Lunch stop
Nagano is soba country. Your guide will choose somewhere good, or somewhere else entirely if you would rather.
No surprises
What the price
does and does not cover.
The professional guide and the listed transportation costs are included. Attraction tickets, meals and optional activities are paid on the day.
Included
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Private transportation arranged through licensed commercial partners
- Hotel pickup and drop-off within Tokyo’s 23 wards
- Fuel, highway tolls and parking fees
- Custom itinerary planning and day-of coordination
- On-board Wi-Fi and bottled water, subject to vehicle availability
Not included
- Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park admission
- Matsumoto Castle admission
- Optional paid areas at Zenkō-ji Temple
- Meals and additional drinks
- Optional activities and personal expenses
- Pickups outside Tokyo’s 23 wards, when applicable
- Airport and cruise terminal transfers, which are booked separately
Private group pricing
One price
for your whole group.
Not per person. The price below covers the private vehicle, the professional guide, fuel, highway tolls and parking for everyone travelling with you.
Nagano is roughly 250 kilometres from Tokyo, which is why this day costs more and runs longer than our other tours. Additional time beyond the confirmed duration is charged at ¥5,000 per hour. Pickup outside Tokyo’s 23 wards can be arranged for an additional charge depending on the location.
Good to know
Before you book.
Everything that affects your day, in plain language. If anything here is unclear, message us before booking and we will answer properly.
How long is the day, and what time is pickup?+
Approximately 12 hours door-to-door, our longest day tour. Pickup is normally between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM from hotels, apartments or stations within Tokyo’s 23 wards. Your exact pickup time is confirmed after booking, and the start time can be adjusted on request.
Why does this tour cost more than the others?+
Distance and time, plainly. Nagano sits about 250 kilometres from Tokyo across the mountains, so the day runs to 12 hours where most of our tours run 10 or 11. The price covers the longer driving day and the guide’s time, not a premium on the sights themselves.
How hard is the walk to the snow monkeys?+
It is a forest trail of roughly 25 minutes each way, not steep but not paved either, and it can be muddy in the wet or packed with snow in winter. Proper shoes make the difference; in winter, warm layers and non-slip soles are strongly recommended. If anyone in your group would struggle with 50 minutes of trail walking in total, tell us before booking.
Are the monkeys there all year, or only in winter?+
All year. They are wild but resident, and the park is open year-round. Winter is when you get the photograph everyone knows, snow on the rim of the pool and steam rising around them. Summer visits are quieter and just as close.
Can we touch or feed the monkeys?+
No. They are wild animals, not an attraction, and the park asks everyone to keep a respectful distance and never to touch or feed them. Follow that and they will carry on entirely as if you were not there, which is what makes it worth seeing.
Is Matsumoto Castle suitable for everyone?+
The castle is original, which means original stairs: steep, narrow and wooden, closer to a ladder in places. Parts of Zenkō-ji involve steps too. The grounds and the exterior are lovely without going inside, so tell us about any mobility needs and the day can be planned around them.
Are children welcome, and are child seats available?+
Yes. The monkeys are a highlight for most children. Bear in mind it is a long day in the vehicle and a 25-minute trail each way. Child seats are available on request; please tell us in advance with each child’s age.
Where can you pick me up, and are there rules in the vehicle?+
One pickup and one drop-off within Tokyo’s 23 wards are included: hotels, apartments or stations. Pickup from other locations can usually be arranged for an additional fee, subject to availability. Airport and cruise terminal transfers are a separate service, bookable from our Transfers page. For everyone’s comfort and safety, smoking, fireworks and hazardous items are not permitted inside the vehicle.
What is the cancellation policy?+
Cancellations 72 hours or more before the start time receive a 95% refund. Cancellations 24–72 hours before receive an 80% refund. Cancellations under 24 hours are non-refundable. These percentages are final and already account for transaction and refund-processing costs. Booking changes are subject to availability.