I'm in awe of those who manage to get out the door with a toddler let alone travel internationally but I have no personal experience. I feel doing it from Tokyo as we did would be too much but hopefully, other readers who have done it with children and will be able to share their experiences.

Hi Melissa. Sorry but I don't have a recommendation for a private driver in the area. The Habuka snowmobile ride sounds like a lot of fun but it's not something I've seen included in any packaged day tours, I'd love to know what you think of it. The itinerary will cover quite a distance, the snow monkeys are roughly an hour's drive east of the station while Hakuba is about an hour west of the station, maybe 3 3/4 hours total driving time. Have a fabulous trip!

Hi Kate. The monkeys can be seen in the forest all year round but the snow and colder weather seem to be the trigger for them gathering in and around the onsen bath in groups. Snow has usually started in Nagano during December although the heavier falls are in January and February. You would have a good chance of seeing them then but as with any wild animals, there is a little luck involved too.

It's not difficult to get from the ski resort to Nagano station but it's not convenient to do by train because the tracks require a huge detour so you'd use the bus which charges Y2000 for an adult and Y1000 for a child each way and takes 75 minutes. The timetable is here if you want to look at that option.

We aren't skiers but do love winter in Japan, you'll find a lot of information across the site on Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Have a fabulous trip!

Hi Susan, you're right that the full JR pass won't be economical for this. You can either buy the individual tickets for the specific trip or I would also consider the 5-day JR East Pass for Nagano it is Y17,310 vs Y16,280 for the return ticket from Tokyo to Nagano but you'll be able to use it other JR east trains during your stay within Tokyo, to the airport or other day trips like Nikko or Kamakura.