mountains & monkeys tour
mountains & monkeys tour:
secret baths of tohoku & the alps––with monkeys!
we have been refining this tour for 21 years, with many of our guests returning again and again to experience the unique charms of the northern region of mainland japan. our focus is on the rare, hard-to-reach rural hot springs (onsen) of the northern mountains, the tohoku region’s akita and yamagata prefectures, as well as the japan alps region of nagano prefecture. we stay in famous old-style inns, simple country inns, and modern takes on both. aside from many fabulous baths, we have befriended local farmers that invite us to pound rice with them, we always sample the very special local mountain cuisine, and each village greets us with an unforgettable and heartwarming northern welcome. oh, and yes: we visit the famous bathing snow monkeys, too!
in the “our baths” section you will find a photo-blog of some of the villages and towns we visit, the kind of lodging we have chosen, and a tempting view of some of the baths.
mountains & monkeys 2026
october 9-27th: SOLD OUT!!
new dates!! october 26–november 12th: $10,300 USD
pricing based per person/double occupancy.
single supplements available $3500 per person
day one 10/26: leave US
day two 10/27: arrive NRT (generally 3-5 pm for US flights) we will greet you after customs and get you to the hotel in narita city. your evening is yours to relax and unwind after the long flight
day three 10/28: day of exploring narita’s ancient temples, delightful local food street, a visit our favorite onsen, all followed by a welcome dinner at a beloved izakaya (B, D)
day four 10/29: bullet train all the way north to akita’s most hidden hot spring, nyuto onsen, with its deep mountain setting and super pure waters before a sumptuous dinner in the inn (B, D)
day five 10/30: free day to gently hike through the mountains to all of the amazing baths of this tiny villages. another dinner in the rustic inn featuring local mountain cuisine (B, D)
day six 10/31: by popular demand: another completely full free day to wander and bathe. sushi making class tonight for dinner in the inn along with other local specialties. (B, D)
day seven 11/1: local charter to visit the famously healing onsen “hells” en route to kakunodate in time to pound mochi rice with our local farmer friends before a communal feast (B, D).
day eight: 11/2: free day to explore the ancient samurai town of kakunodate (know as “little kyoto of the north” & its many museums, galleries, unique architecture. casual dinner in the inn’s café (B, D)
day nine 11/3: train to yamagata prefecture, with a stop at the unesco heritage pilgrimage temple yamadera with its 10,000 steps before a yamagata zao onsen specialty dinner in the inn (B, D)
day ten 11/4: a whole free day to explore zao onsen and its many gorgeous baths, take an art class, hike to the caldera, finished with enjoying some local cuisine at a grill-it-yourself dinner (B, D)
day eleven 11/5: another day of bathing, hiking, exploring. dinner on your own in the village (B)
day twelve 11/6: bullet trains to the japan alps, to nozawa onsen & its traditional nagano-style architecture, baths & cuisine. nagano local specialty dinner in the inn (B, D)
day thirteen 11/7: free day for wandering, bathing, hiking in the village. afternoon mushroom foraging with a local expert. the inn will cook the days bounty for our dinner (B, D)
day fourteen 11/8: more nozowa, optional day trip to one of japan’s highest altitude baths (with views to die for!) dinner is your choice on your own from one of the many small restaurants that dot the village (B)
day fifteen 11/9: private charter today as we stop in the local crafts town of obuse (home to the hokkusai museum) & an apple farm en route to shibu onsen, closest village to the snow monkey park! banquet dinner in the inn with a surprise performance (B, D)
day sixteen 11/10: monkey day! visit the famous bathing snow monkeys, wander the quaint “spirited away” village & its many baths before dinner at a local pub (B, D)
day seventeen 11/11: bullet trains back south to tokyo, then a quick train to narita city with time to unwind before our farewell dinner at another one of our favorite izakaya. (B, D)
day eighteen 11/12: morning visit to the temple or the onsen before you begin your safe journey home