Official Ski School
Ski resort Official Partner Ski School school
Priority Lift Access
Spend your time skiing, not waiting in line. Maximize your on-snow learning time.
Trilingual Lessons
We offer our usual lessons in English, Thai, and Mandarin.
Official Ski School
Ski resort Official Partner Ski School school
Priority Lift Access
Spend your time skiing, not waiting in line. Maximize your on-snow learning time.
We offer our usual lessons in English, Thai, and Mandarin.
SORA is the official international ski school at GALA Yuzawa, offering professional ski and snowboard lessons in English, Chinese, and Thai.
Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort
Just 77 minutes from Tokyo by Joetsu Shinkansen, GALA Yuzawa is one of Japan’s most convenient ski resorts and a favorite weekend destination for many people living in Tokyo. Located in Echigo-Yuzawa, one of Japan’s famous heavy-snow and hot spring regions, GALA Yuzawa offers an easy and enjoyable winter escape from the city.
While GALA Yuzawa may not be the largest ski resort in Japan, it offers a great variety of terrain with 19 ski and snowboard runs for all ability levels. Experienced skiers and snowboarders can enjoy a scenic 2.5 km downhill run all the way back to the base area. If you’d like to explore more terrain, you can also upgrade your lift pass to access two neighboring ski resorts.
Everything you need is conveniently located inside the resort, including equipment rentals, restaurants, cafés, lockers, souvenir shops, and retail stores. After skiing, you can relax at the resort’s own Onsen facility.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, don’t miss GRAVITY YUZAWA, located inside the resort. It is one of only five GRAVITY concept stores in Japan, offering premium outdoor collections from THE NORTH FACE.
Our service counter is conveniently located directly opposite the Shinkansen ticket gates at GALA Yuzawa Station. If you’re arriving by Shinkansen, you’ll find us as soon as you exit the station.
If you’re arriving by shuttle bus or car, our counter is located on the 2nd floor, next to the lift ticket counter.
Whether you’re joining a lesson, checking in for your booking, or would like to ask about lessons on the day, our team will be happy to assist you at the SORA service counter.
The lesson fee includes instruction by a certified ski or snowboard instructor. It does not include lift pass, equipment rental, accommodation, or transportation.
We offer ski & snowboard lessons in Thai, English, and Chinese. Please indicate your preferred language when booking.
Absolutely! Our ski & snowboard lessons are beginner-friendly and start from the basics like putting on gear and learning the correct posture.
We do not provide equipment rentals directly, but you can rent skis, boots, and clothing at the Cowabunga ski center. We recommend arriving early to complete the rental process.
The GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort typically operates from mid-December to early May.
Please check the official Gala Yuzawa website for the latest operating information, as the schedule may change depending on weather and snow conditions.
GALA Yuzawa is the most accessible ski resorts in Japan.
The resort has its own Shinkansen station, GALA Yuzawa Station, making it easy to travel directly from Tokyo without any transfers.
Simply take the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station (as little as 77 minutes) or Ueno Station (around 70 minutes), and you’ll arrive right at the ski resort. No shuttle bus or taxi is required once you arrive.
Great news!
Many rail passes offered by JR East, including the JR EAST PASS and JR TOKYO Wide Pass, include travel to GALA Yuzawa. We recommend checking the coverage of your pass before your trip.