Traveling on a Dime - Independent Travel Video in Snow Country

Traveling On A Dime based in Niigata City trip around Japan highlighting some of the many great things there are to do. Being so close, they inevitably pop into Yuzawa to check out some of the activities going on in and around Snow Country. Their latest video sees them trying the Summer Skiing in Gala Yuzawa as well as the Zipline Course in Yuzawa Kogen. There is some pretty amazing footage shot from the air in the video so make sure you have a look....

Some other episodes featuring Snow Country adventures include:
Tokamachi Snow Festival, Snowboarding in Yuzawa, and some Minakami bungy action.

Click on the links for the inside look at some of these fun attractions.

Snow Picnic at GALA Yuzawa - Apr 6 & Apr 21

Spring, sun, snow, stunning views and beautiful nature.... It will all be on offer at GALA in April. It is a long season over there with the ski slopes planning to be open through the Golden Week holidays at the beginning of May. There is also plenty going on off the slopes. As part of their series of events for women they are running a couple of snow trekking and picnic events on April 6th and April 21st.

Make your way through the forests at the top of the resort to a special view point with stunning views of the valley and surrounding mountains. Enjoy a specially prepared picnic on a table crafted of snow.

It was a great success last year and sure to be another great couple of days this time around.

SBJonSnow/Airmix at GALA - Mar 15-17

There is a busy competition schedule around Snow Country throughout winter with lots of chances for aspiring snowboarders to try their hand against the best riders out there. Then there are times when the pros hit the slopes and show how it is really done. March 15th to March 17th will see some of the top riders in Japan take to the skies above Yuzawa, and if previous performances are anything to go by it will be amazing - SBJonSnow & Airmix

It is a chance to see some of the guys you may have watched in videos and seen in magazines to some unbelievably big tricks. The jumps they use are specially crafted for this event.

If you get the chance, find a spot nearby, take your skis off and just sit down to watch. You will be amazed.

Check out the video from last year to get excited.

GALA Spine Session - Feb 23

For those of you that either enjoy hurling yourself of giant jumps crafted of snow, or for those of you who enjoy watching other people hurling themselves off said jumps, the GALA Spine Session this weekend is probably the place you want to be.

It is a 2,000 yen entry fee for those of you feeling brave and will surely be a great day down in the GALA Park. There are some talented riders in the area keen to show what they are made of and it will also draw competitors from much further afield so you can expect some real gravity defying stuff.

It starts at 0900 so if you find yourself in Yuzawa this weekend, head up to GALA and enjoy the show.

Helmet Cam Rental at GALA

The internet is awash with home videos of skiers and boarders carving it up on the mountain and now you too can get in on the action.

GALA Yuzawa have teamed up with Contour to offer camera rental this season.

You'll need some ID and 2,000 yen, and then you'll be the proud possessor of a Contour head cam and mount for a day. It comes with an SD card to capture the thrills and spills. Make yourself the star of the show, capture the face shots as you rip through the powder or as you kill it in the park. It's great fun to watch afterwards and you can show friends and family what a great time you had in Snow Country.

GALA links up to Ishiuchi Maruyama and Yuzawa Kogen as part of the 3 Mountains Area so there is plenty of terrain for you to capture on film.

If you are interested, head up to the Information Desk at the Cheers Building at the top of the gondola.
More info (in Japanese).

Children's Day at GALA - 20th Jan

The third Sunday of every month is Children's Day at GALA Yuzawa which means that children of elementary school age will get a free lift ticket for the day.

A great excuse to bring the family up to the mountains for the day. There is also a dedicated sledding area and play area for the youngsters at the top of the gondola. Both of these are in sight of the restaurant so mum and dad can enjoy a quick sit down while the kids get their fill of the white stuff.

This is every month so if you are looking for a regular break with the kids, the dates for the diary are:
Sunday 20th January
Sunday 17th February
Sunday 17th March
Sunday 21st April

A Safe and Prosperous Season

Winter is just around the corner. Some resorts have already opened and some are just waiting for one big snowfall to get their season cranking. It is a busy time of year for the ski resorts and any help is much appreciated. Many resorts have a ceremony to encourage a safe and prosperous season and that was the case today at GALA Yuzawa.

Everyone involved in the operation for the upcoming season, led by a priest from the local temple, raised a glass of sake and said a prayer for Winter 2013.

