Top Niigata Prefecture Bus Tours

We’ll begin with a visit to the famous Snow Monkey Park, where you can watch wild Japanese macaques enjoying a soak in the hot springs—set in the peaceful mountains of Nagano. After the walk, we’ll head over to the nearby Shibu Onsen area, a beautiful historic hot spring town. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant here, featuring freshly made soba noodles and other regional specialties. After lunch, you’ll have time to unwind in one of Shibu Onsen’s public baths. The mineral-rich waters are said to have healing properties and offer the perfect way to relax. And for a bit of extra fun, there’s the chance to collect stamps from different hot springs using a special towel—a local tradition that adds a playful touch to your visit. Whether you're here to relax, explore, or enjoy good food and drink, this tour offers a great mix of what makes Nagano special. Optional free pick-up support available upon request. Please read the pick-up details before making your reservation.

This private and customizable tour for Niigata is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

Enjoy a private, full day walking tour of Niigata with a government-licensed and multilingual guide. Niigata is a beautiful city located on Japan's northwest coast, facing the Sea of Japan. Its perfect climate and verdant landscape helped to make it an agricultural powerhouse, known for its long heritage of rice and sake production. Lets us know your interests and your guide will customize a tour that is made specifically for you.

Simplify your visit to Sado Island from Niigata City on a guided day tour. After catching the ferry over from the mainland (extra cost), you can choose 3–4 different attractions that you most want to visit. Depending on your interests, you could check out the Sado Gold Mine, the Museum of History and Folklore, the island’s lovely parks, and more. Get away from the crowds at this less-visited destination.

This private and customizable tour for Niigata is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

The departure location is selectable from Nozawa Onsen, Myoko Kogen and Madarao Kogen. Starting with a visit to the famous Snow Monkey Park. Get up close and watch as the Snow Monkeys relax in the naturally occurring hot springs of Jigokudani. Thanks to the tour's early morning start you will see the Monkeys as exclusively as it gets! Following this, we will commute to Shibu Onsen town. The first place to stop is Tamamura Honten, a sake & beer brewery established in 1805 attached to a traditional art gallery. After that, our guide will offer you insight into the historic Onsen village. This village was once frequented by Samurai, poets, and travellers alike. Good fortune is said to come to those who bathe in each of the Onsen in town. This section is a walking tour, but if you would prefer to relax in an Onsen, you may do so for just ¥800! Finally, during the green season, we visit Kokugonji, a serene and beautifully maintained temple nestled in rural Nakano and founded in 825.

This 6-hour walking tour includes a Knife factory tour and fruit knife crafting at Tojiro, one of Japan's best knife makers.You'll polish the blade and the craftsman will sharpen the edge. Then you assemble the handle.You can get an up close and personal view of the how the craftsmen work. Take the completed knife home. There's also a tax-free showroom! A licensed guide will accompany you and help with translation. Before visiting Tojiro, you will go on a walking tour, please customize your tour with your guide by selecting 1-2 spots from‘what to expect’ or ‘itinerary’ list. . ※The Tojiro experience starts at 1:00 PM. Please be at the reception by 12:50. ※Upon arrival at Tojiro knife making, there will be an explanation regarding the handling of dangerous objects (knives), machinery, and an insurance application. Insurance fees at Tojiro are included in the experience price. ※Knife making (11+ only, adult price); children and infants can join the factory tour.

Echigo-Yuzawa is a nature-rich destination just one hour from Tokyo. It can be a bit inconvenient to explore without a car, so we’ll make the most of your time with a guided tour by car. At Kiyotsu Gorge, you can admire the majestic rock walls and crystal-clear streams, enjoying a magical, artistic space where the gorge’s scenery is reflected on the water’s surface. Ryugakubo is a mystical lake where you can drink delicious spring water.We’ll have lunch at “Matsushiro Satoyama Shokudo.” The blue-toned interior creates an artistic atmosphere. Please enjoy local cuisine with a modern twist.After lunch, we’ll visit nearby art installations. Next, at Hoshitoge’s terraced rice fields, approximately 200 paddies of various sizes spread across the slopes like fish scales. Bijin-bayashi features beautiful beech trees. It is home to many wild birds. I'll explain using a translation app. Cover photo: “Tunnel of Light” by Ma Jansson (MAD Architects), photo by Osamu Nakamura

