GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort — Attraction in Yuzawa

One of the best and convenient ski resort near to Tokyo. We visited this place during new year holidays on January first week.

We purchased JR wide pass and reserved tickets two days before our travel. JR wide passes will be issued only to the foreigners after showing passports. One person can carry other family members or friends passports to purchase the tickets. Please check JR official website for additional information about the train passes and the routes and trains covered.

We planned gala trip for one day. We have started at 8:04 from Tokyo station and reached Gala by 9:50. Gala station is directly linked to snow resort.

Wear thermals and winter jackets to protect from the cold. There are many winter wear available for rent in Gala. We have to stand in a queue to purchase gondola, lift car or Ski equipment. Lockers are also available on charge basis to place extra baggage. There are foreign language helpers who will suggest the best plans according to your choice.

Choose the plan and buy tickets using JR passes. For JR pass holder there will be additional discounts provided. Once purchase tickets, we have to fill the form for rental gear. Stand in a 30-50mins queue to get the rental equipment by showing any identity proof and rental tickets. Once collected change the winter gear in changing rooms. Place your extra baggage in the lockers located in 2F/3F. Sled will be provided at Gala resort station on top of the mountain. Carry the ski equipment and get ready to start the beautiful journey in Gala Yuzawa mountains.

Gondola entrance is located in 2F near the changing room. Show Gondola ticket and get into the lift car. Enjoy the breathtaking views of mountains and trees covered with snow. Ride is of about 4-5minuts. End point of the ride will be Gala Ski resort station. Collect sled in the station and enter into the ski area.

Sled area is located left to the entrance of station. Infront of the station different chair car lifts are located. People who are interested in 🎿 or 🏂 will ride on top of the mountains using chair cars and comes down by doing 🎿 or 🏂. People who are not interested in 🎿 and only wants to visit the temple bell area on top of the mountains have to purchase two way ticket.

We did sled for some time, the sled is very small and mostly designed for kids. Elders are also allowed. Proper safe guards and fence is arranged near sled area. Views near sled area is very good can take nice pictures. Visitor are making snow man near sled area and playing with their children.

Time is already 2:00 PM and we head back to the station for lunch. A lot of food options are available in the food court located in station. Pay before and get the tokens to collect food. For vegans fired potatoes and rice is available. We finished lunch in 30mins and started to ride the chair car lift which takes us to the temple bell on top of the mountain peak.

Queue is different for people who wants to come back from mountain by doing 🎿 and for who wants to comeback in same chair car lift. Show chair car ticket in the entrance. Ride is of around 7-9mins, through out the way two sides tall trees are located and they are covered with ice fully.

On top of the mountain snow fall is heavy and barely we could see the view and stand outside. Carry snow eye glasses or normal sunglasses for protecting eyes. Bell temple is located left to the chair car station. View is very good from the temple area. Crowd is less and we stayed here for around 20-30minutes and came back by same chair car lift.

It was already 4:00 when we reached Gala station. Many people started to go down from Gala resort station. We stayed in gala station for 30mins more and started our ride back to the down station by Gondola ride.

We were already tired and our legs are getting freez even after wearing rubber boots. Once reached the down station return the items by showing the form received during rental. We got fresh up and took the luggage from lockers.

Buy souvenirs for friends and family in shops and stand in a queue for next ...

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort Review: A Winter Wonderland with Easy Access

If you’re looking for a convenient and exciting winter getaway from Tokyo, GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort is one of the best options out there. The fact that it has its own Shinkansen station (yes, literally at the resort!) makes it incredibly easy to access. Whether you’re a seasoned skier or someone just starting out, GALA Yuzawa has something for everyone. But be warned—it gets extremely crowded on weekends and holidays, so plan accordingly!

Getting There: 3 Ways to Reach GALA Yuzawa

The Cheapest Option: Bus Packages (Under ¥10,000)

If you’re planning to visit frequently or are on a budget, bus tour packages are the most affordable way to go. These packages often include round-trip transport and lift tickets, all for under ¥10,000! It’s a great deal for those who want to visit again and again without burning a hole in their pocket.

