Looking for a great destination this winter season? GALA Yuzawa is one of the best options to consider because of its accessibility, excellent snow quality, and exciting winter activities. Learn why this ski resort appeals to both local and overseas visitors.
Japan offers a variety of activities in every season and winter is no exception. From the snow festival in Hokkaido to the snow walls in Toyama, there are countless things to do even in the freezing weather. And what better way to enjoy the fluffy snow than doing winter activities. As a densely mountainous country, it is given that Japan has an abundance of ski resorts especially in Hokkaido, Niigata, and Nagano Prefectures (the latter having the most number of resorts). That being said, GALA Yuzawa in Yuzuwamachi, Niigata, probably takes the crown for being the most popular ski destination among foreign tourists. The main reason is its location. It’s directly connected to the train station. Meaning, once you come out of the ticket gates, you’ve reached the resort—how hassle-free is that! It is located 80 minutes from Tokyo on the Joetsu Shinkansen (bullet train), making it a manageable one-day trip.
You’ll know that winter has arrived when you spot posters and flyers of JR SKISKI at major stations like Ueno and Tokyo. But what is it exactly?
JR SKISKI is an annual winter campaign that promotes the use of JR East trains to go to ski resorts and offers discounted tickets and travel packages. For instance, the GALA Yuzawa package includes a round-trip shinkansen ticket between Tokyo Station and GALA Yuzawa Station plus a one-day lift or gondola ticket.
Here are some of the travel packages they’re offering this winter season (2024-2025). For more information, please refer to this link: https://www.jre-travel.com/seasonal/ski/gala/
Let me explain why their travel packages are a good value for your money. Let’s use the “Gondola Free Ticket Package” (which has a price of 10,100 yen) as an example. If you decide to purchase the tickets individually, a round-trip shinkansen ticket and a one-day gondola ticket will cost you 13,380 yen and 3,000 yen respectively. That’s 16,380 yen in total. In this case, you can save 6,280 yen if you avail the JR SKISKI package.
It is important to note that purchasing a travel package on their website can be arduous due to the fact that everything is in Japanese. However, you can simply use Google Translate and a website to convert your name to katakana. Once you secure your tickets, make sure to print out the pdf file that will be sent to your email and pick up your tickets at the station before your boarding date.
Early this year, my family visited Japan for the first time. It was also their first winter trip, so they’re looking forward to seeing the snow and experiencing winter activities. We picked GALA Yuzawa among the other ski resorts due to its convenient location. I booked the tickets 6 days prior to our trip and claimed them at a vending machine at Tokyo Station – Yaesu Central Exit.
On January 31st, we made sure to arrive early at Tokyo Station. We had ample time to buy bento boxes for breakfast at Ekibenya Matsuri, a store that has a huge selection of ekiben (railway boxed meals). After that, we headed to Platform 22 and hopped on the Tanigawa 81 bullet train, which departed at 8:32 a.m. We were astounded as the train swept across the scenery in full speed. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we marveled at the snow-covered mountains through our windows.
At 9:51 a.m., we arrived at our destination. It was surprisingly warm despite the low temperature. Once we passed through the ticket gates, we were welcomed by the huge signage. We entered the ski center (Cowabunga), where the ticket counter, snow gear rental corner, and the gondola station are located. After getting our tickets, we took a gondola ride towards the Cheers Rest House. Ascending the steep slope is not for the fainthearted, but the breathtaking view will surely banish one’s jitters.
For our first activity, we opted for the Snowmobile Sleigh Tour which costs 3,500 yen per person. Sleighing through the curved snow trail was a thrilling experience. Our driver even stopped the vehicle so we could see the deer he spotted in the woods.
We alighted at the North Area where slopes for intermediate and advanced skiers are located. After taking pictures and making snow angels and snowballs, we headed towards Restaurant Ole which offers dishes like udon and katsu (pork cutlet) curry. After lunch, we went back to Cheers Rest House by snowmobile and indulged in some ice cream for dessert.
Clockwise from top left: Almond Pistachio, Vanilla and Cookies, Blue Seal Sundae (Salty Milk and Neapolitan), and Coffee Float
At around 2:25 p.m., my brother and I decided to go skiing, so we made our way back to the ski center (Cowabunga) to rent our snow gear. Each of us paid 6,500 yen for the standard ski set which includes skis, boots, and poles.
Although it was my second time to ski, I felt pretty anxious as I put my heavy boots on. We took the gondola ride once again and skied in the flat area in front of the lift station (Sociable). My brother easily got the hang of it. As for myself, I struggled to keep my balance and was fearful of colliding with other skiers.
Two hours passed by so quickly. As much as we wanted to practice, we couldn’t continue skiing because the resort closes at 4:30 p.m. People began to exit the slopes and we followed suit.
After purchasing souvenirs at the ski center, we took the bullet train back to Tokyo and reached the station at 6:20 p.m.
Overall, it was a great experience. Surprisingly, the resort was not crammed full that day (you might have read some reviews that it’s always overcrowded). We went on a Wednesday, so most probably, it is better to come on weekdays. In conclusion, I think GALA Yuzawa is a good choice for anyone who wants to go on a winter adventure. Even if you’re someone who dislikes extreme sports, you can try low-risk activities like sledding or soaking in the hot spring, swimming pool or outdoor jacuzzi.
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