Gala Yuzawa

Gala Yuzawa's primary claim to fame is that it has its own Japan Rail(JR) Shinkansen (Bullet Train) station. It is actually on a side track which diverges from...See more » Gala Yuzawa's primary claim to fame is that it has its own Japan Rail(JR) Shinkansen (Bullet Train) station. It is actually on a side track which diverges from the main Joetsu Shinkansen track just after Echigo Yuzawa Station, being only 3 minutes further on. The main Joetsu Shinkansen line runs between Tokyo and Niigata City on the Sea of Japan (northwestern) coast of Japan. Although you can go to Gala Yuzawa as a destination, there is very little parking, as it is really regarded as a day trippers mountain. The number of people at Gala Yuzawa is limited to some extent by how many people the Shinkansen can carry there. Even so, it does get crowded, but not as much as you might expect. There is a gondola that takes people to the main mountain restaurant from the Shinkansen Station. There is also another route into the mountain from Echigo Yuzawa via Ropeway (Cablecar), to the "Southern area", but this is not currently open. There is in fact a 3rd way into Gala Yuzawa, via a link at the top of the mountain to Ishiuchi Maruyama, which is located over the other side of the mountain. Ishiuchi Maruyama has 19 lifts, and if a link lift pass is purchased, you can ski/board on both mountains. Ishiuchi Maruyama is actually a better bet, so far as accommodation is concerned, with many small hotels giving ski in ski out access. Gala Yuzawa has limited variety, with the main central area having a few beginner and intermediate trails feeding back to the restaurant, plus one advanced run up the top. There are more slopes in the northern area with a few intermediate, and beginners runs and one advanced slope, plus a terrain park, and there often a moguls course there. The least crowded areas are the top chair and the northern area.See less »