Where to Book: the 3 Best Sake Tasting Worldwide

1.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337Our pick

Spend about eight hours exploring Nagano with a private English-speaking guide such as Hori, Mutsumi, or Emi. Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, and possibly the Hokusai Museum, with hotel pickup available for selected central Nagano hotels. Transport, stops, and pace depend on your chosen vehicle option.

“Tour guide was informational and thorough. He took us to a cherry farm and tasted some cherries fresh from the orchard. The Snow Monkey Park was something to experience. Tour guide was able to chase an overly aggressive monkey away. He took us to a Soba restaurant and it was delicious. We felt safe with his driving.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.1-Day Winter Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $150

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with a local English-speaking guide to see wild macaques bathing at Jigokudani, enjoy lunch at Japanese Dining GOEN, visit Zenko-ji Temple, and taste Nagano sake. Guides such as Jens and Yama have led especially well-paced outings. Expect snow, ice, and a 1.6-kilometer forest walk.

“Best day! Exceeded our expectations! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and super friendly. We really loved how smoothly the tour went, pick up & drop off was great & on time, the Snow monkeys were amazing a real site to see, the lRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 10 hours · from $135Best value

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with an English-speaking local guide to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, and a sake tasting stop. The day includes park admission, lunch with vegetarian choices, and transport. Guides such as Endo, Kieron, Lin, and Yama have led recent departures, with a forest walk and snowy conditions part of the experience.

“This trip and guide exceeded all expectations! Yama was a friendly local beekeeper guide, who was informative and very attentive to the group. It was amazing to be so close to the monkeys in such a beautiful location. I recommend trackers for your shoes for this tour. The monkeys wandered in between us and the little ones ran around playing and bathing! We did the snow monkey tour with a fantastic local cuisine lunch in a 200 year old farm house, visit to Nagano (beautiful town - be sure to walk the dark monk trail in the temple) and sake sampling. Highly recommend this tour for a taste of the…”

Check availability →Read our full review