Top 8 Sake Tastings in Nagano

1.1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,020 reviews · from $151Our pick

Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide at Zenko-ji Temple, a local sake tasting, a Japanese lunch, and Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Tom, Kieran, Nadine, and Dylan have led recent departures. Expect a forest walk, possible winter ice, and free time at each major stop.

“We had an amazing day on this tour! The itinerary was well balanced which included a good amount of time to experience the snow monkeys. In addition, the sake tasting and the visit to the temple was also very good. The lunch was amazing and comforting. Thank you to our guide Dylan who did a great job!”

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2.Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 833 reviews · 8 - 12 hours · from $135

Spend a full day with an English-speaking guide exploring Zenko-ji Temple, tasting local sake, eating a Nagano-style lunch, and walking to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Guides such as Dylan, Brent, Tom, Hiroshi, and Kevin have helped make the day informative and easy to manage. Winter pickups from Hakuba are available.

“We liked everything, Luka was very friendly and helpful. The meal was one of the best we had in Japan. At the monkeys forrest was very cold, but it was a fairytale place to walk.”

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

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

Spend about eight hours exploring Nagano with a private English-speaking guide and transport. Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, and possibly the Hokusai Museum, with time for local food, sake, or an onsen. Guides such as Hori, Mutsumi, and Fumiko have helped tailor the day to families, older visitors, and special interests.

“WeiWei was wonderful and very knowledgeable about the local towns, foods, culture and monkeys :) She was very patient as we stayed with the monkeys for over an hour taking photos and observing them. We had a great time with her, and highly suggest booking a private tour, so you can go at your own pace with the monkeys, saki tasting, and a bit more of a local's experience.”

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

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

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with an English-speaking local guide to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, and Nishinomon-Yoshinoya Sake Brewery. The day includes park entry, lunch, temple guiding, and sake tasting. Guides such as Jens and Yama have led past departures, and winter boots are essential for the icy 1.6 km forest walk.

“Great day out with a fantastic guide and safe driver. Lunch was very tasty too! The guide was very knowledgeable and shared information in an easy going manner.”

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5.Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $64

Walk from Nagano Station to Zenkoji Temple with an English-speaking local guide such as Masa, Kazumi, or Masashi. Taste more than five Nagano sakes, three amazake drinks, plum wine, miso soup, and Japanese pickles, then visit a 120-year-old former sake factory. The two-hour tour ends back at the station.

“Mass was an incredible tour guide! Since it was just my husband and me on the tour, he customized everything to ensure we saw, ate, and drank everything we wanted.”

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6.Snow Monkeys, Hokusai & Sake: A Perfect Day in Nagano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $162

Start at Nagano Station with a local guide such as Masa or Kei, then visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Obuse, Masuichi Ichimura Brewery, and the Hokusai Museum area. Lunch, park admission, transport, and sake are included. Early departures can add Zenkoji Temple.

“Our guide was friendly, spoke great English, and answered all of our (often dumb) questions! Highly recommend this tour operator. We had plenty of time with the Snow Monkeys, went to a very high quality restaurant for a v tasty lunch, the saRead more”

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7.Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 2 hours · from $63Best value

Spend two hours walking from Starbucks at MIDORI Nagano to Zenkoji and nearby sake shops. Taste more than five local sakes, three amazake drinks, plum wine, miso soup, soy sauce beans, and pickles. English-speaking guides such as Masa and Marcel also share local food tips and take casual photos.

“Masa was a great guide, showed us more than we expected around Nagano including his favourite eating spots and local delicacies.”

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

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

Travel from Nozawa Onsen to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, then enjoy lunch, Zenko-ji Temple, and a sake tasting in Nagano. An English-speaking local guide leads the day. Guides on recent departures have included Endo, Kieron, Lin, and Yama. Expect snowy walking, long coach rides, and a full taste of Nagano.

“This day trip was more than beyond our expectations. It was an amazing experience for family, so easy to sit back on the beautiful bus and lets our guide take us….and it just seemed like it was an upscale tour. Our tour guide was a beautiful, sweet woman that knew history about everything where she took us from the temple to the snow monkeys to the sake tasting. I highly recommend this tour.”

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