The amount of walking depends on how much you want to explore but generally speaking, we will cover between 10 to 15 kilometres / 6 to 10 miles on foot. The tour is conducted at a leisurely pace and is suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness. The walk to the park is along a sealed road through the forest. It takes approximately 45 minutes of which the first 15 to 20 minutes includes a consistent incline, after which, it’s an easy stroll. The walk out of the park is along a different sealed trail through the forest which is almost completely level.

This tour operates outside of winter, from April to November. The weather in April and May is mild to warm before rainy season begins in June and into July. Mid-July and into early September are summer in which time the weather will be hot and humid. The weather then starts to cool from mid-September and through October and November is very pleasant but with the chance of cold snaps. Please dress appropriately for the season and always wear good walking shoes / boots.

It is worth noting that the Japanese summer – typically from mid-July until early September – can be challenging. Temperatures may reach around 40°C / 104°F and the humidity is high, making the temperatures feel higher than it actually is. If you are not used to these conditions, please be aware to dress in light, breathable clothing and make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen (if you burn easily), water and sunglasses. It may sound old fashioned, but I also recommend a parasol as they make a huge difference in keeping you out of the sun and cool.

The monkeys are wild. As such, they come and go from the park as they please and I cannot guarantee they will be there at any given time. Their behaviour is however very reliable and it is unusual for them not to come to the park. The middle of the day is the most reliable time and for that reason, that is when I take my guests to the park. As a private tour, we have the flexibility to change the itinerary including heading to the park earlier, later or for a longer period based on the behaviour of the monkeys.

The tour uses public transport. Upon meeting at Nagano Station, we will board the limited express train bound for Yudanaka Station – a journey of around 45 minutes. At Yudanaka, we will jump onto a local bus – that departs just after our train arrives – for a short ride of around 5 minutes to Shibu Onsen. From there we walk for the rest of the tour, ending in Kanbayashi Onsen. From Kanbayashi we have the option of taking the Snow Monkey Express Bus directly back to Nagano Station or taking a local bus to Yudanaka Station – less than 10 minutes – and train back to Nagano Station. Our method of transport back to Nagano Station depends on what time you are ready to depart, something we can discuss on the day. All transport costs are included in the tour cost.

No. This is a private tour and as such, the only guests on the tour will be those who book with your group.

The stated tour price covers my service as your guide. The tour price does not include transport, entry tickets and food costs for guests. See the next question for expected additional costs.

On the day of the tour, you will need to purchase a Snow Monkey Pass* – JPY3800 per person. The pass covers all transport from Nagano Station to / from the monkey park along with entry to the monkey park. During the tour I will recommend lunch restaurants. The cost of lunch depends on what you order but is typically between JPY1000 to JPY1500 per person – typically bringing the total additional costs to JPY4800-JPY5300 per person. I will discuss this with you prior to booking.

*the Snow Monkey Pass is valid for two days, allowing you to use it again the following day. Ideal for guests choosing to stay in the vicinity of the monkey park.

It is my experience that guests want the ability to choose where and what they eat and for that reason, I don’t have a set restaurant for this tour. As a result, the price of lunch is not included in the tour cost. On the day, I will recommend restaurants to you and allow you to choose what best suits your tastes. I suggest eating in Shibu Onsen - with options including ‘soba’, ‘udon’ or ‘ramen’ noodles - before walking to the monkey park however we can also opt to eat later in the day after visiting the park, once in Kanbayashi Onsen. The cost of lunch depends on where you choose to eat and what you choose to order but is generally between JPY1000 to JPY2000 per person.

This is a private tour meaning that there will be no other people joining on the day, other than those who book with your group. That equates to the tour being priced higher than a comparable group tour, which are typically cheaper due to the increased number of guests. If my prices are higher than those of some other guides for private tours, I believe the cost is justified by the quality of the experience I provide for my guests. As a foreign resident of Japan, I have a good understanding of what international visitors value in a travel experience and how to engage them in an informative, fun and informal manner.

During our time in Shibu Onsen, you’ll have the chance to use public ‘ashi-yu’ (foot onsen), that a dotted through the town. They are free of charge and only require you to remove your shoes and socks. If you wish to try enjoy a full onsen, you have two options:

1. While in Shibu Onsen you can use public bathhouse No.9. It is an indoor hot spring, very traditional and typically quiet during the day. It costs JPY500 per person and no advance booking is needed. You must take off all clothes to enter this hot spring and there may be other people using the facility at the same time.

2. While at the monkey park you can use the public hot spring at Korakukan – the nearest guest house to the park. This is the onsen where the monkeys first started getting in the water and it’s common for them to still get in with guests. It costs JPY1250 per person and no advance booking is needed. It is worth noting that while in the outdoor onsen you are in view of people entering and exiting the park and for that reason, you are allowed to keep a towel or bathing costume on while in the water. There may be other people using the facility at the same time.

I use Stripe to collect tour payments from guests. Upon agreement of a tour, I will send you a link to complete payment using Stripe. You do not need a Stripe account yourself to complete payment. Payment can be completed using any credit credit.

I am an independent operator and for that reason, I ask that guests complete full payment at least 7 days before the tour date. If you are booking within 7 days of the tour date, I ask that you complete the full payment immediately. I respectfully ask this of my guests so that I can arrange my work schedule in advance.

As an independent operator, my cancellation policy reflects the fact that if a tour is cancelled at short notice, I may lose all ability to earn income on that day. For that reason, should you need to cancel anytime up to 48 hours in advance of the tour start time, I will issue you with a full refund.*

Should you need to cancel within 48 hours of the start time, I will issue you with a refund of 70% of the total payment.*

No refund will be issued for guests who do not show up / fail to notify me prior to the start of the tour.

Please note, for multiple day tours I may apply a slightly different cancellation policy due to the risk of losing income for multiple days. I would of course discuss this with you and seek your agreement prior to payment.

*service fees applied by Stripe and relevant banks are - typically between 3-4% of the overall transaction fee - will still be applied to refunds, meaning that should I issue you with a full or partial refund, the service fee will still apply and not be returned to you. Please understand that this is outside of my control and that I do not receive any part of the applicable service fees.

This tour is available from April to November. Due to the nature of the tour which includes extended walking, I do not operate it in winter. From December to March there is a high chance of snow and ice, which would impact on my guests enjoyment. For that reason, I cannot offer this exact tour during winter but can still guide at the monkey park by customising an itinerary for you. Should you be interested, please contact me to discuss.