GALA Yuzawa is about 75 minutes from Tokyo Station, with the gondola inside the station. Times, costs and 2026-27 dates for six Shinkansen ski day trips.
GALA Yuzawa is the quickest ski day trip from Tokyo. In winter, direct Joetsu Shinkansen trains run from Tokyo Station to GALA Yuzawa Station in about 70 to 75 minutes, and the gondola starts inside the station building. Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort is about an hour away by Hokuriku Shinkansen plus a 10-minute walk, and it opens first, on October 31, 2026. Naeba, Kagura and Ishiuchi Maruyama take a Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa and then a bus.
| Resort | Train from Tokyo | From the station | 2026-27 notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GALA Yuzawa | About 70 to 75 min, direct to GALA Yuzawa Station | Gondola in the station | Lifts December 19 to May 5; adult day ¥8,000 (¥7,500 online) |
| Karuizawa Prince | About 60 to 80 min to Karuizawa | About 10 min on foot | Opens October 31; 8 of 14 runs are for beginners |
| Ishiuchi Maruyama | About 70 to 80 min to Echigo-Yuzawa | Free shuttle, about 10 to 15 min | Adult day ¥8,500 |
| Yuzawa Kogen | About 70 to 80 min to Echigo-Yuzawa | Ropeway base near the station | Ropeway link to GALA closed this season |
| Naeba | About 70 to 80 min to Echigo-Yuzawa | Bus, about 40 min | Dragondola gondola links to Kagura |
| Kagura | About 70 to 80 min to Echigo-Yuzawa | Bus, about 20 to 30 min | Opened November 22 last season |
Bus times come from last season's timetables and guides, so check them again before you go. Lift prices are from Tabiris; more resorts are in our lift ticket prices for 2026-27. To compare resorts on travel time from Tokyo, see the best ski resorts in Japan compared.
The direct trains to GALA Yuzawa Station run only while the resort is open. For 2026-27, GALA plans lift operation from December 19, 2026 to May 5, 2027; from December 12 to 18 the gondola runs for sightseeing only (Tabiris). GALA has also closed its south area for the season, including the ropeway to Yuzawa Kogen, so skiing is on the central and north areas only. An adult day ticket is ¥8,000 at the window or ¥7,500 online.
Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort opens on October 31, 2026, the earliest in Nagano, on machine-made snow (Prince Hotels). It is about 10 minutes' walk from the Shinkansen station. Eight of its 14 runs are for beginners, and the west area is scheduled to open on December 19. The terrain is gentle, which suits families and first-timers more than strong skiers.
Naeba and Kagura are connected by the Dragondola, a gondola of about 5.5 km that runs on a limited schedule. Both need a bus from Echigo-Yuzawa: about 40 minutes to Naeba and 20 to 30 minutes to Kagura's Mitsumata base. With the bus, budget about two hours each way from Tokyo. Kagura is higher and usually holds snow into May, which makes it the best of these for spring days.
The regular one-way fare from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa is ¥6,900 with a reserved seat and ¥6,370 unreserved, at the fares in force since March 2026 (fare table). Add a ¥7,500 to ¥8,500 lift ticket and a day at GALA comes to about ¥21,000 before rental.
JR East's JR SKISKI day packages bundle the round-trip Shinkansen and a lift ticket and usually cost less. Last season the weekday "One Day GALA" package started at ¥13,800 and the Karuizawa package at ¥19,600, with reserved seats only (Tabiris). Prices for 2026-27 had not been published in late October 2026. JR East's Eki-net also sells a limited number of discounted "Tokudane" seats.
Yes, but it takes longer. Snow Park Yeti near Mount Fuji opened on October 23, 2026 and runs until March 28, 2027 on machine-made snow (Tabiris). It is about 20 minutes by car from the Susono interchange on the Tomei Expressway, and route buses run from Gotemba, Fuji and Mishima stations. See Yeti. Driving to Niigata or Nagano is possible but needs winter tires; see our winter traffic page. With ten days, this itinerary combines Nagano skiing with Tokyo and Kyoto.
GALA Yuzawa, at about 70 to 75 minutes from Tokyo Station on direct winter trains. Karuizawa Prince is similar in time but adds a 10-minute walk.
Not in 2026. The lifts are planned to start on December 19, 2026. For skiing before then, Karuizawa Prince opens on October 31 and Yeti on October 23.
No. Every resort in this guide rents skis, boards, boots and clothing, so you can come with a small bag.