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The following are the current reader reviews on Snow Japan for the resort
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata.
Currently there are 40 reviews.
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
snowboardingsam
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
6th Jan 06 |
| Snow Condition : |
Very good |
| PROS : |
Good snow |
| CONS : |
Smaller than I thought it would be / narrow runs |
| Review : |
Gala is the place that quite a lot of people go to by default it seems as it is just so easy to get to - take the shink from Tokyo and you're there and on the slopes in less than 2 hrs.
While it was ok, I think people should be a bit more adventurous. It's not that big - especially with 1/3 closed due to the heavy snowfall - and the runs are quite narrow. Today is a Monday, but there were still a fair few people there..... I can imagine that it is somewhere I would not want to be on a weekend.
Good points apart from the convenience were that the snow was really good and no moguls - quite a lot of smooth runs for me to attack.
A decent terrain part as well in the northern section. |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Skier |
| Readers name : |
dentist
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
Feb 2005 |
| Snow Condition : |
Powder on Top, Ice spots |
| PROS : |
Challenging slopes, huge area of 3 resorts |
| CONS : |
Too crowded, too expensive, traffic to get out of parking area |
| Review : |
The resort was nice itself, but the long lines on the bottom were annoying. I recommend you to get a full ticket and ascend as high as possible and enjoy there. Some of the slopes were narrow and icy.
We wasted one hour and half to get a table to sit for lunch.
Also another hour to get out of the narrow parking alleys to the main road. I will never understand why Japanese make such narrow alleys even whyere they have HUGE space to build even a freeway!! |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
bhills
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
2005-3-5 |
| Snow Condition : |
Fresh snow falling, and a lot of deep soft snow on the ungroomed parts |
| PROS : |
Huge area (if you include the 3 resorts), shinkansen right to the gondola |
| CONS : |
Too crowded near the gondola, not much steep terrain, no good off piste areas |
| Review : |
My last trip to the snow for 2004/5 season, and I decided to try somewhere new that I've heard about from several friends: GALA Yuzawa.
The trip up on the shinkansen is easy and fast, and the train arrives right in the gondola station - amazing! However, that means of course that *everyone* needs to go through that one station - and it gets pretty crowded.
Out on the snow, we had pretty nice conditions: deep snow from recent falls, and since the day was very snowy, the surface was constantly being covered over - leaving nice fresh snow.
The lift ticket included 3 connected resorts (I don't recall the names - but there are only 3 to choose from :-)). This means there are a lot of areas and runs to play on. However, there wasn't much challenging terrain. Most of the runs seemed to be mid-level of steepness and difficulty.
There's a good terrain park - which was having a big air competition on the day. It looks great for people who are into terrain parks (i.e. freestyle) but I like off piste (freeride) so it wasn't really my thing.
Over all, I'd say GALA Yuzawa is good for beginners or intermediaate skiers, and boarders who like groomed snow or the park. For off piste, powder, and tree runs - Kagura is much better. |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
|
71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
bdyer
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
Sunday 13th Feb 2005 |
| Snow Condition : |
Pretty good. Loads of fresh snow. |
| PROS : |
Convenient |
| CONS : |
Narrow short runs, crowds, too many flat spots |
| Review : |
This is a good place to go for a day trip, but it can get pretty crowded which is a bummer. The snow conditions were excellent, but the guys got really agro when I went through the trees - they threatened to take my lift ticket away so watch out for those patrol guys.
There are 2 pretty big jumps which are a lot of fun but hard to generate speed after the first one. Good luck with the coke-can rail!! I busted myself a few times trying to clear it. Take snacks the food is extortionately expensive.
The best place to go is the jyo-kyuu side for off-piste or the terrain park if you like jumping the middle runs are too flat and short to worry about. |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
James Gowans
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| Date Visited : |
5th February 2005 |
| Snow Condition : |
Pretty good, it was snowing all day |
| PROS : |
Snow was Ok |
| CONS : |
Everything else! |
| Review : |
I would really advise anybody NOT TO GO TO THIS PLACE!!
I've been to many ski resorts in Niigata and this is easily the worst. The main reason for this is the crowds. First, one of my friends needed to rent a snowboard, and it took almost 1 and a half hours to get it done! Then, when we wanted lunch, we couldn't get it because there were absolutely no free tables, so had to settle for a crepe and a nikuman. The food did look good though! Of course, the slopes and lifts were packed too and the day was rounded off by the fact that it took another 30 minutes standing in the freezing cold to take the gondala to the bottom (you can't board down). And all this was on a day with terrible weather, goodness knows what it must be like on a nice day!
