NAGANO SNOW MONKEYS · CONTENTS
Every guide on this site, and what each one answers
Fourteen pages. Find your question, read the answer, and go — or open the guide behind it if the answer needs a reason. Every figure below is dated and sourced on the page it comes from.
GETTING THEREroutes, fares and the walk
01How do I get there, and what does it cost?Two routes · ¥5,100–6,800 from Nagano02Is the Snow Monkey Pass worth buying?Winter: it breaks even. Summer: ¥400 dearer03How far is the walk, and can I avoid it?1.6–2 km · nobody sells a way round it04Can I do it from Kyoto or Osaka?No departure from Kansai · 5 h 10 each wayPICKING THE DAYthe month, the hour, the bed and the plan
05Which month should I go?Two lotteries · Dec–Mar for the bath · twelve month pages06Can I see them right now?Two park cameras · check the forecast first07Where should I sleep the night before?Three bases within 12 min of each other08How do I fit the whole day together?Four plans · 4 h 20 door to doorTHE PARK ITSELFwhat it costs and what it asks
09What is the park actually like?¥800 · ~160 wild macaques · six rules10Do I need to book a ticket in advance?Dated online since Aug 2026 · seven pricesTHE OTHER HALF OF THE DAYwhat the tours pair the monkeys with
11Can I see the monkeys and Zenkō-ji in one day?Ten tours do · the temple itself is ¥190 away12Is Obuse worth adding to the monkey day?Same railway · the whole detour is ¥2,93013Can I do Togakushi and the monkeys together?Yes — but the Okusha shuts 7 Jan–late Apr14What is the sake tasting on these tours?A free counter by Zenkō-ji · brewing Nov–AprFares and tour prices are a snapshot from 7 Sep 2026; park facts were last checked 2026-09-06, and every guide carries its own dates · this site is paid when somebody books a tour and by nothing else, which is why no page here names a hotel · all 21 tours compared