Top 20 Experiences in Nagano Prefecture
1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano Tour
Take in some of the highlights of Nagano with this engaging tour starting with a visit to Zenko-ji Temple – one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan - followed by sake tasting and lunch at a nearby restaurant. It's then time to head to the Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys! All led by a locally-based English-speaking guide, this tour is a great way to see the best that Nagano has to offer and get up close and personal with its most famous furry residents!
(Spring Only) 1-Day Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Tour
With two pickup points in both Nagano City, this tour takes you to the 'Roof of Japan' and the fabled Snow Walls of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. Situated in the dramatic alpine landscape of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, this is one of Japan’s most iconic and unique sights, accessible only in spring and early summer and via a series of different mountain transports. Led by an English-speaking guide, you will be accompanied on every leg of your journey to the 'Roof of Japan' and back down again – the perfect way to experience one of Japan’s more remote and stunning landscapes.
Matsumoto Castle, Sake, Food & Craft Beer Walking Tour
You can do Sake Tasting in friendly owner’s brewery, have wonderful local Matsumoto food for lunch and drink great local craft beer. We will walk through famous street in old town as well as hidden places to explore more about Matsumoto city. Of course in this tour you will enjoy Matsumoto castle which is ranked in top 3 beautiful castle in Japan and is a registered National Treasure. - Matsumoto castle entrance fees are included - Sake Tasting - Lunch - Local Craft Beer(1 drink) - Walking through one of the busiest streets in Matsumoto city and you can enjoy Japanese stalls - Learn and practice authentic Japanese eating style and discover other parts of - Matsumoto outside of your guidebook. - Connect with local business owners to learn the history and local culture. - Photography Tour / We will be on hand to take some happy snaps(by DSLR camera) which will be shared with you after the tour!
Full-Day Private Nagano Tour: Zenkoji Temple, Obuse, Jigokudani Monkey Park
On this tour, spend a full-day in Nagano exploring the city and enjoying what this quaint town has to offer. Your English-speaking tour guide will pick you up from your hotel or Nagano Train Station at 8:45 AM. You will either take public transportation (train and bus) or private chartered vehicle around town based on your booking. Immerse yourself in the city's culture and visit major Nagano attractions such as Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, the famous Zenkoji Temple, Chikuma River, Obuse Town, and relax in a traditional onsen/ hot spring (optional).
Matsumoto Private One Day Tour from Nagano
On this full day private tour, visit the city of Matsumoto with your tour guide. Enjoy the historical Matsumoto Castle, the unique streets of Nawate and Nakamachi and see Daio Wasasbi Farm, the largest wasabi farm in Japan in the tranquil Hotaka Town.
Matsumoto Castle Tour & Soba Noodle Experience
100% hands-on from start to finish, experience a uniquely authentic Japanese Cuisine for yourself! Matsumoto is famous for the quality of its Soba (buckwheat flour noodles) and its historic feudal castle! First take a tour of Matsumoto Castle designated a “National Treasure” of Japan due to its well-preserved original structure. Then sample this traditional Japanese dish and even have a go at preparing it yourself! The soba-making workshop is an opportunity to get more than just the literal bite of this tradition. Step into the shoes of an apprentice and learn from an experienced soba master! Discover all the basics and learn how to use authentic soba-making tools. The activity is divided into two stages and it’s completely hands-on from start to finish. The best part is you get to eat your own noodles at the end! This is an exciting and enriching experience you can share with family and friends, and an unforgettable way to discover a unique aspect of Japanese cuisine!
Japan Alps Kamikochi Day Hike with Government-Licensed Guide
Kamikochi is a popular resort in the Northern Japan Alps, offering some of Japan's most spectacular mountain scenery. With one of the most famous hiking paths in all Japan, we set foot there on our quest for traditional Japan. Kamikochi hiking course along the Azusa River is well maintained and almost flat. This value-packed trail day hike with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Japan Alps! It is about 3.5 kilometres (2 miles) long and has only gentle elevation changes which takes around 2-4 hours to easy walk at a leisurely pace. This private tour is a hiking day tour. Please wear hiking boots and gear for this tour. Public transportation or local taxis maybe used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with the guide after a reservation is finalized. Please have Japanese Yen on hand for your transportation costs.
