Gala Yuzawa is a good day trip from Tokyo if you want to
enjoy some snow from winter to mid spring. You can snow board, ski, or sled in
this ski resort. You can rent everything you will need when you reach the
resort. During the ski season, the train stops right at Gala Yuzawa Ski Center.
welcome and rental area. You can choose from the many options of packages. If
you want to Ski or Snowboard for just half or the whole day. There are also
packages for just round trip tickets to the lift and boots & gloves rental.
When you've decided on what you'll be renting. There are
rubber boots on display to check your shoe size. You then fill up your rental
forms and then submit to the counter. You can fill up one form (there are
English language forms) per group. Make sure though that those on the same
rental form will end the day at the same time. You should return at the same
time.
There are also helpful staff that you can ask questions from. You will be
asked to present at least one of your passports for tourists. You then put and
pick up your equipment. There are locker rooms you can leave your stuff before
getting on the cable car to the ski place.
A short cable ride later you reach the ski resort. There are
restaurants here where you can get warm and eat your lunch.
Kids and adults can enjoy sledding on the play area on the
right and the lift up the mountain is on the left side where the playground is.
From Tokyo Station, it is just a 70 minute Shinkansen (bullet
train) ride to the resort. There are additional trips during the ski season. I
would suggest booking seats though especially if you'll be visiting on the
weekends on holidays. The trains tend to be full and there are only
limited non-reserved cars available. On our trip, we had to stay in between the
train cars as the train was full.
You can avail the economical TOKYO wide pass, if you're visiting Tokyo as a tourist. It allows you 4 days of travel on JR
Trains in the Tokyo Wide Area which includes Nikko & the bullet train
to and from Gala Yuzawa.
The Gala Yuzawa station stop is only open during the
ski season. Ski Season is almost over but the resort is open for a few more weeks. You can take the train until Echigo Yuzawa and catch the shuttle to the resort from there.
Rental Fees: https://gala.co.jp/winter/english/rental/rental.html
Hours of Operations: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Getting There: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen (77 mins) or the
Max Tanigawa or Tanigawa train from Tokyo or Ueno Station to Gala Yuzawa
Nearest train station: Gala Yuzawa (ski season) Echigo Yuzawa (off season)
Joetsu Time Table: From Tokyo: https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/timetable/e_joetsu_d/index.html
To Tokyo: https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/timetable/e_joetsu_u/index.html
Website: https://gala.co.jp/winter/english