1-Day Snow Monkey, Shiga Kogen Nature, and Shibu Village Tour
The day starts out with a meet-up at Nagano Station. From here, we will take you to the entrance of the Jigokudani Monkey Park and lead you to where the monkeys are frolicking around. These monkeys are famous all over the world for their habit to bathe in the hot springs during the winter. We will tell you all the facts and features you want to know about the fuzzy creatures.
After having some quality time with the snow monkeys, you will be taken to a restaurant close to the park entrance where you can rest your feet and enjoy a Japanese lunch.
Having energized yourself with the lunch, you will be transported to the Shiga Kogen highlands. Shiga Kogen is the biggest and one of the most famous ski resorts in Japan, being the setting for the 1998 Winter Olympics, and has more ski slopes than one can count. In summer the vast highlands are revealed in their green glory. These greens change to vivid reds and oranges in autumn, creating a colorful scenery.
At Shiga Kogen, we will take a ski lift to take you above the clouds. The view from the top of the mountain stretches for miles, allowing you to see a 360 degree panoramic view of the entire snow monkey area. Explore the abundant nature at the top of the mountain, with various types of flowers in summer (Jul – Aug) and stunning autumn colors (Sep – Oct).
The mountain has impressive nature sights and sceneries to see, whether it is cloudy or sunny, summer or autumn. The Shiga Highlands are right up the alley of nature-lovers.
After you come down from your Highland visit, your guide will take you to Shibu Onsen, a village with a history of 1300 years. There are a great many souvenir and local delicacy shops, with 9 public onsen found along the narrow streets. The guide will take you past some of the main attractions like temples, shrines, onsen, and more, on your way back to Yudanaka Station where you will arrive at 16:30.
Tour Itinerary:
8:45: Meet up with the guide at Nagano Station. The meeting point is across from the Shinkansen exit/entrance under the Information Board.
10:00: Arrival at Yudanaka (also called the Snow Monkey Town) and get transported to the trail entrance to Snow Monkey Park.
10:45: Arrival at Snow Monkey Park, enjoy observing wild Japanese macaques at close distance.
11:30: Start walking towards the lunch restaurant where you will enjoy a Japanese lunch.
13:00: Get taken to Shiga Kogen. Enjoy seeing changing scenery as the elevation goes up.
13:40: Get on the summer lift to go up to the top.
14:00: Stroll around the top area and enjoy viewing the abundant nature.
15:30: Depart Shiga Kogen to go down to the hot spring resort of Shibu Onsen. You will walk from here to Yudanaka Station.
16:30: Arrival back to Yudanaka Station and take the train back to Nagano Station.
17:30: Arrival back to Nagano Station.
