GALA Yuzawa closed for the season on 6 May
GALA Yuzawa ended its 2025-2026 season on 6 May 2026, after a long season into the Golden Week holidays.
GALA Yuzawa in Yuzawa offers 16 runs with 11 lifts. 2026–27 season: usually opens mid December. Updated by Tak.
Step off the Shinkansen and onto the gondola — the easiest ski day trip from Tokyo. Beginner-to-intermediate slopes and solid rentals.
Next season typically opens in mid December. Check back closer to opening.
RESORT STATISTICS
Season data shown below. Live conditions available when resort opens.
Courses
All levels
Lifts
1 gondola
Season
usually opens mid December
Reserve your ski experience

How to reach GALA Yuzawa from Tokyo and the nearest airport
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Tak — Founder & Editor.
I'm a Tokyo-based snowboarder and father of two, with over 20 years on Japan's slopes. Resorts I have personally visited are marked "Visited" and include my first-hand notes. The other resorts are summarized from public ski-area data and local reviews. I add my own notes over time. How we select →
Tokyo→Kanetsu Expressway→GALA Yuzawa IC→GALA Yuzawa (2hr30min)
3,000 spaces
Tokyo Station → GALA Yuzawa Station (~75–85 min, Joetsu Shinkansen “Tanigawa”; direct in-resort station)


Available
Not Available
Available
Not Available
Weather dependent
2025–26 season prices, for reference
Ski Lesson : from 4,500 yen
Snowboard Lesson : from 4,500 yen
Ski Lesson : Private 2hr ¥28,000 / 3hr ¥38,000 / Full day ¥78,000
Canyons Snowsports School (official GALA partner – EN/CN/TH対応)
Finish skiing, soak, and board the train still warm
Most ski resorts require a bus or shuttle between the slopes, the onsen, and your transport home. GALA eliminates all of that. The Ski Center has a proper onsen right next to the Shinkansen platform. My routine with my son: finish skiing, soak in the onsen, walk to the platform in warm clothes, and board the Shinkansen still warm. With a beer in hand on a heated train, Tokyo Station arrives before you know it. No bus waiting in the cold after your bath.
Non-skiers can ride the gondola to the summit
Unusually for a Japanese ski resort, GALA explicitly welcomes non-skiing visitors. If a grandparent or partner in your group doesn't ski, they can still ride the gondola to the summit, enjoy the views and the snow scenery, and come back down — without renting gear. This makes GALA a practical option for multi-generational family trips where not everyone is on snow.
Announcements and lessons in English, Chinese, and Thai
Tokyo Station → GALA Yuzawa Station (~75–85 min, Joetsu Shinkansen “Tanigawa”; direct in-resort station)
Shuttle runs every 30 minutes during peak season
Full rental sets available on-site. Reserve in advance during peak season.
Ski set: 6,500 yen/day • Snowboard set: 6,500 yen/day
Credit cards accepted at ticket counters and restaurants.
Cash preferred at some smaller vendors
January to February for the best powder conditions.
Weekdays are less crowded than weekends
Season has ended. Live snow and weather info will return in December.
GALA Yuzawa ended its 2025-2026 season on 6 May 2026, after a long season into the Golden Week holidays.
GALA汤泽在延续至黄金周假期的漫长雪季后,于2026年5月6日结束2025-2026雪季。
At GALA Yuzawa, elementary-school children ski free on Ski Kids' Day, held on the third Sunday of each month from December to March.
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See #japowguides on InstagramEverything you need to know about GALA Yuzawa
The resort connects directly to its own Shinkansen station—step off the train and into the gondola. It’s the ultimate Tokyo day trip.
Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to GALA Yuzawa Station (~75–80 min). The station is integrated with the resort.
Late Dec–March. Weekdays are quieter; midwinter is best for cold snow.
Yes. English-friendly lessons and ‘hands-free’ rental packages are common—reserve early on weekends/holidays.
Station-integrated rentals, lockers, restaurants, and ticketing streamline day-trip logistics.
Still have questions?
Contact usGala Yuzawa is a ski resort located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan
GALA runs announcements in English, Chinese, and Thai, and offers lessons in Thai as well — rare in Japanese skiing. My impression is that GALA hosts more international day-trip skiers than any other resort in Japan, with a particularly strong Asian family presence. If you're worried about language barriers on your first Japan ski trip, this is the most reassuring resort to start at.
GALA Yuzawa