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Nagano: temple streets and mountain air

A suggested itinerary based in Nagano or Yudanaka. Allow 2 days.

A suggested route for your own trip, inspired by the Journal’s locations. It is not a record of Andy’s personal itinerary.

Allow2 daysBaseNagano or YudanakaRoute4 planned stages

Editorially reviewed 16 September 2026 · confirm live access before travelling.

Snow Monkey Resorts — photograph from Andy’s Journal

Your suggested route

The times below are suggested allowances, not live opening hours or transport schedules. Adjust the order for your arrival time, bookings and conditions.

  1. Day 1 · Morning · Zenkō-ji

    Begin in Nagano city with two hours for Zenkō-ji and its approach streets. Choose additional interior visits according to your interests. Have soba or oyaki with lunch nearby before returning for the onward journey.

  2. Day 1 · Afternoon · Yudanaka or Shibu

    Travel to your onsen accommodation and check in before dinner. Walk through the village and use the bathing arrangements your accommodation offers. Access to particular communal baths can depend on where you stay, so ask before planning a full bath-house circuit.

  3. Day 2 · Morning · Jigokudani

    Travel to the appropriate park approach and follow the forest path to Jigokudani Monkey Park. Allow a generous half day for transport, walking and the visit. Snow, ice and wet ground change the effort involved; choose footwear for actual conditions.

  4. Day 2 · Afternoon · Return without rushing

    Have lunch or a warm drink in the village before collecting luggage. Keep the rest of the afternoon for travel through Nagano or onward. Avoid a tight long-distance connection immediately after a forest walk and a potentially infrequent bus.

Where to pause for food

Use the temple area for a soba lunch and arrange an accommodation dinner in the onsen village where possible. Carry water and a packed snack for the travel day, keeping food stored and following park instructions around animals.

Getting around

Combine rail to Yudanaka with the appropriate current bus or taxi connection. Check both directions before setting out. An onsen overnight stay reduces repeated travel compared with attempting the village, park and city in one short stop.

For a shorter day or different weather

If the forest path is unsuitable, enjoy bathing and the village, with more time in Nagano city. Outside snowy months this remains a temple-and-onsen break. Wild monkeys may not be bathing, and neither their behaviour nor a snowy scene can be guaranteed.

Before you go

Reserve accommodation with clear meal and bath arrangements. Check park access, seasonal hours and local transport shortly before visiting. Follow distance and photography rules; the monkeys’ pool is not a visitor bathing experience.

Visitor information and further planning

Use these destination, attraction and operator resources to check current access and arrangements before booking.

Places from the Journal

Explore the original Instagram posts from this destination.

For more travel and everyday moments.

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