Winter Wilderness Adventure in Japan

There is no previous winter hiking experience needed for this trip. Your guide will give you instruction on using the snowshoes and the crampons so you will only need an average level of fitness. You should feel comfortable out in the elements for a few hours at a time, this trip is planned for deepest winter in Japan so will be very cold at some points - nothing that the correct clothes can't sort.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

You will only need to carry a day pack on each of the activity days and your main luggage will be transported for you each day.

While trekking fresh water will be provided so you will carry what you need for that day. Bring a reusable bottle, it will be well used.

On average, winter temperatures in Tokyo are 10°C in the daytime and 2-4°C in the morning and evening in January and February. In winter, Tokyo has many sunny days and little rain or snow, so the air is often dry. In the Alps the temperature drops by 0.6°C for every 100 metres of elevation gain, so each region will have different clothing provisions. Yatsugatake, Kamikochi, and Norikura are located approx. 1500m-2600m above sea level, the temperature can often drop to below -20°C. The cities at the foot of the mountain such as Matsumoto, and Yudanaka will be warmer, usually about 10°C more than in the mountains but it is often still below freezing. The weather in the mountains is changeable and it can snow suddenly, but the percentage of sunny days tends to be higher in March than in January and February.

You can request to store any extra bags in Tokyo if you need to - either at the hotel or at a left luggage facility in the city. Your guide can assist with arranging this if needed.

Tipping isn't customary in Japan and is not expected – in fact, it will sometimes be considered impolite. As a general rule, you should not leave a tip in Japan, with a few notable exceptions - one being tour guides. If you feel that your tour leader has provided excellent service over the course of your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. Your host suggests 500-1000JPY per person per day as a guideline.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

Known for their red faces and hot spring antics, the snow monkeys attract visitors and photographers from all over the world. Though the park is looked after by naturalists, Jigokudani is not a zoo or anything resembling it. When you hear a name like 'snow monkey park', it's easy to assume that this isn’t a responsible animal encounter however the snow monkeys are free to come and go as they please, and human visitors are strongly advised to give them space and of course not touch them. While other Japanese animal attractions (Tokyo’s cat and, these days, owl cafes) have drawn criticism for the small spaces in which they confine animals, the snow monkey onsen at Hell Valley is about as wild as you can get.

Another important thing to remember about Jigokudani is that food is strictly prohibited, even if you don’t plan to feed it to the monkeys. Introducing these wild animals to human food (or, worse, to the plastic in which it’s packaged) could have devastating consequences. It is also thought that the monkeys starting bathing in the hot springs after witnessing the local villagers do the same - mimicry is a natural behaviour of the monkeys. As human prosperity has grown, macaques have lost their fear of humans and have increased their presence in both rural and urban areas so seeing monkeys in Japan isn't any longer an occurrence only in the wild.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.