Touted as the only snow resort in the world with a shinkansen station, GALA Yuzawa is one of the most accessible ski resorts from Tokyo. The region receives huge amounts of snow each season, and GALA Yuzawa often enjoys excellent snow conditions The base is at an altitude of 800 meters.
Ski season is dependent on each year's snowfall rate, its best to check in advance on the resort's opening hours.
The area is easily accessible via a one-hour Joetsu Shinkansen ride, with the bullet train station located on the ski resort grounds. For those who do not have a Japan Railpass, there are also several bus offers that can take you from Tokyo to GALA Yuzawa.
GALA Yuzawa is divided into 3 areas: The central area is the most conveniently located and has most of the restaurants, a sleigh area and is particularly popular with families. You can also take the chairlift to a wonderful viewing platform. The northern area offers perfectly groomed slopes and a small practice area for those who want to try out or practice small jumps etc. The southern area mainly offers unprepared slopes. So if you're in the mood for adventure, you've come to the right place.
Joetsu Shinkansen to GALA Yuzawa station