Nagano Winter Private Tour with a local guide (from November to May)

this was a fantastic trio of villages to visit, especially in winter. Gokayama is quiet and otherworldly! The paper washi making was super fun, our guide and driver were consistent and reliable, the car itself was comfy, and the scenery between places was absolutely breathtaking. definitely worth paying the money to get to experience the immense beauty of this region without the hassle of driving or getting around via other methods.

Distance between both sites is not short, and having this tour helps a lot for those who may not have a short time in Nagano. Our guide was Shuhei. He was very pleasant and spoke good English, and was patient to accommodate our family in the Snow Monkey Park due to the unexpected heavy snowfall and slippery surface. we were rewarded with a beautiful experience with the monkeys, the photos speak for themselves. He brought us to a soba shop for lunch that served really good soba and tea, followed by a tour to the Tokagushi Shrine. The snowfall made the trees really magical and there was even enough snow for the kids to play. Shuhei brought us to the relevant spots and highlighted the photo points. He accommodated changes to the schedule and we were grateful for this. All in all happy with the tour

A highly recommended tour.Chris was the guide of the day and he was just fantastic! welcoming, informative, detailed oriented and friendly, he put all my family members at eased. from the get-go. The “door-to-door” service + photography service + lunch recommendation provided was a plus point. This tour was truly an unique experience.

Ryu, the tour guide is very friendly and accommodating. Recommended a local resto when the restos near snow monkey park were full packed, we had our fill to the brim. Took nice vids and pics of our family. Made our first snow experience a very memorable one. Core memory esp for the kids.

We had limited time in Nagano, so we decided to take a bit of a risk and booked a private tour, so we could fit the two places we wanted to experience, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and Togakushi Shrine. This tour was a bit pricey, but super worth it! Our guide picked us up directly from our Airbnb (saving us a trip to a meeting place), gave us a lot of good local information on the places where we went, recommended an excellent soba place for lunch, and was generally a fantastic hang :-) The snow monkey park was beautiful, the path to the Togakushi Shrine gate was simply magical, and our guide Dai made everything come together.

Chris is a gem of a tour guide! He's super friendly, insightful and easy to talk to. We had a great time all throughout the day. It was a very scenic route from our hotel in Nagano and we even got to squeeze in some power naps in between destinations. Breaks can be requested as well either during the drive or during hikes, just make sure you're still on time for what's next. If you have a short stay in Nagano, this is a tour that I would definitely recommend you take!

Chris was the funniest, most accommodating and kindest guide and driver we had on this trip. When traveling with him, there is no sense of distance at all, it's like traveling with a friend. He is very considerate and will plan the itinerary in advance and give little reminders. I highly recommend this chartered car service, which saves a lot of detours, time and walking distance. Explore the Snow Monkey Park and Togakushi Shrine in one day!

We had a brilliant time on the tour. Taketo was a fantastic tour guide who was knowledgeable, engaging and spoke great English. He really made the day for us. The monkey park and vineyard were highlights of the day although all the locations we visited were stunning. I would absolutely recommend this tour to any other visitors!

We were extremely satisfied with the service provided by our guide, Chris, and would like to express our sincere gratitude: 1. Punctuality and Professionalism: Chris was punctual for both pick-up and drop-off. His driving was smooth and safe, which made us feel completely at ease while traveling through the snowy conditions. 2. Enthusiastic Interaction: Not only did he provide detailed explanations, but he also proactively helped us take photos at various scenic spots, leaving us with wonderful memories of the trip. 3. Excellent Dining Recommendations: The historic Soba restaurant he recommended was delicious. It allowed us to avoid tourist traps and experience authentic local flavors. Thanks to Chris's guidance, our trip to Nagano was incredibly smooth and enjoyable. We will definitely recommend him to any friends planning to visit Nagano in the future.

Amazing tour! Our guide Dai was super friendly and also a great photographer, he helped us get so many nice photos. Seeing the snow monkeys was unforgettable and visiting Togakushi Shrine was beautiful and peaceful. The stop at a family owned soba restaurant was a highlight too. Highly recommend this tour!