I tell a different story
Japan is a unique country. I hear this regularly and agree, but not for the reasons you might expect. All cultures borrow, blend and steal from each other and Japan is no exception. Many of Japan’s most celebrated cultural markers are in fact imported from abroad while aspects of its culture that I believe reveal the true nature of the country, are often overlooked.
Indeed, the story of Japan is more diverse than often portrayed. Spend just a little time here and you will notice that things are never quite as they first seem.
Known for its crowded cities, you might be surprised to learn that Japan is mostly forested and mountainous - landscapes long considered domains of the gods, in which spirits outnumber people. Traditional Japanese belief teaches that souls are born atop the mountains and flow down rivers to the human world below. I say follow those rivers back to the mountains and there, you just might find, the true uniqueness and essence of Japan.
Tours in Nagano
My name is Peter, a freelance guide in Nagano, Japan. Originally from Australia, I was fascinated by other cultures from a young age; a fascination that led me to study an undergrad in archaeology and postgraduate studies in cultural heritage. I design tours that are engaging, fun and flow at a relaxing pace with plenty of time to eat, do a little shopping or of course, have a drink or two. Being a guide is part of who I am. I’d love to show you around. I currently offer the following private tours in Nagano:
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This tour requires a minimum of 2 guests to operate. The following rates apply:
JPY19,000 for 2 guests / JPY9,500 per person
JPY25,500 for 3 guests / JPY8,500 per person
JPY29,000 for 4 guests / JPY7,250 per person
JPY31,500 for 5 guests / JPY6,200 per person
JPY33,000 for 6 guests / JPY5,500 per person
Larger groups can also book. Discover more.
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This tour is available, upon request, all year round.
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The tour operates to and from Nagano Station and typically lasts between 4 to 5 hours. Meetup point and itinerary can be modified to suits your needs.
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A great way to explore Nagano City for half a day, this tour takes you in search of Japan’s 7 ‘Lucky Gods’ and onto Zenko-ji Temple with the chance to enjoying some tasty treats and indulgent drinks along the way.
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This tour requires a minimum of 2 guests to operate. The following rates apply:
JPY33,000 for 2 guests / JPY16,500 per person
JPY42,000 for 3 guests / JPY14,000 per person
JPY48,000 for 4 guests / JPY12,000 per person
JPY55,000 for 5 guests / JPY11,000 per person
JPY60,000 for 6 guests / JPY10,000 per person
Please note, there are additional costs i.e. transport and lunch - as explained on the tour page. Discover more.
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This tour is available, upon request, from May to November.
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The tour operates to and from Nagano Station and typically lasts between 8 to 9 hours. Meetup point and itinerary can be modified to suits your needs.
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Explore the forest shrines of Togakushi - some of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan - while walking pilgrimage trails that criss-cross the southern tip of Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park.
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This tour requires a minimum of 2 guests to operate. The following rates apply:
JPY33,000 for 3 guests / JPY16,500 per person
JPY42,000 for 3 guests / JPY14,000 per person
JPY48,000 for 4 guests / JPY12,000 per person
JPY55,000 for 5 guests / JPY11,000 per person
JPY60,000 for 6 guests / JPY10,000 per person
Please note, there are additional costs i.e. transport and lunch - as explained on the tour page. Discover more.
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This tour is available, upon request, from April to December
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The tour operates to and from Nagano Station and typically lasts around 8 hours. Meetup point and itinerary can be modified to suits your needs.
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Visit the famous monkeys with context, starting with exploration of the hot spring town of Shibu Onsen before walking the forested road to the park itself – including option of enjoying an onsen for yourself.
Customisable Private Tours in Nagano & Beyond
Based in Nagano, I am available to guide throughout the year and can customise tour itineraries to suit your needs and interests. I am available to guide in the following locations:
Nagano City inc. Zenko-ji Temple / Togakushi & Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park / Jigokudani Monkey Park / Shibu Onsen / Shiga Kogen & Joshinetsu Kogen National Park / Obuse / Hakuba / Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route / Matsumoto / Kamikochi / Echigo-Tsumari Art Festival (Niigata)
I will also be publishing more standard tours on this page soon. The standard tours listed above can also be modified to suits your travel plans and tastes. Contact me to enquire about my availability and plan a tour.
