Japan: Snow at Gala Yuzawa!
I have so much to write about our recent trip to Japan!
But alas, amidst my work, housework, kids and stuff, I have yet to find time to write, edit our MANY photos and videos.
Oh well. Let me start by posting this one!
This was the time we turned into kids almost instantly! Haha.
SNOW!
Our family’s first ever encounter with pouring snow and super thick snow at Gala Yuzawa!
Loved it!
Here’s more info and tips for you:
– Gala Yuzawa is just 75 mins from Tokyo by Shinkansen (we bought 7-day JR Pass, and since we traveled to Kyoto and Osaka as well, buying our JR Pass was really worth it!)
– We wanted to reach Gala Yuzawa by around 11am-12pm, but there’s a limited number of trains that go directly to Gala Yuzawa from Tokyo Station (like, the next available direct train is at 12pm something, and that’s too late for us)
So, this was what we did:
– Went to ECHIGO YUZAWA from Tokyo Station
– Took a taxi from Echigo Yuzawa to Gala Yuzawa (cost us 1050 yen per taxi – about 5 to 7 mins drive)
We basically only wanted to play with snow (though I hope the NEXT time we come again, we can ski or snowboard!), so we bought the ‘Gondola one day pass’.
(Gondola = Cable Car)
This Gondola one-day pass allows us to go up to the ‘Rest House (Cheers)’, and that’s where they have food stalls, and people can start skiing/snowboarding, etc.
(Here’s more info on the area: https://gala.co.jp/winter/english/map/#coursemap)
As for us, we are just EXCITED to see thick, fresh snow. As we came out of the ‘rest house’, on the left, there’s a secluded area and we just played with snow there!!
Plus, it happened to be snowing when we’re there!
AWESOME!!
(Btw, the fresh snow was SO soft, it was impossible to make proper snowballs, let alone a snowman. It’s like lifting a handful of soft sands)
Anyway, a good 2 hours was nice for us.
We left Gala Yuzawa by Shinkansen (no more taxi rides needed!), and back to Tokyo station again.
…
Would LOVE to return!
