Japan Train Trip: Episode 16

Today is another day we have been looking forward to. We will go to see the beauty of the snow that covers the mountain peaks and walk on the snow even though we are visiting Japan in the spring season. Yes, today we will visit Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort.

This morning, we took the train early because it was scheduled to depart at 7:00 AM. It was a special Shinkansen train that only runs on this route. It was a double-decker train called "MAX," which stands for Multi-Amenity eXpress. When booking, if you want to sit on the second floor, you have to choose it, as the view from the second floor is much better. Today, we will be using the MAX Toki 303 train.

The initial acceleration within the city limits is gradual, progressively increasing speed without any noticeable jolts or excessive acceleration. The cabin remains quiet, although standing outside reveals a significant noise level due to the high operating speed. The journey takes approximately 75 minutes to reach the destination.

GALA YUZAWA is a ski resort located in Echigo Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, approximately 200 kilometers north of Tokyo. Renowned for its heavy snowfall, it offers the closest skiing experience to Tokyo. With slopes ranging from 1,181 meters to 358 meters, GALA YUZAWA caters to skiers of all levels, providing an ideal setting to enjoy exceptional snow conditions.

Upon arrival, proceed directly to the station building. Once inside, choose your desired activity. Rental fees for shoes, gloves, sleds, and gondola rides for ascent and descent are payable upon arrival. After payment, proceed to the interior to select your shoe size, gloves, and desired outfit. If renting a sled, collect it as well. Measure your size, fill out the form, and present it to the staff. They will provide you with the necessary equipment. If the fit is not appropriate, inform the staff, and they will gladly exchange it. You may even request a different color.

Once everything was ready, we boarded the gondola to go up to the ski slope. The gondola can hold up to 6 people, but there were only two of us, so it was very private. The gondola gradually climbed higher and higher, giving us a panoramic view of the area. When we reached the top, we found that GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort has both ski slopes and a resort accommodation area. However, we only planned to visit the ski slopes.

The ski resort is divided into several areas, including zones for both experienced and novice skiers. The yellow zone is for beginners, while other areas offer ski slopes with varying levels of difficulty. We opted for the snow sledding area, as the more challenging slopes were beyond our abilities. Even on the sleds, we had our fair share of tumbles, competing with the children.

After spending the afternoon there, we decided to head back as we had found a new destination. We took the gondola back down to the station below.

He then rushed to contact the JR staff to request an earlier train change for his original reservation and a new destination.

Where is our next destination from Gala Yuzawa? Stay tuned for our next adventure!

Feel free to say hello to Piyai and Noolek at https://www.facebook.com/TravelWithPiyaiAndNoolek/ when you have time.