Of course, all the crowds are due to the fact that the ski-jo has a shinkansen station, so it is seemingly easy for Tokyo people to hop on the train and arrive directly at the skijo. Therefore, I would most definitely advise Niigata people to stay away and go somewhere like Joetsu Kokusai or Cupid Valley. But I would even advise Tokyo people to stay away if you want to have a nice relaxing day. Instead, take the shinkansen to Yuzawa station and get the bus to somewhere like Joetsu Kokusai or Maiko. Preserve your sanity!!
On top of all this, you would think that such a crowded resort would be fairly decent, but in fact it was very average, with incredibly short runs, and not a lot of them. So too much time is spent on the lift and queuing for it. |
| OTHER REVIEWS of GALA Yuzawa Resort (40 in total) |
| READER JOURNALS submitted about GALA Yuzawa Resort (22 in total) |
| READER PHOTOS submitted of GALA Yuzawa Resort (250 in total) |
| This Resort Review was submitted : Thursday 10th February 2005, 4:06pm |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
tsondaboy
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
4 Feb. 2005 |
| Snow Condition : |
Arrived there in the middle of a snowstorm = tons of pow |
| PROS : |
Easy access from Tokyo. |
| CONS : |
Many flat spots |
| Review : |
I guess this place is one of the most popular resorts in Japan because it is accessible from Tokyo in 1 1/2 hour. Usually every season most of the travel agencies in Tokyo have a one day trip offer at really low cost. Keep in mind though that the resort itself is a bit expensive. As soon as you get of the train have 1000 yen on your hands for the lockers lol.
The Gala Yuzawa Shinkansen station actually serves both for train terminal and lift riding point. Really convenient if you are going for one day there and don’t want to loose half your day in transportation. For example I got on the 08:04 shinkansen from Tokyo station, arrived in Gala 09:42 and had my first ride down the slopes at 10:05. Last ride down was at 15:46 and made it to the 16:08 shinkansen from Yuzawa to Tokyo. Arrived in Tokyo at 17:40 and still had enough time to go back in my lab in the University to meet me professor.
For the slopes now. I found the lift planning really bad. Almost at the end of every lift there is a very flat area that you have to skate till you reach the actual kick off point. Nevertheles the slopes themselves are not very bad. Northern area has a nicely made snowpark. Since I went on a week day they were not crowded, in fact I had the halfpipe just for myself for more than 2 hours. I also rode the trees a bit between the broadway and the swan gelende but didn’t stray away because the whether was terrible and for sure it would have been dangerous.
The Edelweiss gelende has many spots you can use as a natural quarter pipe, if there are not many people. So make sure you get at the place on a weekday.
There is a really tempting point between the 7th and 8th pillar of the coach lift.
The northern area is probably the most interesting spot for the advanced ones. Steep, and with many trees to ride through. Also the only spot with moguls.
In general all the gelende are bit narrow so I wouldn’t suggest this place to a complete beginner.
If you decide to go there, under no circumstances don’t go there on weekend or holiday!
In general a place that I will probably visit again in a weekday, when I don’t have time to go far or stay more than 1 day. |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Skier |
| Readers name : |
jaclynanne
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| Date Visited : |
1/23 |
| Snow Condition : |
Shallow powder/ice in random spots |
| PROS : |
More challenge than Iwappara |
| CONS : |
Getting run over in quad lift lines |
| Review : |
Had a good half day at Gala today- we had beautiful weather compared with yesterday. Could see all the surrounding mountains. Really enjoyed the red runs- they were perfectly my level. We did almost every run on at Gala except the "gray" advanced stuff and had a good time. Apart from the actual skiing Gala was annoyingly pricey: 1000 yen for a locker, 1300 yen for onsen, 300 yen for a small coke at the restaurant, etc. etc. Food also leaves a lot to be desired (we ate at the pasta place at the bottom). But, for a weekend the place didn't actually seem that crowded, so that was a pleasant surprise and it was supremely convenient to shinkansen from there back to Tokyo. |
| OTHER REVIEWS made by reader
jaclynanne (2 in total) |
| OTHER REVIEWS of GALA Yuzawa Resort (40 in total) |
| READER JOURNALS submitted about GALA Yuzawa Resort (22 in total) |
| READER PHOTOS submitted of GALA Yuzawa Resort (250 in total) |
| This Resort Review was submitted : Monday 24th January 2005, 9:04am |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
novaPunk
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
January 14th |
| Snow Condition : |
Lots of fresh pow, lightly snowing |
| PROS : |
Most of the park was set up, lots of untouched pow |
| CONS : |
It's Gala. small, the best runs are dead ends and some park layout problems. |
| Review : |
Gala was at its best, which is still lacking, but good enough for early season greetings. It was my 5th day this year, Tristan's 2nd and we had a balls-out time. Ishiuchi had lots of good snow, and there parks are coming along. There monster tables were up, but a little icy for our liking. Other features were built but not open because of all the recent snowfall. They were cutting the superpipe, which probably already open since that was 2 days ago. Always a day late and a buck short...