It is a big year for GALA and for the resorts in the area with celebrations for 100 years of skiing in the region still taking place. This November was also the thirtieth anniversary for the Joetsu Shinkansen line, that trusty workhorse that whisks people up from the capital to the mountains in just over an hour. You step off the bullet train right into the base of GALA's base building - an amazing set-up.

Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway

Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway is a popular spot for tourists visiting Yuzawa in all seasons. Once the largest gondola in the world, holding 160 passengers, it whisks you up to the top of the mountains that flank Yuzawa town. From there you get an amazing view of the Uonuma valley below.

It pretty much runs all year round with a few short breaks for routine maintenance. They have just finished operation for Green Season 2012 and will shortly be up and running for Winter 2012/2013 - the maintenance period is set for Nov 26 2012 - Dec 14 2012.

Head up to the top to enjoy the views, or have a play in the snow. If you are a skier or snowboarder you can spend some time at Yuzawa Kogen ski resort, which has a run all the way back down to village level. It also has a gondola that takes you across to GALA Yuzawa resort as part of the 3 Mountains area. There are some great restaurants at the top of the ropeway too.

Being right in the center of Yuzawa it couldn't be more convenient...

3 Mountain Pass

One of the better areas to ski in Snow Country is the 3 Mountains but it isn't as well known as it should be. It is a pass that covers Yuzawa Kogen, GALA Yuzawa and Ishiuchi. 3 resorts all on one ski pass and easily linked together. It is really good value and opens up a large amount of terrain to explore.

It also means you can pick and choose the best bits from each resort.

How about...

The convenience of the bullet train station at GALA

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An amazing lunch at Alpina in Yuzawa Kogen

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Fantastic terrain parks and half pipes in Ishiuchi

Yuzawa Kogen has a ropeway right in the center of town so it is super convenient. And with the slope-side accommodation in Ishiuchi you have a choice of staying in Yuzawa town or right on the snow.

Each one of these areas is good on its own, but bundle them all together and it will keep you occupied for the whole weekend.

 

Yuzawa Area Ski Resort Videos

Heading to Yuzawa for a bit of snow action this winter but not sure where to go?

Or just looking for some shots of snow to get you pumped up for your turns when the snow falls?

Then check out these video intros to some of the ski resorts in the Yuzawa area of Snow Country. There are guides to Yuzawa Kogen, Snow Wood, NASPA, Nakazato, Naeba, Ludens, Yuzawa Kogen, Iwappara, Ipponsugi, GALA, and Yuzawa Park.

Start getting excited about the snow.....

GALA Yuzawa 2012/13 Opening - Dec 22nd

GALA Yuzawa have posted their opening date for the 2012/13 winter season - 22nd December is the date for your diary.

It is one of the easiest resorts to get to as there is a bullet train station right in the base of the resort. You spill out of the train right to the ticket counters, pick up your rental gear and then onto the gondola which will whisk you up to the snow. It is all very space-aged and high-tech. Tokyo to the snow in just over an hour.

It is also very foreigner friendly. If you don't speak Japanese they have dedicated ticket staff and rental staff who all speak English, as well as ski instructors and snowboard instructors.

If there is one member of the family who doesn't ski, fear not - there is a pool and onsen in the main building, or a restaurant at the top which has big windows, so they can relax with a book and a hot chocolate as they watch the family whizz past. There are also childcare facilities and a fenced off area for the kids to play.

A trip to the snow does not get much easier than this.

Gala Summer Park - up and running

We mentioned GALA Yuzawa's plethora of summer activities last year a couple of times, and they are back in action again this summer too. It is open on weekends and holidays and there is masses to do.

The big air bag jump, summer skiing, hiking, swimming & onsen, crafts and outdoor activities.

Far too much for us to explain in full details so thankfully GALA have knocked together a bit of a video so you get the idea. (Or you can have a look at their Japanese Summer Park site too.)

Enjoy!

Spring in Snow Country

Spring is traditionally a time of celebration in Snow Country - another long, hard winter survived and everything starts to renew. The snow melts and as soon as the fields are clear the next rice crop can go in. The green starts to return to return to the valleys after months of white.

There is still some skiing around. With a snow base of several meters it takes a while for it to all melt and the higher resorts will aim to stay open until the Golden Week holidays in early May - GALA Yuzawa, Kagura and Tenjindaira all intend to make the most of the snow and stay open for a while yet.