Experience the best of Nagano with this immersive tour starting from Myoko Kogen and Madarao Kogen. Begin your journey with a visit to the renowned Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, home to Japan’s famous hot spring-bathing monkeys. Afterward, savor a delicious winter lunch before heading to the historic Zenkoji Temple, one of the country's most significant Buddhist sites. Led by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide, the tour concludes with a sake tasting, offering a perfect blend of culture, nature, and local flavors.

Blacksmith was brought to Tsubame and Sanjo area in Niigata prefecture in the early 17th century, started producing Japanese nails called Wakugi. This area now became an artisan metalsmiths town. You can visit some of those factories, artisans welcome you. In this tour, you will visit Knife factory, Tadafusa and coppenwear factory, Gyokusendo. Both has a long history and you can see their work very closely. You can also visit more factory, Museum or shopping spots where you can find the Tsubame Sanjo quality products.

This tour is designed for travelers who visit Nigata City by cruise ship. We will pick you up at Nigata Port or hotels near the port. Nigata City. Niigata is a beautiful city whose northwest faces the Sea of Japan. As one of Japan's leading agricultural cities, Niigata has a beautiful landscape of rice fields, well-known for its sake and rice heritage. Thanks to its abundant nature and perfect climate, Niigata became an agricultural powerhouse and historically acquired a reputation for its plentiful, abundant food output. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a six-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

During this tour, we’ll expertly guide you through the rich tapestry of local traditions, allowing you to experience these techniques firsthand. From hands-on demonstrations to immersive experiences, you’ll gain insight into the intricate crafts of the area. And, of course, no journey through Tokamachi would be complete without savoring some of the most delectable local cuisine, adding a flavorful dimension to your cultural exploration.

Exclusive VIP Niigata Tours Our VIP Niigata Tours offer locally guided, exclusive experiences, taking you beyond typical tourist spots to hidden gems only locals know. Why Choose Our Tours? Local Experts Discover secret locations and experience Niigata like a local. Exclusive Hidden Spots Explore secluded nature trails, private artisan workshops, and untouristed hot springs. Authentic Culture & Cuisine Visit renowned sake breweries, dine at exclusive local restaurants, and explore Tsubame-Sanjo’s master craftsmanship. ❄️ Seasonal Highlights Enjoy hidden cherry blossoms, private fireworks views, off-the-map fall foliage, and uncrowded ski resorts. ♨️ Local-Only Hot Springs Relax in authentic onsen with healing mineral waters, away from tourist crowds. For luxury, adventure, and cultural immersion, our VIP tours provide an unforgettable, insider experience of Niigata. Enjoy an unforgettable Exclusive Tour, crafted to create lasting memories.

Nigata is known for the best sake producing area - Myoko isn't the exception with 3 sake breweries of unique history and product line-up. They are all small-sized truly local breweries. You can see more and communicate with the business owner and/or workers with a guide. After the brewery tour, we'll check and try local food at a local farmer's market or authentic local restaurant of your choice/guide's recommendation.

Guests will journey deep into the hidden region of Nagano known as Akiyamago, a remote mountain valley rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. Here, they’ll soak in one of the wildest open-air hot springs in Nagano, where the healing waters bubble up directly from the riverbed — a rare and unforgettable experience. Important Note: The outdoor hot spring may be unavailable during bad weather if the river overflows. In that case, we’ll visit a local indoor onsen instead. The tour also includes a taste of tradition with a hearty bear meat hot pot lunch, called "Kumanabe", a local specialty passed down through generations. On the way back to Iiyama Station, we’ll stop by a local sake brewery, where guests can enjoy tasting some of Nagano’s finest rice wine. Akiyamago is usually closed off in winter due to extreme snowfall that even surpasses ski resorts, but we operate guided car tours to this remote area.