but Gala was definitely a good spot to be. Lots of untouched tree runs that needed a little more steep to get through the powder. Gala's park is not lacking in features, but just some basic applied physics. After the tables, just like last year, there were some options, but it was nearly impossible to clear the giant coke can or the rainbow-double-flat rail. It took my like 4 or 5 tries to get over the rail, and was only because I straight lined it from the top, did a straight air over one table and zoomed through the giant flat run-up to the rainbow. At least Tristan bought the beers for that one.
Gala even had its half-pipe going. Not great, but ok. |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
Hamitaro2004
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
22 February Sunday |
| Snow Condition : |
Good...no fresh slushy off piste |
| PROS : |
Board Park, Half Pipe, Not many people |
| CONS : |
Narrow runs, Moguls all over the left of the hill |
| Review : |
After reading the reports on this place I was expecting queues for Africa but it simply ain't the case.
This was a perfect Sunday with no clouds and no wind and the longest I waited for a lift was 3 minutes!!
The runs at the top of the hill were narrow and the traverse back from the left side had uphill...the dread of all boarders!! Also the laft side had moguls and bumps all over the runs....definetly best avoided on the snowboards!!
The right side over towards the board park was definetly the go. The start of the run was nice and steep then in to a few little rails before hitting the big table top. There was a bit of a queue but still only a 4-5 minute wait ... nothing to stress over. The only drawback is that you can't really see the jump from the start point making it one of the most dangerous jumps Ive ever come across...the landing is steep and you cant see if anyone is lying on the landing as you hit the jump. It takes a straight line from well up the corner too so not for the weak!
The pipe is ultra wide and could have benefitted from a bit of shaping but still good fun and once again...short queues!!!
There's another hit to the right of the bottom of the half pipe which was fun.
All in all a fantastic day complete with sunburn...I'd go there again if there weren't so many resorts yet to try.
The only drawback was the 5 1/2 hour bus ride back to Tokyo (it took 3 1/4 to get up there). The shink is definetly the go if you're day tripping it. Still...there were 2 accidents on the way home but apparently thats pretty common for Sat and Sunday.
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| Resort name : |
GALA Yuzawa, Niigata |
Snowboarder |
| Readers name : |
simonwb
Member
Personal page here
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| Date Visited : |
Feb 2003 |
| Snow Condition : |
Good coverage, some nice powder areas off the main courses |
| PROS : |
Very convenient |
| CONS : |
No major ones. |
| Review : |
In terms of convenience and the packages available Gala is a great option. The ability to buy the full package with Shinkansen and lift tickets makes it a really easy way to get onto the mountain.
I have heard that becuse of this thought the place can get pretty packed. Every time I've been out there though we must have been lucky because there were never any long waits.
Gala is a great way to spend the day on the mountain and then be back early. |
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| GALA YUZAWA - READER RANKINGS (Vote Here) |
| GENERAL SCORE |
SNOW CONDITIONS |
COURSES TERRAIN |
LIFT SYSTEM |
APRES SKI |
67
( 10 votes)
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71
( 11 votes) |
56
( 10 votes) |
68
( 10 votes) |
46
( 11 votes) |
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| All reviews published have been sent in by, and are the views of, Snow Japan readers. Please note that views expressed are not necessarily those of Snow Japan. Snow Japan reserves the right to edit or not publish any submitted reviews. |
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