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GALA Yuzawa ski resort

Part of Yuzawa · 3 ski areas

NaebaKagura
View all Yuzawa conditions →
Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 GALA Yuzawa

Asia

GALA Yuzawa

Closed for the season

Season ended May 6, 2026

Conditions data updated Sat, Aug 29, 10:02 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed May 6

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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Updated: Aug 29, 10:02 AM•Weather at base: 400m

Overview

GALA Yuzawa is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Season ended May 6, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-29 10:02 UTC.

Resort Guide

GALA Yuzawa is a ski resort located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, directly accessible by bullet train from Tokyo, making it one of the most convenient ski destinations in the country. The resort features a variety of slopes suitable for all levels, modern lift systems, and a comprehensive snow activity center. Signature experiences include panoramic mountain views, on-site hot springs, and a snow park, with amenities such as equipment rentals, ski schools, and dining facilities. GALA Yuzawa stands out for its seamless integration with the train station, allowing visitors to step directly from the Shinkansen onto the slopes.

Resort Info

Summit1181m
Base400m
Vertical781m
Lifts11
Runs16
Skiable Area131 acres
Average snowfall465 inches / 1180 cm
CountryJapan
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedMay 6, 2026
Projected openingDecember 14, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

No ski pass found

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Cowabunga – This popular après-ski bar at GALA Yuzawa is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, craft beers, and hearty comfort food, making it a favorite spot for skiers to unwind and socialize after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

1181mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 29, 2026 at 10:02 AM

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14-Day Forecast
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Now29
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M31
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Today
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Snowfall Forecast Maps

Japanese Alps region

Current Conditions

Reported Sat, Aug 29, 10:02 AM UTC

Base

400m

Temp

20.6°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

791m

Temp

--°C

Wind

6km/h

Snow Depth

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Summit

1181m

Temp

15.5°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

GALA Yuzawa El Niño rank & forecast

GALA Yuzawa ranks #425 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −17% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter: Strong El Niño winters ran clearly below this resort’s own baseline (≤ −8%). Still skiable — schedule late season; one storm cycle can beat the climatology.

#425 of 488Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

Strong-event signal: −17% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), GALA Yuzawa averaged -17% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Historically this is a timing play rather than a reason to stay home: aim for late winter (February–March) in winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -30%, '15-16 -43%, '23-24 +23%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 −30%'15-16 −43%'23-24 +23%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

GALA Yuzawa Webcams

All Webcams

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort (JR East)

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort (JR East)

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort (JR East)

3 webcams • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For GALA Yuzawa (japan), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 29, 10:02 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
16 / 1425.8mm
Sun, Aug 30
21 / 1417.4mm
Mon, Aug 31
23 / 166.9mm
Tue, Sep 1
24 / 162.7mm
Wed, Sep 2
24 / 161.5mm
Thu, Sep 3
21 / 1626.5mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)7.911.26.77.45.14.90.33.82.80.22.10.401.20.32.410.313.8
Temp (°C)151615182116202217212217212217191916
Wind (km/h)244335434828454233
Gusts (km/h)131712191914151813251822192217171917

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (1181m)

ECMWF
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

29

🌧️

15.9°

13.8°

7 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

21.3°

14°

7 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

23.3°

15.9°

10 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

24.1°

16.4°

12 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

23.9°

16°

8 km/h

Thu

3

🌦️

20.8°

15.5°

5 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

17.6°

11.5°

5 km/h

Sat

5

☁️

17.8°

11.1°

6 km/h

Sun

6

☁️

19°

11.2°

14 km/h

Mon

7

🌧️

17.3°

13.9°

11 km/h

Summit elevation (1181m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

No official warning service is mapped for this resort’s country yet (v1 covers the United States, Canada and Switzerland). A bulletin may still be published locally.

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Season vs Historic

Updated Sat, Aug 29, 10:02 AM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 619cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 542cm full-season avg

619cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~495.2 cm. That's 20% below the 5-year average (619 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 9% below the 30-year average (542 cm).

GALA Yuzawa Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 605cm with an average of 112 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November32.6cm9 days2cm12cm11cm
December138.9cm23 days27cm65cm18.3cm
January187.8cm28 days100cm137cm19.2cm
February131.7cm23 days145cm166cm16cm
March90.4cm21 days139cm163cm14.3cm
April21.9cm7 days65cm117cm7.9cm
May0.4cm1 days3cm27cm1cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Dec 14, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at GALA Yuzawa, ERA5 season snowfall median was 560 cm (220 in), about this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

560 cm

10 El Niño winters · ≈ long-term median

All-season median

559 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10560 cm429 cm – 680 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12564 cm483 cm – 749 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8550 cm440 cm – 806 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

January

Peak Powder

February

Peak Powder

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about GALA Yuzawa

Where is GALA Yuzawa?
GALA Yuzawa is a ski resort in Japan.
How high is GALA Yuzawa?
GALA Yuzawa runs from a base elevation of 400 m (1,312 ft) to a summit of 1,181 m (3,875 ft), giving a vertical drop of 781 m (2,562 ft).
How big is GALA Yuzawa?
GALA Yuzawa has 131 acres (53 hectares) of skiable terrain, 16 marked runs and 11 lifts.
Which ski pass covers GALA Yuzawa?
GALA Yuzawa is on the No ski pass found. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at GALA Yuzawa?
GALA Yuzawa typically operates from December to May. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does GALA Yuzawa get in a typical season?
GALA Yuzawa averages 465 inches / 1180 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect GALA Yuzawa in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #425 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal -17% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), GALA Yuzawa averaged -17% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. Historically this is a timing play rather than a reason to stay home: aim for late winter (February–March) in winter 2026-27. Analog winters: '97-98 -30%, '15-16 -43%, '23-24 +23%. A pattern, not a promise.