Gala Ski Resort Facilities & Services
For a resort that’s so antiquated with respect to off-piste skiing, it’s surprising that its amenities are so modern. The Gala Yuzawa train station has the Cowabunga building which feels like a mini city. The other hub of services is at the top of the gondola in the Cheers building. You know that you’re at a well-developed ski resort when there are air blowers to blow the snow off your ski and snowboard equipment before you head inside.
Gala tends to charge an arm and a leg for the facilities and services, so get your credit card primed!
Facilities for Children
Gala Yuzawa has child minding for kids 2 and up (Japanese speaking staff only).
Just outside the mid-mountain day lodge (Cheers) is a kids’ snow play park and a separate snow sledding slope.
Gala Yuzawa Ski School
The Canyons Snowsports School has English speaking instructors (reservations required) for group or private ski and snowboard lessons.
Gala Yuzawa Ski Rentals and Snowboard Hire
Gala Yuzawa is a reasonably well-oiled machine and has large rental shops (in Cowbunga and Cheers) for ski and snowboard gear, so hopefully they will get you onto the slopes in minimal time, but on peak weekends and holidays the queues can be mammoth. The other option is to visit one of the Yuzawa ski rental shops, or many of the Yuzawa hotels have ski and snowboard rental equipment and clothing.
Eating On Mountain
There are various eating options at Gala Yuzawa with the cafeteria in Rest House Cheers being the main hub for a lunch time meeting spot. The views across Yuzawa and the surrounding mountains afforded from the cafeteria are pretty spectacular.
The northern area has the Ole Restaurant which may be a fraction quieter, and the Cowbunga base area has lots of fast food options for an après ski feed, or you could head down there for lunch.
Retail Shops
There are retail shops at both day lodges that have confectionary gifts, snacks, sundries and simple ski and snowboard accessories.
Luggage Storage
Considering the number of skiers and snowboarders that arrive at Gala on a Saturday morning, stay in a Yuzawa hotel on Saturday night, and then depart Gala on Sunday afternoon, it’s no great surprise that the Gala luggage storage does a roaring trade. There are lots of lockers for storage of small suitcases, or large luggage storage on the 3rd floor.
If you don’t want to haul your ski or snowboard gear on the bullet train from Tokyo, you can make the most of a courier service to deliver your gear to Gala and the resort will store it for you.
Onsen & Pools
The crème de la crème of the Gala Ski Resort facilities is an onsen where you can bathe before hopping on the train to return to Tokyo.
There is also a pool area where you wear your swimsuit (rentals are available if you’re an XS size) which includes a mini wave pool, kids pool, and jacuzzis including an open air tub where you can enjoy the views of snowy mountains.
The lounge also has a large room where you can have a nap whilst waiting for your train, or you could just get into the Japanese way of life and take a nap at a table in the cafeteria!
Activities
In addition to the very small tobogganing area, the resort has tried to introduce a few activities to attract non-skiers. This includes snowshoe tours, snowmobile sleigh rides that go for about 10 minutes, and electric moon bikes which are a form of mini motorbikes.