GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort is one of the best options available when you're looking to hit the slopes around Tokyo! In fact, GALA Yuzawa is famous for being Japan's only ski and snowboard resort with its own Shinkansen bullet train station. GALA Yuzawa is convenient even for day trips and weekend getaways, when you want to enjoy the powder and snow scenery.
Here we will also provide you with information about the JR TOKYO Wide PASS, which can be used for GALA Yuzawa and provides for special Shinkansen fares, making it convenient for sightseeing around Tokyo!
* GALA Yuzawa is implementing measures against Covid-19.
What Kind of Place is GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort?
Yuzawa-machi, Minami-Uonuma-gun, where GALA Yuzawa is located, is a heavy snowfall area, allowing for a comparatively longer season.
This area, where the mountains are covered in deep snow, is also famous for being the setting in the novel Snow Country written by Yasunari Kawabata, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. It is also famous as one of the best snow resorts in Japan, attracting many winter sports enthusiasts due to its good snow quality and large amount of snow.
GALA Yuzawa has four main areas: Central Area, Southern Area, Northern Area, and the downhill course. Much of the Southern Area is ungroomed. There is also an ungroomed course in the Northern Area.
A new IC card lift ticket system has been installed at GALA Yuzawa for the winter 2021-2022 season.
Getting to GALA Yuzawa From Tokyo
At Tokyo Station, follow the signage for the Joetsu Shinkansen (platforms 20-23) and hop aboard a train named Tanigawa or Max-Tanigawa. This will bring you either to Echigo-Yuzawa Station or directly to GALA, depending on the time and train. If your Shinkansen arrives at Echigo-Yuzawa Station, you can hop aboard one of GALA Yuzawa's free shuttle busses at the West Exit.
The journey only takes 75 minutes from JR Tokyo Station.
Get to GALA Yuzawa Cheap & Fast! Use the JR TOKYO Wide PASS
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For visitors with a foreign passport, we recommend using the TOKYO Wide PASS (Wide PASS), a discount rail ticket.
JR TOKYO Wide PASS is mainly for the Kanto area covered by JR East, allowing for three consecutive days of unlimited train rides – even for reserved seats on Shinkansen and limited express trains.
At 10,180 yen for those above the age of 12 and 5,090 yen for those between the ages of 6 and 11 (if reservations are not made for children under 6, they can ride the Shinkansen for free).
What are the advantages of it? For one thing, if you get a reserved seat on the Joetsu Shinkansen from JR Tokyo Station to GALA Y…
