Yudanaka Snow Monkeys

To get here, you’ll take an express train to Nagano where the Dentetsu line takes 45 scenic minutes to wind 20 miles up past fruit groves and vineyards that – in the winter – are tucked up in a pristine blanket of snow. Here, a pretty forest walk brings you to the monkeys before you check into your charming 19th century ryokan retreat, complete with private hot spring bath and traditional meals served in your room.

The next day, you might want to visit Obuse, a historic town just 20 minutes away by train. As the hometown of Katsushika Hokusai – the fabled woodblock artist – you’ll find museums dedicated to his famous ‘wave’ print along with sake breweries, oral gardens and painted temples. Don’t miss out on the Gassho-in Temple where a giant Chinese phoenix – Hokusai’s work – adorns the ceiling.

On your third day, you’ll return by train to Tokyo via Nagano, best known for it cosmopolitan Olympic legacy and the curved tiers of its beautiful Kamakura period temple. Remember that, while the monkeys can be spotted year-round, the snow is only here in winter, from December to March.