Matsumoto Discovery - Half Day Walking Tour
Discover a real feudal era castle and the historical streets! Matsumoto is a city with deep-rooted living traditions and proud people who retain an ancestral way of life that we have to honor and respect! Get an introduction into Matsumoto’s past and present during a 4 hour half-day walking tour. Make your stay in Matsumoto the most unique and enjoyable experience possible! Your guide will help you enjoying the best of the city. Simply follow the course that our guides recommend for you. Your guide has designed a tour based on the interests and the spots visitors are most interested in seeing. Take more than just a tour, discover ancient history and wisdom, have a unique and enlightening experience! Get a glimpse of all there is to explore in Matsumoto City! The provided tour details is our recommended itinerary. Tour available in English, French and Japanese.
Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Kamikochi & Matsumoto Castle
Defined by its mountains and natural landscapes, Central Japan is the literal heartland of this beautiful country and a road less travelled by many international visitors. This engaging one-day tour takes you to Matsumoto Castle - one of the few remaining original castles in Japan and a registered National Treasure - before heading high into the grandeur of the North Alps and onto the protected alpine oasis of Kamikochi. Led by a locally-based guide and including lunch and direct transport to and from Kamikochi, this tour captures the essence of Central Japan by combining two of its most iconic destinations.
Nagano Private Two Day Tour
Enjoy a 2-day, 1 night trip in Nagano where you will spend one full day with an English-speaking guide taking you around the city—enjoying attractions such as snow monkeys, the famous Zenkoji Temple and later relaxing at a traditional onsen (hot springs) and enjoying a traditional Japanese multi-course (kaiseki) dinner at a traditional Japanese ryokan (hotel). On the second day after checking out of the hotel, spend the free day snowboarding/ skiing or spend more time exploring the city on your own (without tour guide), or book one of the add-on second-day tours with us.
1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the 'Roof of Japan'
This tour takes you to the 'Roof of Japan' in summer and autumn to experience in the stunning and lush alpine landscape and one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, Mount Tate. Led by an English-speaking guide, you will be accompanied on every leg of your journey to the Roof of Japan and back down again.
Matsumoto Castle Tour & Samurai Experience
Your chance to become a Samurai while visiting Matsumoto Castle! What better place to have your samurai experience than in a city with an authentic castle from the feudal era? First take a tour of Matsumoto Castle designated a “National Treasure” of Japan due to its well-preserved original structure! During the tour, you will learn about the Matsumoto Samurai lords, the history of Matsumoto City and even some of the castle's defensive strategies. Then experience a live hands-on Samurai Sword Fighting activity! A Master Samurai will teach you some of these ancient fighting techniques. You can choose your own colors for your outfit which consists of a yukata (light kimono), hakama (wide-leg pants), and obi (belt). You can even select your swords! The stage and the atmosphere of the place is bound to take you on a realistic journey back in time. The perfect setting for a complete immersion into this slice of Japanese history! Activity available in English and French.
