Nagano Snow Monkey 1 Day Tour with Beef Sukiyaki Lunch from Tokyo

Mid-Autumn Festival Dinner celebration

My family tried Sukiyaki Yotaro for the very 1st time last night and we were delighted with not only the quality of the food served but also the level of service. The Simmered Wagyu Lean/Marbled Beef and Pork Loin Cutlet was prepared at our table by our waitress Nella in a comforting Katsutoji style. It was accompanied by a hearty serving of fresh vegetables. It brought a homely touch to the spread. The golden-fried pork cutlet is gently simmered in a sweet-savoury dashi broth and topped with a soft, barely set egg. Despite the simmering process, the pork retained its tenderness, while the panko crust soaked up the flavourful broth. Each bite was a harmonious blend of textures — crisp, juicy, and silky .... no wonder this is their most popuar dish. We each were served a luscious golden egg yolk which created a visually inviting dish. Once mixed, the yolk lends a velvety richness that complements the meats' natural sweetness and umami. The delicate marbling melts effortlessly on the palate, delivering a clean yet indulgent start to the meal. We were delighted with our evening experience, and this place will be highly recommended to family & friends.

Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you so much for taking the time to share this wonderful 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that your family had such a memorable Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on our Nagano Snow Monkey tour. It is fantastic to know that the lunch experience at Sukiyaki Yotaro—from the exquisite Wagyu beef and delicious Katsutoji style dish to the wonderful service provided by Nella—made such a lasting impression on you. We will gladly pass along your generous compliments to the restaurant team and Nella. Thank you for your high recommendation, and we hope to welcome you and your family back for another memorable experience in Japan! Best regards, HIS Inbound Team

via Tripadvisor

Monkeys were cute, the long day was too long

This was one attraction I was looking forward to, but ended up being disappointed. The tour left at 8am and returned at 8pm. Had I known that there was a bullet train back, I would have jumped on it in a heartbeat. The guide did not stop talking; she would tell stories, she sang, the speaker was right above my head and there was no way to lower her tone of voice. It was awful. The bus first stopped at a service station and they told everyone to be back on time, but of course two people were late. Then the bus stopped for lunch at a dining hall full of other bus loads of tourists and it was not very good. The bus then continued to the snow monkey park, where you would just venture out on your own. It was a 40 min walk uphill, in snow and sleet with ton of people going up and ton of people coming down. Once you think you have made it, now there were 40 steep steps to go up and continue to the hill. Now you will hit a line of tourists and the bus guide has to go and get tickets and hand them out first before you can continue. The place was full of people, the poor monkeys were running rampant, people were not respecting their space or other people trying to take pictures. Then you still had to walk back. This is not suitable for people with disabilities or mobility issues. I took a hot long bath once I came back to the hotel. Mind, the lunch at 11am was only food that was included, we returned back after 8pm because of traffic.

Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback regarding your recent Snow Monkey tour. We sincerely apologize that several aspects of your experience fell short of your expectations. We are very sorry to hear that the volume of the speaker and the guide's continuous commentary made the long bus journey uncomfortable for you. We will address this with our guiding team to ensure they maintain a better balance between sharing information and allowing passengers to rest quietly during the drive. We also appreciate your comments regarding the walk to the park. The 40-minute trail and steep stairs in snowy conditions are indeed physically demanding. While we do mention the walking requirements on our booking page, your feedback highlights the need to ensure this is even more prominently stated so that guests with mobility concerns are fully aware beforehand. Furthermore, we will review our ticket distribution process at the park entrance to minimize waiting times in the cold. Winter is the absolute peak season for this destination, which unfortunately leads to heavy crowds at the dining hall, the park itself, and inevitable traffic delays on the return trip to Tokyo. We apologize for the inconvenience this caused, particularly the long gap between your early lunch and your return to the city. Your insights are invaluable in helping us improve our services and better prepare future guests. Thank you again for your review. Best regards, HIS Inbound Team

via Tripadvisor

Wonderful Day Trip to Nagano

I really enjoyed this bus tour from Tokyo to Nagano. Everything was well organized from start to finish, so I could simply relax and enjoy the day. The guides were kind, professional, and shared interesting information throughout the trip. The driver was excellent, and the ride was smooth and comfortable. The park itself was beautiful and definitely worth visiting. Thank you to the whole team for making this such a pleasant experience. I would happily recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan.

via Viator

Best guide and assistant

Best guide and assistant we have ever had we have mobility issues so many times have to skip activities. The staff did not give up on us and made sure all of us did the activities reached the top and enjoyed the snow monkeys. This was not enough in their customer care and support they went much beyond and helped us to get on the train to get back to our hotel as we did not know the language or have any net. This was so so so kind of them we could not have done it without their kindness and understanding. We are very grateful 🙏 to both your staff. They are a credit to your organization. They were so clear with their guiding and we're the best in our entire Japan trip. Thank you 😊 🙏

via Tripadvisor

Great way to see the snow...

Great way to see the snow monkeys when not included in your own tours schedule. It is a long distance from Tokyo and would be hard to get there by yourself. The transport was comfortable, with good leg room, access to wi fi and comfort break. The meal provided was a local speciality but you need to consider getting food on return journey as delays can mean you are too late back to get an evening meal. The monkeys put on a lovely show and we were lucky to see so many, with some even taking a dip in the hot spring pool. A long day but was worth it for me.

via Viator