Rusutsu Resort Japan

The Rusutsu Ski Resort in Hokkaido is heaven for experienced powder hounds or powder hounds on their "L" plates. With an average annual snowfall of 13 to 14 metres, the Rusutsu Resort has some of the most incredible powder and tree skiing. Often the powder is incredibly dry; you blast right through it with virtually no resistance. It's absolute bliss!

Rusutsu Hokkaido is great for a day trip from Niseko to experience some Japow nirvana, but it’s even better if you book a multi-day stay at Rusutsu.

Pros and Cons of Rusutsu Ski Resort

Pros 

• The ski area has amazing quality powder that falls in equally amazing quantities.
• Rusutsu Japan offers great lift-accessed tree skiing.
• The Rusutsu ski resort has high quality lift infrastructure that will keep you toasty even on the very cold days.
• It is a decent size for a Japanese ski resort.
• The groomed intermediate runs are particularly good.
• It is very well suited to families and there are plenty of activities on offer at the resort for kids.
• There are a few ski-in ski-out hotel and condo options at Rusutsu.
• The only proper heli skiing in Japan runs on the mountain adjacent to Rusutsu - Shiribetsu Heli Skiing.

Cons

• The Rusutsu hotel and condo accommodation can be very expensive whilst the affordable lodging is very popular, so it can be hard to get into.
• Dining, ski and snowboard rentals, and lift passes are expensive relative to many other Japanese ski resorts. Adult lessons and snowboard lessons are in a private format, which adds to the cost.
• The nightlife is subdued (as with most Japanese ski resorts).

Pro or Con Depending on Your Perspective

• It is accessible on the Epic Pass which has made the place busier. Lift lines can be problematic and easy-access fresh powder doesn’t last long, but relative to Niseko and many high profile US ski resorts, it’s quiet.
• Rusutsu Resort is very curated and comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect of a world class resort. Rather than providing traditional Japanese culture, it offers a modern Japanese experience and some classic Japanese kitsch! It caters well to visitors that only want to speak English.

Rusutsu Ski and Snowboard Terrain

Powderhounds.com has given Rusutsu Resort “best ski resort in Japan” awards for the off-piste skiing, tree skiing, lift infrastructure, and powder. Wow that’s a lot of accolades, although keep in mind that this is not a secret so it doesn't score top marks for a lack of crowds.

Rusutsu Ski Resort has 820 hectares of skiable terrain spread across two very separate areas that are connected by a gondola. It has 37 courses, 18 lifts and a vertical of 594 metres (400-994m).

The Rusutsu Ski Resort has great groomed piste for beginners and is very good for intermediates, but the highlight for powder hounds is the tree skiing that is easily accessed off the lifts and with minimal traversing (joy for snowboarders!). Many powder runs generally don't have steep pitches or drop-offs, so it's a great place to learn to ski or board powder or just revel in the joys of moving effortlessly through the abundant dry powder. The only rider the ski resort doesn't cater well for is those looking for white-knuckle steeps (as is the case with most Japanese ski resorts).

The lift infrastructure is well developed so it's possible to stay warm whilst scoring plenty of vertical. Of the 18 lifts, four are gondolas (one is just for access between the two sides of the resort) and there are 6 fast quad chairs, 5 of which have hoods - very decadent!

Rusutsu Snow

Rusutsu is bestowed with plenty of snow, with an average of 14 metres each season. The quality of the powder is usually excellent thanks to cold air masses from Siberia. Moisture is picked up from the Sea of Japan during storms and it has an ideal location close to the coast without being too close. Tucked in behind Mt Yotei, Rusutsu isn’t battered by the NW winds as much as some of the more coastal resorts and a little of the wetness of the snow is sucked out by the time it hits Rusutsu. Many of the slopes also have favourable aspects, which helps with the retention of the Rusutsu snow quality.

Where is Rusutsu Resort?

Rusutsu Resort is located 90 minutes southwest of Sapporo and only a 90 minute drive from the New Chitose International Airport. There are shuttle buses between Rusutsu and the New Chitose Airport, and between Rusutsu and the city of Sapporo (booking available from September onwards).

Niseko is only 30-40 minutes away from Rusutsu Ski Resort and there is a bus between the two resorts, or you can get from Niseko to Rusutsu for the day as part of a guided tour.

Rusutsu Accommodation

The main Rusutsu accommodation consists of two large hotels and a luxury condo hotel. The Rusutsu Resort Hotel is conveniently ski-in ski-out, has a huge number of facilities, and is incredibly family friendly. The Vale Rusutsu is also ski-in ski-out and offers premium 1-4 bedroom suites and condos. The Westin Rusutsu Resort is a large glitzy hotel with very spacious rooms. Other Rusutsu lodging options include pensions and houses. See our Rusutsu accommodation page for more information.

Family Friendly

The Rusutsu Resort is a bazaar place that displays classical Japanese kitsch. As you enter the Rusutsu Resort Hotel you are faced with a bizarre singing tree, an antique merry-go-round, and many other features akin to Disneyland. The hotel also has dancing bears, a wave pool and games arcades. There is also a kids’ snow park with tubing, snow biking and other fun activities.

Just don’t let the kids see the outdoor amusement park with its roller-coaster and ferris wheel, as this is only open during summer.

Rusutsu Resort also has kids group ski lessons and childcare.

Food and Nightlife

The Rusutsu hotels have an array of resort restaurants that are buffet, set menu or a la carte, and all cater to those with a generous budget. There are also various small traditional Japanese restaurants near the base of the mountain. The nightlife options are somewhat lacking and there are only a few quiet bars. Rusutsu is certainly nothing like Niseko Hirafu! The best fun may be whatever you can make yourself with your duty free alcohol!