(Jan-15 Only) From Hakuba & Nagano: Snow Monkeys & Nozawa Fire Festival Tour
We're sorry. This tour is no longer available.
Overview
In the middle of the cold winter, there is one festival that will surely keep you warm at night! The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival, called 'Dosojin Matsuri' in Japanese, is one the three great fire festivals in Japan, taking place each winter in the picturesque village of one of Nagano's most popular ski resorts. This lively tour takes you to the Fire Festival in combination with a visit to the world-famous hot spring-bathing snow monkeys of Jigokudani - a day and night that will leave you with burning memories of the tradition, culture, and snow monkeys of Nagano!
Inclusions
- Transport from / to Hakuba & Nagano and all listed destinations / activities.
- Early dinner (vegetarian options are available, please let us know beforehand)
- English-speaking guide
- Entry ticket to the Monkey Park
- Entry/Admission - Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, 6845 Heion, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun 381-0401 Nagano Prefecture
Established in 1964, Nagano's world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is home to the only troop of monkeys in the entire world known to bathe in hot springs. With no barriers between you and the monkeys (don't worry, they are very calm) this is a unique opportunity to observe these curious creatures in close proximity as the walk about you, wrestle with each other, endlessly groom, and of course, soak in their favorite hot spring! Your guide will introduce you to everything that makes them so unique and famous while giving you plenty of time to explore for yourself.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nozawa Onsen, Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun 389-2502 Nagano Prefecture
The Fire Festival of Nozawa Onsen, called ‘Dosojin Matsuri’ in Japanese, is one the three great fire festivals in Japan. The tour is scheduled to arrive in Nozawa just after 18:00. Your guide will help orientate you with the village and set the meetup time and point before setting you free to enjoy the festivities!
Singing, drumming, fireworks and more start from 19:00 before it`s time for the main event! The town converges on a wooden shrine, defended by men the ages of 25 and 42, said to be in unlucky years and therefore the charged with the shrines defence from the other villagers, who storm the structure with flaming bales of hay intent on its destruction. Fueled by tradition, bravado, and lots of booze, the battle takes place with embers falling over the crowd and very little distinguishing onlookers from participants. After the gods have been deemed happy and ready to bless the villagers with good luck, harvest, and happiness, the shrine is set on fire at 22:00.
Duration: 4 hours
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, 6845 Heion, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun 381-0401 Nagano Prefecture
Established in 1964, Nagano's world-famous Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is home to the only troop of monkeys in the entire world known to bathe in hot springs. With no barriers between you and the monkeys (don't worry, they are very calm) this is a unique opportunity to observe these curious creatures in close proximity as the walk about you, wrestle with each other, endlessly groom, and of course, soak in their favorite hot spring! Your guide will introduce you to everything that makes them so unique and famous while giving you plenty of time to explore for yourself.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nozawa Onsen, Toyosato, Nozawaonsen-mura, Shimotakai-gun 389-2502 Nagano Prefecture
The Fire Festival of Nozawa Onsen, called ‘Dosojin Matsuri’ in Japanese, is one the three great fire festivals in Japan. The tour is scheduled to arrive in Nozawa just after 18:00. Your guide will help orientate you with the village and set the meetup time and point before setting you free to enjoy the festivities!
Singing, drumming, fireworks and more start from 19:00 before it`s time for the main event! The town converges on a wooden shrine, defended by men the ages of 25 and 42, said to be in unlucky years and therefore the charged with the shrines defence from the other villagers, who storm the structure with flaming bales of hay intent on its destruction. Fueled by tradition, bravado, and lots of booze, the battle takes place with embers falling over the crowd and very little distinguishing onlookers from participants. After the gods have been deemed happy and ready to bless the villagers with good luck, harvest, and happiness, the shrine is set on fire at 22:00.
Duration: 4 hours
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- This is a family-friendly cultural tour, not a drinking tour. Consumption of alcohol is not allowed on the tour bus and we request that guests do not become intoxicated at the festival. Guests who are intoxicated can be refused carriage on the tour bus.
- This tour has pickup points in Hakuba or Nagano. When booking the tour please include your preferred pickup point - Hakuba or Nagano - and for guests staying in Hakuba, please make sure you select the pickup closest to your accommodaition.
- This tour includes a significant amount of walking and most areas including the forest trail leading to the monkey park, the park itself and streets of Nozawa Onsen are likely to be affected by snow and ice. Walking around Nozawa during the festival can be especially slippery so please ensure you wear good quality shoes or boots. If you have snowboots and / or crampons, we recommend you bring them.
- It will be cold in January in Nagano with likely snowfall and temperatures of 0°C and below. The cold is especially apparent at night so please wear warm clothes and shoes fit for winter. Please also note that burning cinders may be floating in the air during the festival and clothes can be damaged.
- Near public transportation
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travels. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
- This is a popular and crowded festival. It will not be possible for your guide to be with you at all times and there is no reserved seating/observation area. Please ensure that you watch the festivities from a safe distance/location and follow the festival rules, as instructed by your guide.
- Guests are required to follow the Snow Monkey Park rules at all times. Guests are not permitted to touch, hold, feed or bathe with the monkeys at any time. There are no barriers separating the monkeys from visitors to the park. Please ensure you keep a minimum distance of 1 to 2 meters between yourself and the monkeys. Your guide will explain the rules prior to entering the park.
- There are a few days in the year that the monkeys might not come down to the park, arrive late or leave the park early. While this is unlikely to happen, it is possible and is outside of our control.
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour includes an early dinner at a restaurant nearby the monkey park. Due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, we might be unable to confirm the exact restaurant and meal until soon before the tour.
- For those joining the tour from Nagano Station, arrival back to Nagano Station will be around midnight so our recommendation is to stay overnight at Nagano City. Shinkansen / Bullet Train services will have ended by the time the tour returns to the station.
- Drop-off in Hakuba will be between 01:00 and 01:15. Drop-off at other locations, including directly at your accommodation will not be possible.
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 80 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
CocoaArt
January 2020
We did the tour with our two girls and two other families. It was easy to organise us all into the one tour. We had a great time and it was the experience of a lifetime. Snow monkeys are a must see. The late lunch was amazing. Then the fire festival itself was amazing to be able to witness. The t...
We did the tour with our two girls and two other families. It was easy to organise us all into the one tour. We had a great time and it was the experience of a lifetime. Snow monkeys are a must see. The late lunch was amazing. Then the fire festival itself was amazing to be able to witness. The tour was very well organised. The instructions were clear and helpful throughout the tour. The guides were helpful and friendly. Highly recommend it.