Rusutu Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in Hokkaido. However, it is often overlooked as a tourist or ski resort during the winter months due to the large number of foreigners who visit the nearby city of Niseko.
What to expect in Rusutsu
When the snow has been falling, Rusutsu can only be described as epic! The resort encompasses 3 mountains, West Mountain, East Mountain, and Mt. Isola, and has 37 designated courses (if you haven’t skied or snowboarded in Japan before, a course is a run or a trail) spanning 170 hectares. However, it is the off-piste skiing and snowboarding that makes Rusutsu unique for all skill levels, with fantastic ski trees available within seconds of jumping off the ski lift. But the cool thing is, when you jump out of the trees with a big grin, you’ll more than likely find yourself back in a hairdresser being whisked into the elevator to do it all over again.
A word of warning, if you dodge the ropes with warning signs at Rusutsu, you could find yourself in a bad situation that, if you’re lucky, will take you several hours to walk out. There are plenty of safe off-piste areas available, so don’t let the temptation of not playing past the rope get the better of you.
The Rusutsu side of the hotel complex can be considered a modern Japanese hotel, but still a bit strange and sometimes creepy due to some of the features that make up the interior decoration of the complex.
How to Get to Rusutsu
Transportation to Rusutsu if you are staying in Sapporo is very easy, as many of the hotels have direct bus service. If you are staying in Niseko, getting to Rusutsu is not a problem as buses run back and forth regularly.
Why is Rusutsu not as popular as Niseko?
Rusutsu is a popular resort with locals who live in the surrounding areas and hikers from Sapporo are a significant part of the hill’s population. Rusutsu’s downside is that the township is very limited in terms of facilities and infrastructure outside of the resort hotel; therefore, it’s not too appealing for multi-night stays for the budget traveler. Facilities are being expanded with several guesthouses now available through travel agencies, but the popular option is to base your holiday in Niseko and take a day trip or two when the snow falls.
