GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, often known as GALA Yuzawa or just GALA, is a ski area located close to the central town area of Yuzawa Town in the southern region of Niigata Prefecture.
GALA Yuzawa is the only ski area with its own Shinkansen (bullet) train station. The station and gondola lift to the ski slopes (along with various other facilities) are within the same building. Such convenience makes GALA Yuzawa extremely popular for day trips from Tokyo. In recent years, the ski area has also become very popular with skiers and snowboarders visiting from overseas.
There are three main areas to GALA Yuzawa - the Central Area, Southern Area, Northern Area. The Falcon downhill course begins in the Northern Area.
With a relatively high altitude, GALA Yuzawa enjoys a long season and generally some of the best snow conditions in the region. Large sections of the Southern Area are left ungroomed, and that area is usually relatively quiet. The Northern Area also has an ungroomed course (Super Swan).
GALA Yuzawa is connected to Yuzawa Kogen (via the Landau Ropeway cable car in the Southern Area) and also lift and course connected to Ishiuchi Maruyama (in the Northern Area). A joint lift ticket valid at all three ski areas, known as Yuzawa Snow Link, is available during the main season.
Mountain
statistics
Top/peak (m)
1181
Vertical (m)
823
Bottom/base (m)
358
Beginner runs (%)
35
Intermediate runs (%)
45
Advanced runs (%)
20
Longest course (m)
4120
Steepest slope (°)
33
Number of courses
16
Ski lifts
11
Ropeway cable car
1
Gondola
1
Quad lift (4-person)
3
Triple lift (3-person)
2
Pair lift (2-person)
4
Single lift (1-person)
0
Surface lift
0
Information
Normal season dates
GALA Yuzawa usually plans to be open from mid- to late December until early May. See below for the actual opening and closing dates in recent seasons.
Normal opening times
The town-level Ski Center 'Cowabunga' (home to the Shinkansen Station and Gondola base) is normally open from 7:00am (until 7:15pm) in the main season, and from 7:30am during the spring season.
The gondola opens at 8:00am with other lifts opening after that. The Phaeton pair lift usually opens at 8:10am and the Sociable quad lift usually opens at 8:30am. Other areas open at 9:00am and 9:30am. The trails are usually open until 4:30pm in the main season and until 4:00pm in the spring season.
Night skiing
Four special Saturday night openings, from 4:30pm until 8:00pm, are planned for the 2025-2026 season. The dates are 14th, 21st, 28th March and 4th April. Separate tickets are required.
Families & children
The Snow Enjoyment Park area 'Yuki Asobi Park' is next to the Barouche quad lift at base of the ski runs in the Central Area. It is free to use (though you need to get up there via the Gondola, which is charged). Usually open from 8:30am until 4:00pm during the main season and until 3:00pm during the spring season.
Observation decks
There are two observation decks at the ski area. The 'Bell of Love Observatory' is near the top of the Barouche quad lift. Visitors who are not skiing or snowboarding can buy a special ticket to use the gondola and Barouche lift to get to the observatory for excellent views of Yuzawa and the surrounding mountains. The 'Yuki no Kane Observatory' is at the top of the Chariot pair lift in the Northern Area.
Lessons
Ski and snowboard lessons are available at GALA Yuzawa, with lessons in English and Chinese available directly at the ski area.
Rental
A wide variety of services are available in the base Ski Center 'Cowabunga', including ski and snowboard equipment and wear rental.
Restaurants
There are a variety of places to eat in both in the base Shinkansen & gondola station (Ski Center 'Cowabunga') and in the top gondola station (Rest House 'Cheers'). There is also a restaurant in the Northern Area.
Lift ticket prices
2025-2026 season Information for the upcoming 2026-2027 season will be added by December 2026
1 day
Adult: 7,300 yen
Child: 3,000 yen
2 days
Adult: 12,000 yen
Child: 4,500 yen
4 hours
Adult: 6,500 yen
Child: 2,400 yen
Gondola & quad
Adult: 5,000 yen
Child: 2,500 yen
Season ticket
Adult: 55,000 yen
Child: 27,500 yen
Pre-school children can ride the lifts for free at GALA Yuzawa (up to 2 children with one adult).