Find affordable bus packages here

The Most Convenient Option: Shinkansen (Under ¥15,000)

For those who prefer speed and comfort, the Joetsu Shinkansen takes you from Tokyo Station to GALA Yuzawa Station in just 75 minutes. A one-way ticket costs around ¥7,250, and even if you add rentals and lift tickets, you can keep your total trip under ¥15,000. Perfect for a quick, hassle-free ski trip!

Check Shinkansen schedules and ticket prices

The Best Value for Foreign Residents: Tokyo Wide Pass (¥15,000 for 3 Days)

If you have a foreign passport (including residents), the JR Tokyo Wide Pass is a fantastic deal. For ¥15,000, you get unlimited JR train travel for 3 days, including the Joetsu Shinkansen to GALA Yuzawa. This pass pays for itself in just one round trip, making it the best choice if you plan to explore more places.

Details about the Tokyo Wide Pass

The Resort Experience

❄️ Beginner-Friendly Slopes: “Melody Slope” If you’re new to skiing or snowboarding, Melody Slope is the best place to start. It’s not steep at all, making it a comfortable place to practice without fear of major wipeouts. If you’re a first-timer, this is the ideal spot to get used to the snow before moving on to bigger challenges.

⚠️ Crowds Can Be Overwhelming GALA Yuzawa’s biggest downside is the crowds on weekends and public holidays. Expect long lines at the lifts and busy slopes. If you can, go on a weekday for a much better experience.

Final Verdict: Is GALA Yuzawa Worth It?

✅ Easy access from Tokyo ✅ Great for beginners ✅ Affordable travel options ❌ Too crowded on weekends ❌ Not the best choice for advanced skiers

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) GALA Yuzawa is one of the most convenient ski resorts from Tokyo, especially for beginners and casual skiers. However, if you’re looking for a quiet, advanced skiing experience, you might want to consider less crowded resorts. But for a quick day trip or weekend getaway, it’s hard to beat...

The Shinkansen from Tokyo stops at the station, you alight and you are right at the ski resort. Sounds good? Then make your way to GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort!

Right after the gate of the train station is the ticket counter of the ski resort. Across the massive hall is the rental station for absolutely everything you can possibly need on the slopes. Large changing rooms are next door. You get your ski pass and you can also sign up for lessons here.

There is also a shop where you can buy some equipment, if you forgot to bring it, and some eateries where you can top up on calories before embarking on your winter adventures on the slopes. What else could you want in terms of convenience and service?

I visited GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort in mid December after it had just opened for the season. The first snow had fallen and the landscape had turned into a wintery white. I am not into skiing but I wanted to check out the view from the top of slopes.

A gondola whisked me up to 800 meters where I watched some early-bird skiers and snow boarders testing the upper part of the slopes which were already covered in plenty of snow. I had an excellent winter view over Yuzawa Onsen from the gondola and from the top of the slopes where a winter fairytale landscape unfolded in front of my eyes.

This view alone was worth the gondola trip up the mountain but I actually wished that I could ski down all the while watching the beautiful snow landscape. Being in Japan in winter and not taking advantage of the excellent snow conditions and of the many convenient ski resorts seems a sin!

The GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort is less than 80 minutes from Tokyo by Joetsu Shinkansen, which means that even a day-trip to this ski resort from Tokyo is possible.

The Joetsu Shinkansen runs between Tokyo (Tokyo Station and Ueno Station) and Niigata and your stop is Echigo-Yuzawa Station. During ski season in winter, a train line extension runs directly to GALA resort. I mean the station is in the ski resort!

Every winter GALA offers special deals so that doing a bit of winter sports does not break the bank. In the past year, for example, the GALA 1-Day ticket cost from 11,900 yen, which included the Shinkansen fare, a 1-day ski lift ticket and 20% off ski rental. I am waiting to see what this year’s deals will be but they are bound to be equally affordable.

There really is no excuse for not getting out there and having some fun...