How to Get to Nagano
As a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (‘Bullet Train’) line, Nagano is easy to reach from Tokyo. All tours are designed to start and finish at Nagano Station and can be booked to worked with your train arrival and departure times.
From Tokyo
All services running from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line stop at Nagano Station – taking between 80 to 110 minutes depending on which service you choose. The ‘Kagayaki’ is the fastest of the three. Taking around 80 minutes to reach Nagano from Tokyo, it stops at the fewest stations and has reserved seating only. The ‘Hakutaka’ is the second fastest service, taking between 90 to 95 minutes to reach Nagano. It stops at a limited number of stations and has both reserved and non-reserved carriages. Finally, the ‘Asama’ is the slowest service, taking between 100 to 110 minutes. It stops at all stations between Tokyo and Nagano and has both reserved and non-reserved carriages.
A one-way reserved ticket from Tokyo to Nagano costs JPY8340 while a one-way non-reserved ticket costs JPY7810. All services also include ‘Green Car’ and ‘Gran Class’ carriages – the equivalent of business and first class seating – costing JPY11,000 to JPY12,000 and JPY14,000 to JPY16,200 for a one-way ticket respectively*.
Tickets can be purchased online through the Japan Rail (JR) East website - up to 30 days in advance - or ticket machines and ticket offices at any major train station. All services from Tokyo to Nagano on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line are also covered by the full JR Pass and JR East Pass. Holders of either pass can use any service from Tokyo to Nagano without additional cost noting that should you wish to book a reserved seat, you will need to do so at a ticket office in advance.
From Kanazawa
Kanazawa Station is the northern terminus of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo. Nagano is located at the approximate mid-point of the line. The journey from Kanazawa to Nagano takes around 65 minutes using ‘Kagayaki’ services and around 85 to 90 minutes using ‘Hakutaka’ services. ‘Asama’ services do not run to and from Kanazawa. A one-way ticket from Kanazawa to Nagano costs JPY9120 for a reserved seat and JPY8590 for a non-reserved seat*. The full JR Pass also covers these services however it’s important to note that the JR East Pass does not cover Hokuriku Shinkansen services between Kanazawa and Nagano.
From Nagoya
The Limited Express ‘Shinano’ is a rapid train service that runs from Nagoya Station to Nagano Station. Taking around 180 minutes / 3 hours, much of the journey follows the Kiso River through the scenic Kiso Valley. Services include both reserved and non-reserved carriages. A one-way reserved ticket costs JPY7460 and a non-reserved ticket costs JPY6930*. This service is also covered by the full JR Pass.
From Osaka & Kyoto
There are three options for making the journey from Osaka or Kyoto to Nagano. All three option include a transfer at a major station - via Tokyo, Kanazawa or Nagoya - and take around 240 minutes / 4 hours. There is however a difference in the cost. Your options include:
via Tokyo: both Shin-Osaka Station and Kyoto Station are stops on the Tokaido Shinkansen (‘Bullet Train"‘) line. Take any service on the Tokiado line to Tokyo Station and then transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen line bound for Nagano. From Shin-Osaka, the entire journey costs JPY21,080 for reserved seating and JPY19,700 for non-reserved. From Kyoto, the entire journey costs JPY20,750 for reserved seating and JPY19,370 for non-reserved*. As stated above, the entire journey takes around 240 minutes / 4 hours.
via Kanazawa: take the Limited Express ‘Thunderbird’ service from Shin-Osaka Station or Kyoto Station to Kanazawa Station and once there, transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running to Nagano. From Shin-Osaka, the entire journey costs JPY14,550 for reserved seating and JPY14,290 for non-reserved. From Kyoto, the entire journey costs JPY14,000 for reserved seating and JPY13,740 for non-reserved*. As stated above, the entire journey takes around 240 minutes / 4 hours.
via Nagoya: from Shin-Osaka Station or Kyoto Station, take any service on the Tokaido Shinkansen line to Nagoya Station and then transfer to the Limited Express ‘Shinano’ service bound for Nagano. From Shin-Osaka, the entire journey costs JPY12,220 for reserved seating and JPY11,220 for non-reserved. From Kyoto, the entire journey costs JPY11,340 for reserved seating and JPY10,340 for non-reserved*. As stated above, the entire journey takes around 240 minutes / 4 hours.