If you are looking for a break from the snow the outdoor adventure companies are all gearing up for a long summer of thrills and spills with Minakami being one of the best place in Japan for a dose of adrenalin with rafting, canyoning, bungy jumping, canoeing, mountain biking and paragliding all on offer from late April. If you are looking for a fun Golden Week then there are days of activities to be had.

Also as the snow melts mountain vegetables start to pop up and these are highly regarded as a seasonal delicacy. Local ryokan and restaurants will have these on the menu and should definitely be tried if you are here during spring.

Other things too come to light after months under several meters of snow...

MTV WINTER STYLE in GALA YUZAWA - Feb 26th

It doesn't get much bigger than MTV when it comes to big names in music, and this weekend they are descending on GALA Yuzawa Resort for a music/snowboard session.

The tunes will come courtesy of DJ Taku Takahashi and the action on the slopes will come from one of Japan's top snowboard teams, SCLOVER who will be out to please the crowd - so expect some serious action on this front.

Music and the mountains are a good mix and this is sure to be a great Sunday afternoon. The action is set to kick off at 4pm so you can get a full day on the slopes then kick back and enjoy the show.

Kids' Days at Yuzawa Resorts

"Kodomo no hi" or Kids' Day is a great initiative that has been taken up by almost every resort in the Yuzawa area. On the third Sunday of every month over winter elementary school students and younger receive a free ski pass.

This is bound to be a hit with the parents.

The following resorts offer a free lift ticket for children of the right age: Naeba, Kagura, Kandatsu Kogen, Ludens, Echigo Nakazato, Iwappara, Yuzawa Kogen, GALA Yuzawa.

NASPA Ski Garden offers 50% off to elementary school age children on Kids' Day, and Ipponsugi offers entry into a prize draw.

Time your trip right and the savings will get Mummy a bottle of wine.

Happy My Birthday in Yuzawa

If you are lucky enough to have a birthday between 10th December and 30th April you are in line for some free stuff in Yuzawa this winter. It's the Happy My Birthday Campaign.

Head to the Tourist Information Office on the West Side of Echigo Yuzawa Station on your actual birthday to register and you will get your birthday card (and lanyard if you are one of the first 500.) You are now set to pick up a whole bunch of free stuff from resorts, restaurants, shops and hotels in the area.

There are 8 resorts offering free lift passes (Nakazato, Yuzawa Park, Iwappara, Kandatsu, NASPA, Ipponsugi, Yuzawa Kogen and GALA) and a whole host of accommodations and shops offering free drinks, cakes, discounts, etc. Some pretty good bargains to be had among the 40 odd establishments taking part so well worth trying to get the day off and head up to Yuzawa on your birthday.

Happy My Birthday Campaign flyer - you are going to need to produce some official photo ID with your birthday on to get the goodies.

Hot Snow Festival - 18 September

Looking for a Big Air Session in September? Gala Yuzawa have you covered. We have mentioned their Bag Jump before and it has proved a bit of hit this summer in Echigo Yuzawa. Hopefully it will prove to be an annual fixture and what chance of it being up in the park in GALA Yuzawa this winter? I digress....

Sunday September 18th they are having a bit of party, with some pro riders throwing down and all-comers welcome to flip and spin with the pros. Get some tips, hang out, watch the good/the bad/the ugly launch off the kicker and get to know some of the locals. It is bound to be a good day.

Gala Bag Jump Park

GALA Yuzawa are determined to keep us skiing and boarding throughout the summer months and their latest innovation has already got a firm following in town. They now have a 3.5 meter airbag in the bottom car park.

It's open on weekends and public holidays from now until 10th October as well as on August 11th & 12th, 15th - 19th. They run two sessions a day from 10 - 12.20 and then 13.30 until 16.00. The photo below was taken just as they started to re - inflate after the lunch break. One 2.5 hour session will set you back 3,000 yen or the full five hours for 5,000.

If you've been lusting after a trick all last winter, why not do what the pros do and get it nailed in the off-season? Launch yourself off the kicker with nothing but a soft landing awaiting you if you don't quite pull it around in time.
Pamphlet and nice pic on the Gala blog

Summer Skiing???

Snow Country is well known for its deep snow in winter, but what happens in summer? Well if you are keen to get a few runs in, it is still a possibility as GALA Yuzawa have their artificial slope open on weekends and holidays from 23rd July until the end of September.

The onsen and pool are open, there are trekking courses and activities for the children; or you might just fancy a trip up the gondola to escape the heat. Summer at GALA