Begin your day with a convenient pickup from Tokyo and Nagano, followed by a scenic drive through snow-covered mountain regions, historic towns, and renowned winter destinations. This tour is ideal for small groups who value privacy, flexibility, and attentive service, as only your group participates.

Next, visit the iconic Snow Monkey Park, home to wild Japanese macaques famous for swimming in natural hot springs during winter. To ensure a better experience, the visit is scheduled early in the day to avoid crowds. Dress warmly, as temperatures can drop significantly in this area.

Obuse - The Chestnut Town
Obuse is a small town in northern Nagano Prefecture with a pretty town centre, known for Hokusai, the renowned Edo Period woodblock painter who spent his later years here with his patron Takai Kozan Magical Trip.

Top Attractions:
Hokusai Museum - Dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan's most prominent ukiyo-e artists from the Edo period, who was so inspired by scenic beauty of the town that he moved to Obuse to fully devote himself to his artwork WAmazing.

Gansho-in Temple - Features Hokusai's ceiling painting “Happo-Nirami-Hoozu” (phoenix gazing in all directions), created in 1848 as his final masterpiece before passing away at age 90.

Chestnut Alley (Kurinokomichi) - A picturesque alley paved with chestnut wood, surrounded by traditional Japanese architecture and chestnut trees Japan Guide.

Local Specialities: Obuse is famous for chestnuts reportedly cultivated in the area for over 600 years, with products including chestnut rice, jam, cream, and ice cream Trip To Japan.

Shibu Onsen - Historic Hot Spring Village
Shibu Onsen is a historic and attractive hot spring town in Yamanouchi with over 1,300 years of history, nestled in a small valley beside the Yokoyugawa River Joey is a Traveller.

Unique Experience - Nine Public Baths:
The town's streets are dotted with 9 small bathhouses called soto-yu (outside baths), with the exception of #9 (O-yu) very small, with only room for 2-3 people in each The Froggy Adventures. The baths can only be accessed by locals or overnight guests who receive a master key from their ryokan, while only O-yu is open for day use at ¥500 The Froggy Adventures.

Zenkoji Temple - Japan's Ancient Spiritual Heart
Zenkoji Temple is one of the most important and popular temples in Japan, founded in the 7th century and storing the first Buddhist statue ever brought to Japan when Buddhism was introduced in the 6th century ByFood.

Matsushiro Castle - Samurai Heritage Town

Historical Background:
The first castle was built in 1560 by Yamamoto Kansuke under Takeda Shingen's direction and was called Kaizu Castle, used for ongoing conflict with Uesugi Kenshin for control of northern Shinano Province Snow Monkey Resorts. The castle's name was changed to Matsushiro Castle by Sanada Yukimichi, the third generation Sanada daimyō, in 1711 Snow Monkey Resorts.