Wasabi Farm Discovery Walking Tour
Have ever seen real Wasabi? Discover the Japan’s largest Wasabi Farm! Like a little spice? The Wasabi farm is a popular tourist friendly destination and is comprised of many large fields with a meticulously maintained network of small streams that constantly provides each wasabi plant with pure clean water. Wasabi is an essential element in Japanese cooking, but a lot of people, even many Japanese, are not aware of where it comes from. Take a stroll through the Wasabi fields and discover all the secrets of the Wasabi! We recommend you try some of the many different Wasabi-flavored products during your visit, such as Wasabi ice cream, Wasabi beer, Wasabi sausages or even a Wasabi burger! Our tour is the easiest way to visit the Wasabi farm! Tour available in English and French/
Nagano All Must-Sees Half Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
The city of Nagano is an intensely beautiful and historic part of Japan, only a stone’s throw away from the capital city of Tokyo. Nagano is a place of incredible Shinto and Buddhist history and home to one of Japan’s most iconic temple and shrine. While many of Japan’s cities lay claim to an identity of nature-meets-human-invention, that atmosphere can be felt in Nagano better than almost anywhere else in Japan. In this tour, your knowledgeable licensed local guide will accompany you on your journey features an historic districts and even ancient pilgrimages. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize your four-hours special tour that's best for you. Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Nagano Full-Day Cycling Tour with Snow Monkey, Obuse Town, Apple Orchards
On this tour, spend a full-day (about 7 hours) getting in touch with both the nature and city daily life of Nagano while cycling with your English-speaking tour guide and small group.
Matsumoto Discovery - One Day Walking Tour
Discover a real feudal era castle and the historical streets! Matsumoto is a city with deep-rooted living traditions and proud people who retain an ancestral way of life that we have to honor and respect! Get an introduction into Matsumoto’s past and present during a 8 hour full-day walking tour. Make your stay in Matsumoto the most unique and enjoyable experience possible! Your guide will help you enjoying the best of the city. Simply follow the course that our guides recommend for you. Your guide has designed a tour based on the interests and the spots visitors are most interested in seeing. Take more than just a tour, discover ancient history and wisdom, have a unique and enlightening experience! Get a glimpse of all there is to explore in Matsumoto City! The provided tour details is our recommended itinerary. Tour available in English, French and Japanese.
Matsumoto Private One Day Tour
Explore Matsumoto at your own pace and to your own interests on this full-day private guided tour. Visit Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's best-preserved castles, then explore surrounding streets, including quirky "Frog Street," known for its abundance of frog products. Afterward, visit tranquil Hotaka Town, home to Japan’s largest wasabi farm where you can try wasabi ice-cream and visit nearby Hotaka Shrine.
eTour de Matsumoto
Explore the city and its surroundings on this off-the-beaten-path bike tour! Far from the Japanese metropolises, enjoy a deep breath of fresh air and the magnificent landscapes of Matsumoto City. Ride an electric bicycle with your guide through the countryside of Matsumoto and discover the main historical sites of the city while enjoying a country ride through the vast fields surrounding the city. The ideal experience for all cycling enthusiasts! Matsumoto is centered in the Japanese countryside and is the ideal place to get on a bicycle for an exploration of the city and its surroundings! Beyond the city built around its historic castle, Matsumoto offers all kinds of magnificent rides. Explore the city's historic sites, take a deep breath of fresh air, as you cycle around the city, past rice fields and admire the beautiful and traditional Japanese farmhouses. You will not fail to marvel at the beauty of the landscapes, with the vast and spectacular Japanese Alps as a backdrop.
Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano
Enjoy having Oyaki(Japanese Stuffed Dumplings) in front of a traditional Japanese sunken hearth, and also you have local sweets & Matcha tea as we walk through Zenkoji temple's town area in Nagano. - Taste 2 Oyaki(Japanese Stuffed Dumplings), Miso soup & Soba Tea in a traditional Japanese sunken hearth. - Explore Nagano's back street area, where is not on your guide book and you see 1400 years history of national treasure temple - Having a Matcha tea in the traditional Japanese style tea place. - Learn and practice authentic Japanese eating style and discover other parts of Nagano outside of your guidebook. - Connect with local business owners to learn the history and local culture. *Please let us know if you have any food restrictions beforehand*
Snow Monkey in "Jigokudani Yaen-koen" & Obuse Town
You will go around famous sightseeing spots in Hokushin (Northern Nagano) area. First, you will see the Jigokudani Wild Snow Monkey Park worldly known for its snow monkeys. Then you will go to Obuse Town, which is reputed for its town renewal project vitalizing the historical heritages such as Hokusai Katsushika.