All of these options - other than the ‘Nozomi’ service on the Tokaido Shinkansen line - are covered by the full JR Pass. As noted above, should you wish to book a reserved seating when using a JR Pass, you will need to do so at a ticket office in advance of boarding the train.
*all ticket prices are accurate as of March 2023.
FAQs
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I have been guiding for more than 6 years in Japan, in which time I have guided hundreds of tours and thousands of guests in Nagano and around Central Japan. I reside permanently in Japan and feel confident I can deliver an engaging and fun experience for my guests.
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No, I am not. There is no requirement to be licensed to guide in Japan. As stated above, I have been guiding for more than 6 years in Japan and am confident in my ability to meet and exceed the expectation of my guests. I have a Bachelor of Arts / Archaeology and a Master of Cultural Heritage & Museum Studies, both testament to my long interest in cultures across the world. The older the better. But more importantly I just enjoy helping my guests discover parts of Japan and otherwise hard to find elements of its culture.
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I describe my Japanese as perfectly functional. I am far from fluent and striving to improve but certainly confident my Japanese is adequate for the tours I have designed.
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My tours are private meaning that there will be no other people joining on the day, other than those who book with your group. That equates to the tour being priced higher than a comparable group tour, which are usually cheaper due to the increased number of guests. If my prices are higher than those of some other guides for private tours, I believe the cost is justified by the quality of experience I provide to my guests. As a foreign resident of Japan, I have a good understanding of what international visitors value in a tour experience and how to engage them in an informative yet fun and informal manner.
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The cost of each tour includes my time / guiding along with any entry fees or transport costs incurred for listed activities during the tour.* The cost of food and drink including lunch or other meals is not included. While tours typically include time for lunch and/or stops at recommended cafes, eateries and breweries for a coffee, snack or beer / sake, experience has taught me that guests prefer the flexibility of choosing when, where and what they eat and drink. For that reason, nothing is prearranged and I ask that guests pay directly for those things on the day.
*Please note that many tours do not use any transport and are conducted completely on-foot. For tours that do use transport, we will be using public transport i..e. public buses and/or trains.
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I use Stripe to collect tour payments from guests. Upon agreement of a tour, I will send you a link to complete payment using Stripe. You do not need a Stripe account yourself to complete payment. Payment can be completed using any credit credit
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I am an independent operator and for that reason, I ask that guests complete full payment at least 7 days before the tour date. If you are booking within 7 days of the tour date, I ask that you complete the full payment immediately. I respectfully ask this of my guests so that I can arrange my work schedule in advance.
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As an independent operator, my cancellation policy reflects the fact that if a tour is cancelled at short notice, I may lose all ability to earn income on that day. For that reason, should you need to cancel anytime up to 48 hours in advance of the tour start time, I will issue you with a full refund.*
Should you need to cancel within 48 hours of the start time, I will issue you with a refund of 70% of the total payment.*
No refund will be issued for guests who do not show up / fail to notify me prior to the start of the tour.Please note, for multiple day tours I may apply a slightly different cancellation policy due to the risk of losing income for multiple days. I would of course discuss this with you and seek your agreement prior to payment.
*service fees applied by Stripe and relevant banks are - typically between 3-4% of the overall transaction fee - will still be applied to refunds, meaning that should I issue you with a full or partial refund, the service fee will still apply and not be returned to you. Please understand that this is outside of my control and that I do not receive any part of the applicable service fees.