About Rusutsu
A 2 hour drive from Chitose Airport and just 40 minutes from Niseko, Rusutsu is a family friendly resort and a powder purist’s dream come true. The 3 mountains of West, East and Isola receive 12 to 14 metres of snow each season with wide, tree-lined courses to suit all levels. Stand out features include immaculately groomed trails, tree lined gullies and powder bowl access.
Rusutsu’s off-mountain activities are fun for the whole family, with a snow park for snow tubing and other fun activities. However, advanced adult skiers and riders can have their own fun with Shiribestu Heli Skiing, who’s tenure is located on the mountain across from Rusutsu
Why Ski Rusutsu?
Rusutsu offers excellent skiing opportunities suitable for all skill levels and boasts some of the finest powder conditions in Japan. In comparison to the neighboring Niseko, Rusutsu tends to be less crowded, and waiting times at the lifts are virtually nonexistent. The expansive 524-hectare ski area comprises two distinct zones connected by a flat gondola. The larger section encompasses East Mountain and Mt Isola, providing an ideal terrain for intermediate and advanced skiers with impressive tree runs. A notable advantage is the minimal need for traversing, as many runs and tree routes lead directly back to the lifts. Furthermore, the majority of lifts are lengthy, eliminating the frequent need to transfer between lifts for a satisfying run.
During a powder day, particularly on Mt Isola, there are abundant hidden powder stashes in the trees, some of which are pleasantly gladed. Intermediate skiers will find well-groomed on-piste runs enjoyable. Visitors familiar with other Japanese resorts may be pleasantly surprised by the relatively steep nature of some runs, at least by Japanese standards.
