Ski holidays in Rusutsu, Hokkaido, Japan
Rusutsu is predominantly a family resort with a fair sized ski area of around 45 kilometres of piste. The resort has 2 sides to its ski area (3 mountains in total) – a smaller area near the main hotel and then the larger skiing area.
The skiing in Rusutsu
The skiing in Rusutsu is ideal for intermediates. It has perfectly groomed pistes, some great tree skiing which is not too difficult red runs. The snow is magnificent most of the time and the area large enough to have many days of interesting skiing.
There are also some black runs and a little more difficult off piste to keep the advanced skier happy for a little while but perhaps not a whole week.
For beginners, there are some good beginners slopes, but sometimes a little difficult to jump from the very easy beginners slopes to the longer runs.
The ski area is on 2 different mountains – one smaller area by the main hotel which is connected by gondola to the second larger area so it is very easy to get between to 2. The area has doorstep skiing from the hotel.
The ski lifts are mainly good although a few do not have safety bars.
There is night skiing every night until 9pm and certain lifts that just carry on running until this time. Some of the lifts on the far side, however, close around 3.30 to ensure you make it back over in time.
One slightly negative aspect here is the ski hire equipment – this is not particularly good quality and lacks ski equipment for different levels.
For children there are many fun thing s to get involved in on the ski pistes, There is a good childrens ski school and also activities such as rubber tubing and dog sledding!
The ski holiday resort of Rusutsu
The resort is really just one very large hotel, called the Rusutsu Resort Hotel. It is resort complex which has 17 restaurants, its own theme park (in the summer) and a family focused theme. You will find a bit of a Disney feel to it. There is a monorail which can take you to the 2 different sides of the mountain – each of which has a different area of the hotel.