Explore the enchanting snow-rich regions of Japan, where snow influences not just winter scenery, but also food, culture, and tradition year-round. This immersive journey reveals how melting snow creates pristine water sources essential for high-quality agriculture and fermentation practices. Discover the depth of local cuisine, from refined sake to traditional dishes, and experience unique crafts shaped by this snowy landscape. Witness how spiritual beliefs and everyday life harmonize with the natural environment, showcasing the profound connections between snow and Japanese culture throughout the seasons.

Enjoy the culture and nature of Japan's snow country in Takane, a mountain village on the outskirts of Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, where snow accumulates to 2 meters during the winter months. This program is an experience in the deepest part of the unexplored Takane area, where the snow is deep and usually not removed. You can experience snow play, food culture of snow country, and snow activities as a nature experience. snow activities as nature experiences. Each experience will be guided by a local guide. Snow play is a symbol of Japan's snow country culture, where visitors can try their hand at making a kamakura or snowman with a “kamakura and snowman making expert. In the Snow Country Food Experience, visitors can make “Takane Rice Rice Balls” with a local woman using local ingredients and preserved foods from the snow country. In addition,

Explore the essence of Japanese culture through an immersive journey that intertwines history, food, fermentation, and nature. Wander through a breathtaking landscape shaped by mountains and forests, discovering how traditional practices in agriculture and craftsmanship developed over time. Engage in hands-on experiences at historical sites and craft workshops, while indulging in local culinary delights, including rice cultivation and sake brewing. This exploration reveals the deep connections between community, spirituality, and the environment, offering a rich understanding of Japan’s cultural evolution.

This 1-day guided tour offers an immersive experience at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, one of the world's largest international art festivals. Explore a unique fusion of art and nature in the picturesque satoyama region. Highlights include the mesmerizing "Tunnel of Light" at Kiyotsu Gorge and evocative installations like "For Lots of Lost Windows" and "The Last Class." Visit the Matsudai NOHBUTAI Field Museum and MonET, a contemporary art museum featuring works like Leandro Erlich's "Palimpsest: Pond of Sky." Enjoy a buffet lunch featuring local ingredients. With convenient round-trip options from either Tokyo or Echigo-Yuzawa, this tour is ideal for art enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those seeking unique cultural insights.

In Tokamachi, textiles have long been central to community life, especially during the harsh winters when they were woven into the very fabric of social customs. In the past, young men would look at the quality of a woman’s fabric before even looking at her face when searching for a wife. Today, Tokamachi’s textile craftsmanship reflects the region’s resilience and creativity, showcasing a rich tradition of adapting to its environment. This tour offers you a chance to experience this magical culture firsthand. You’ll learn about the history of Tokamachi and see the artists at work. Your day begins at 10:00 AM when you meet your guide at Tokamachi Station. From there, you will dive into the captivating history and cherished traditions of the area. Enjoy an unforgettable lunch experience, savoring local flavors, and take a tour of a kimono factory, where you’ll engage in a unique activity. The tour concludes at 5:00 PM back at Tokamachi Station.

A tour to fully enjoy the night in Takada, a historic castle town in the snowy region. The dining venue features a special lunch at "Centennial Ryotei Ukisyo," a traditional restaurant with over 140 years of history and designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property. You can explore the lavish four-story wooden architecture and savor authentic ryotei cuisine.

(Available for 1 person! Transportation included) Minamiuonuma City is a renowned flower-viewing destination where clusters of the nationally famous “spring ephemeral flower, the Erythronium japonicum,” can be seen everywhere. A local guide will drive you to the best viewing spots during the season, where you’ll enjoy a roughly 2-hour stroll through the rural hills. No special hiking gear is required. Casual attire suitable for a walk in the park is sufficient. For lunch, we’ll visit a restaurant serving local cuisine. Afterward, we’ll stop at a popular local Japanese confectionery shop for some shopping. To conclude the tour, we’ll visit the “Yasuo Toyama Wildflower Gallery,” a gallery featuring watercolor paintings of wildflowers from all four seasons. - Please note: On Wednesdays, Ueda no Sato and the Wildflower Gallery are closed, so we will instead take you for a lunch of Hegi soba and a visit to the Minamiuonuma Roadside Station.