Daily costs per person in US dollars. A day trip from Tokyo is affordable but staying in a ryokan with onsen and meals is the premium experience. Combine with skiing for maximum value.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: JPY (Yen) (1 USD ≈ ¥150)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $20–35 | $60–120 | $200+ | Hostels → ryokan with meals → luxury ryokan |
| Food | $10–20 | $25–50 | $80+ | Convenience stores → soba shops → kaiseki |
| Transport | $15–30 | $40–60 | $80+ | Bus passes → Shinkansen → private car |
| Activities | $5–10 | $20–50 | $60+ | Monkey park → skiing → private guide |
| Entry Fees | $5–10 | $10–20 | $30+ | Monkey park ¥800, temples ¥300–600 |
| Daily Total | $55–105 | $155–300 | $450+ | Budget traveller → comfortable mid → luxury ryokan |
Money-saving tips
JR Pass for Shinkansen access
The Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano costs ¥8,200 each way. A 7-day JR Pass (¥50,000) pays for itself if you're combining this trip with other Shinkansen travel. For a standalone Nagano trip, individual tickets may be cheaper.
Stay in onsen villages
Ryokan in Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka include dinner and breakfast — factor this into the total cost. A ryokan at ¥12,000 with two meals is comparable to a ¥6,000 hotel plus ¥3,000 each for dinner and breakfast.
Pack your own lunch for the park
There are no food vendors at the monkey park or along the 1.6km trail. Bring onigiri and a thermos of hot tea from the convenience store in Yudanaka — essential on cold winter days.
Nagaden bus pass
The Nagaden Snow Monkey Pass (¥3,200) includes return bus from Nagano to Kanbayashi plus monkey park entry — saving about ¥800 compared to buying separately. Available at Nagano Station.
Combine with skiing
Shiga Kogen and Nozawa Onsen are both accessible from the Yudanaka area. Combining a monkey park visit with a ski day maximises the value of your trip to Nagano Prefecture.
Convenience store meals
7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart in Japan are unlike anywhere else — fresh onigiri (¥120–180), bento boxes (¥400–600), and excellent hot food counters. A full day's meals can cost under ¥1,500 from convenience stores.
