GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, often known as GALA Yuzawa or just GALA, is a ski area located close to the central area of Yuzawa Town in Niigata Prefecture.
GALA Yuzawa is the only ski area with its own Shinkansen (bullet) train station. The station and gondola lift to the ski slopes (along with various other facilities) are within the same building. Such convenience makes GALA Yuzawa extremely popular for day trips from Tokyo. In recent years, the ski area has also become very popular with skiers and snowboarders visiting from overseas.
There are four main areas to GALA Yuzawa - Central Area, Southern Area, Northern Area and the Falcon downhill course.
With a relatively high altitude, GALA Yuzawa enjoys a long season and generally some of the best snow conditions in the region. Large sections of the Southern Area are left ungroomed, and that area is usually relatively quiet. The Northern Area also has an ungroomed course (Super Swan).
GALA Yuzawa is connected to Yuzawa Kogen (via the Landau Ropeway cable car in the Southern Area) and also lift and course connected to Ishiuchi Maruyama (in the Northern Area). A joint lift ticket valid at all three ski areas, known as Yuzawa Snow Link, is available during the main season.
GALA Yuzawa has been open since 1990.
Yuzawa Town and neighbouring Minamiuonuma City are home to over 20 individual ski areas, including some of the most well-known in Japan. View the full list here. With easy and quick access by train and road and a wide choice in a relatively compact area, this region is one of Japan's most popular ski destinations. The region usually enjoys heavy and consistent snowfall each winter. Yuzawa is also known for onsen hot springs and as the inspiration for the famous Nobel prize-winning novel Yukiguni (Snow Country).
The Snow Park is in the Northern Area comprising of a Step Up Park, Free Ride Park and Kicker Zone. The park usually increases in size for the spring season.
A number of runs in the Southern Area ($2,600,000, Bronco A and Bronco B) and one in the Northern Area (Super Swan) are left ungroomed.
Snowmobile tours and moon bike experiences are also available at GALA.
The Snow Enjoyment Park (Yuki Asobi Park) area with a moving walkway is near the base of the ski runs in the Central Area of GALA Yuzawa. It is free to use (though you need to get up there via the Gondola, which is charged).
Usually open from 8:30am until 4:00pm during the main season and until 3:00pm during the spring season.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at GALA Yuzawa - lessons in English and other languages are available directly with the ski area.
There are also number of independent ski and snowboard schools that cover the Yuzawa area and offer lessons in English. Please see the Listings section.
A wide variety of services (including rental) are available in the base Ski Center COWABUNGA.
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GALA Yuzawa is normally open from 8:00am (first gondola) until 4:30pm.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Yuzawa 1039-2
Yuzawa-machi
Minamiuonuma-gun
Niigata-ken
949-6101