Snow Monkeys or Nikko
 

We will be arriving in Tokyo on March 16th, about 4 1/2 days prior to our tour. Of which, it has three days in Tokyo. I am considering taking a train out of the city for two nights. I have always wanted to see the snow moneys, but I have also read that Nikko is an interesting place to visit.
We are not hikers, but we will do a tour that includes walking. Can anyone help me get to either place the best way, and perhaps recommend a tour guide for either? Or a tour company?
Thank you!

Looks like there probably will be snow in Nagano-ken in March, so good timing.

I know there are tours to see the snow monkeys, including datrips from Tokyo.
Jigokudani Monkey Park (Snow Monkeys) - Yamanouchi Travel

Nikko is easy to get to.
How to get to and around Nikko: Access, Orientation and Transportation

Your trip, your call!

FWIW, I saw snow monkeys on Mijajima -- cute, but pesky beasts, happy to steal anything they could grasp. There were lockers and signs telling people to use them; I did. I watched two women who declined the option lose their shoulderbags.

With two nights, you can see the highlights of Nikko, which I loved. In addition to the temples in the town, you can take public transportation to the Akechidaira Plateau for distant views of the stunning Kegon-no-Taki (waterfalls); then proceed on to pretty Lake Chuzenji where you can go to the base of the falls and then return to Nikko. You can also walk a bit of the Kanmangafuchi Abyss.

I stayed at the Turtle Inn Annex, which has a lovely riverside onsen that you can reserve for private use ... or at least it did when I was there. VERY nice!

My husband and I went to the Snow Monkey Park in March 2023 and had a great time. I didn't see any monkeys grabbing things people had, maybe because the park workers kept them well fed. We were warned not to make direct eye contact (challenging to them) or to carry white plastic bags with us. We got some great photographs and the weather was perfect. It was still pretty chilly with a bit of snow, but it just made everything smell wonderfully. If seeing the snow monkeys is something you have always wanted to do, then you should do it. I haven't been to Nikko yet (going this fall in November), so I can't compare the two. I've found there are always hard choices to make for Japan, there's just too much to see and experience!

we'll be spending a couple of nights in the Snow Monkey area this Fall, at the very beginning of November. I doubt there will be snow, but seeing the monkeys in their habitat has long been on my wishlist. also, we like to take day hikes and we'll be staying in an area where we can walk to one of the paths in the park in about 30 minutes. it's a lovely private spot where we can relax and recharge after a busy first week in Japan.

>> I have always wanted to see the snow moneys, but

That really does answer the question in the thread title.

Nikko, but that's just my choice having been to both places. Much more to see and do in the Nikko area (check mrwnrfl's links he left upthread). If you want to see monkeys there are ones in the wild in the hills above Nikko if you have a car rental you might see some. Either way enjoy!

If you’ve got two days, definitely check out Nikko. We only managed a day trip there, and honestly, I didn’t really enjoy it. You really need to head out early in the morning to make the most of it—the area around there looked super nice.