Day Tours

The following day tours from Hakuba are available to groups and individual customers. Tours will run from the 7th January to 28th March 2002 on set dates.

 

Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park and M-Wave:
Speed Skating Stadium and Olympic Museum Tour

Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park is situated nearby Kambayashi Onsen at the base of Shiga Kogen. This unique area is home to about 200 wild monkeys who spend their days soaking in the natural hot springs, keeping warm from the harsh winter. The park was opened in 1964 and is considered to be the only place in the world to see snow monkeys bathing in the wild. The hike to the Monkey Park takes approx. 20-30 minutes each way. Departing from Kambayashi Onsen guests stop for lunch, followed by a visit to the M-Wave Stadium. The building is an architectural achievement that was constructed for the recent Nagano Olympics. The stadium hosted the Olympic Speed Skating events and also houses the Nagano Olympic Museum. Customers will enjoy a guided tour of the museum and view a short 3D movie on the staging of the Olympics.
This is a full day tour departing at 9.00am and arriving back in Hakuba at 5.30pm

Links to Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park
Links to Olympic M-Wave Stadium

 

Matsumoto Castle and Japan Folk law Museum Tour

This is a full-day tour to Matsumoto City, home of the famous Matsumoto Castle. In Japan there are only four castles that have been designated as "National Treasures" and Matsumoto Castle is one of these. The five-storied donjon is one of the oldest castle structures extant in Japan. Construction of the main donjon began in 1592 when warlords around the country struggled for dominance. Matsumoto Castle is one of the few great castles of the feudal era to survive in its original form. After visiting the castle we move onto the Japan Folklaw Museum for an insight into the history of Japan from the medieval to pre-modern periods.
Before departing Matsumoto, customers at their own leisure can explore the many other historical sites around the city. Numerous stores and galleries sell fine traditional crafts and local foods of the Shinshu area.
Again with this tour there is quite a bit of walking which is required. The tour departs at 09:00am and returns around 5.30pm in the afternoon

Links to Matsumoto and Castle

 

Nagano City Zenkoji Temple Tour & Nakamura Farm House

Nagano City was the city which hosted the 1998 Winter Olympic Games and is also well known for its celebrated temples. Zenkoji Temple designated a national treasure has a history of over 1400 years and is a must see place. It is one of Japan's most revered temples and houses the first image of Buddha brought to Japan in the 7th century. The streets surrounding the temple are lined with lantern lit shops and teared roofed stalls and galleries.
Traveling down to Nagano we stop off at the Nakamura Farm House built in 1698 which is the oldest folk house existing in the Nagano Prefecture. The house now classified as an important cultural property of Japan provides guests with a vivid insight into traditional farm living.
After the tour of Zenkoji Temple customers will have time to stroll around exploring the city at their own pace. Walking distances, which will be covered in total, are about 2 kilometers.
The tours begins at 09:00am and returns around 4.30pm in the afternoon

Links to Nagano Zenkoji Temple
Links to Nakamura Farm House