The above ticket charges are valid from opening until 5th April 2026.
The gondola and quad lift ticket is valid for unlimited rides on the gondola during the valid day plus one return ride on the Barouche quad lift.
Cheaper tickets are available online and also for the spring seasons, from 6th April 2026 until the end of the season:
1 day: 6,300 yen (2,500 yen child)
2 days: 10,000 yen (4,000 yen child)
4 hours: 5,500 yen (1,900 yen child)
Historical snow depth data
The following ski season and official snow depth data have been independently compiled by SnowJapan for publication on this website. Where available, the data is updated annually after each ski season.
First and last dates of recent seasons
2025-2026 season: 20th December - 17th April (119 days)
2024-2025 season: 13th December - 5th May (144 days)
2023-2024 season: 20th December - 21st April (124 days)
2022-2023 season: 20th December - 23rd April (125 days)
2021-2022 season: 19th December - 5th May (138 days)
Deepest recorded snow depth
2025-2026 season: 300cm on 31st January - 2nd February, 4th-5th and 11th February
2024-2025 season: 480cm on 22nd February
2023-2024 season: 210cm on 15th March and 24th March
2022-2023 season: 310cm on 22nd February
2021-2022 season: 480cm on 25th and 27th February
2020-2021 season: 380cm on 20th and 26th February
2019-2020 season: 250cm on 10th February
2018-2019 season: 380cm on 2nd February
2017-2018 season: 370cm on 22nd February
2016-2017 season: 410cm on 14th, 16th and 17th February
2015-2016 season: 210cm on 12th and 13th February
2014-2015 season: 490cm on 16th, 21st and 22nd February
Resources
More information on GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort
Official website [link opens in new window]
Daily weather & snow reporting on SnowJapan
Weather & snowfall (Japan Meteorological Agency) [links open in new window]
SnowJapan Directory: accommodation listings in the region
Takahan (about 0.6km)
Hatago Isen (about 2km)
Ishiuchi Vacation Rental (about 1.8km)
Bears House (about 2.8km)
Belle Vue Nishiura (about 3.5km)
Maruyama Onsen Kojyokan (about 5.1km)
Hotel Yuzawa Yuzawa Denkiya (about 5.8km)
Garden Cress (about 7.8km)
Maiko Kogen Hotel (about 7.4km)
Yuzkyu Resort Premium Lodge (about 11km)
Osawakan (about 11km)
Ryugon (about 16.8km)
The Kinta Naeba (about 23.5km)
SnowJapan Directory: ski school listing in the region
Introduction to the region
Niigata Prefecture is located in the Chubu region of the main island of Honshu, and it is commonly associated with the Hokuriku subregion. The long Niigata coastline faces the Sea of Japan, and the prefecture borders Yamagata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, and Toyama Prefecture.
Niigata played a significant role in the history of skiing in Japan. After Hokkaido and Nagano Prefecture, it is currently home to the third-most ski areas in Japan.
The ski areas of Niigata are scattered across the mountainous regions of the prefecture, and there is even one on Sado Island. The majority can be found in Yuzawa Town and Minamiuonuma City in the Chuetsu region and Myoko City in the Joetsu region.
Yuzawa Town and neighbouring Minamiuonuma City are currently home to 18 individual ski areas, including some of the most well-known in Japan. With easy and quick access by train and road and a wide choice in a relatively compact area, this region is one of Japan's most popular ski destinations. The region usually receives heavy, consistent snowfall each winter. Yuzawa is also known for its hot springs and as the inspiration for the Nobel Prize-winning novel Yukiguni (Snow Country).
GALA Yuzawa is one of 11 ski areas currently operating in Yuzawa Town.
About the information on this page
SnowJapan independently researches, checks and updates the information on this page at least once each year, in the lead-up to every ski season. We also update it whenever we become aware of other changes. The information published on SnowJapan is based on independent research using official Japanese-language sources and is not supplied by ski areas. If you are planning to visit a ski area, we recommend checking the official ski area website for the latest operational information. We take great care to keep the information on SnowJapan accurate and up to date. However, SnowJapan accepts no responsibility for decisions made based on information published on this website.
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