Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Tower

Powder + Trees - Crowds = Rusutsu Magic

Rusutsu provided us with masses of powder and great tree runs for the duration of our stay. 

Most of the people at Rusutsu are Japanese which gave the place a more authentic Japanese feel compared with Niseko. Most of the people were not interested in riding in the trees which meant on many days we were finding ''freshies'' into the early afternoon. 

The hotel facilities were top notch and the food was high quality, mostly buffet style Western and Japanese. Im not really a buffet guy, but the food was really tasty and fresh.  I'd suggest packaging all your meals with your accomodation as you can really only eat at the hotel though. 

Be aware, there is really no nightlife to speak of at the resort which was fine for us. 

So, if you want somewhere that you can very comfortably eat, sleep and ride amazing powder all day then Rusutsu is for you. :)

FANTASTIC FAMILY SKI RESORT

Stayed at Rusutsu Tower Hotel. Great family accommodation with lots of things to do after a day of skiing for the whole family. Many different restaurants to choose from for all meals. Easy to get around resort using monorail. Night skiing a highlight. Would recommend breakfast vouchers. Very friendly and helpful staff. Fantastic family skiing holiday!

Our first ever ski holiday overseas!

For years we have talked about skiing overseas and hadn''t even made it to New Zealand! Blindly chose a package in Japan not knowing what to expect and was overwhelmed by the whole experience.The resort, the snow, the terrain, the food, the people, couldn''t have asked for a better holiday doing the one thing we love most. 

Great resort for families, probably a bit quiet for 20-30 somethings. Everything we could ask for.

Can''t wait to go back!

Rusutsu Snow Snow Snow

The snow is as good in Niseko, but there''s only 30% of the skiers. Weekends are bussier.

Tree skiing is GREAT.

Night life in the hotel itself is very quiet, but there are 4 little restaurants next door to the hotel (which is 4 minutes by the hotel monorail) which are great : cold beer, good food, very intimate and friendly.

I rebooked my holiday the week I got back.

Rusutsu

Lots of fun off piste. Generally quiet even on blue days (one day we had knee deep powder on trail after lunch!) Good mountain access with interlinked chairs.

On mountain facilities are excellent. Trails easy to distinguish.

Rusutsu Resort is an experience in itself, in a crazy Japanese way. Amazing staff.

We have been to Rusutsu before and will continue to return.

Disneyland on snow

If you are planning on a Japanese cultural experience then don't go to Rusutsu (unless you think Japanese culture is defined only by tacky glitch). However, if you love riding through the trees and expect powder everyday (it snowed for the 6 days we were there and it was very, very cold eg -20C) then give this place a try. The hotel complex is very tacky, but if you can get over this (and have a laugh about it) its a minor issue.

The staff are very, very friendly (kind of Stepford wives friendly), but you couldn't complain about the service. It's 2 mins walk to the lifts, the gondola to east mountain can be busy in the morning because everyone in the resort wants to use it, but once across the crowds thin out. Lift lines come and go - mostly very short. Variety of terrain not great - some places very flat (tricky for snowboarders) and not a big resort.

Without fresh snow you will get bored in 1-2 days if an experienced rider. With fresh snow the lines among the trees are awesome. Signs say no off piste riding but ski patrol ignores this and so does everyone else. It's pretty much a free for all. I wouldn't go again for 6 days - but if you are visiting somewhere else in Hokkaido and the forecast predicts powder (and you love riding through trees) I would head to Rusutsu for 2-3 days.

Rusutsu resort hotel

Well located hotel a bit over the top with fake ''disneyland'' like decor. Hotel bar does not cater for post ski drinks. [but there are vending machines for a beer].

Limited choice of skis for hire. Ski area is nice, easy to venture off piste for tree skiing without guides. Snow quality exceptional. Worth venturing out of resort to some local restaurants that are much better value. Resort restaurants a bit expensive.

Good conference rooms. Pool area large, water temp nice.

Bizarre Resort

Huge complex with a large merry-go-round in the middle of it & snow covered roller-coasters surrounding it. Scratching to find anywhere open for a beer at 4pm. English 3rd or 4th language spoken by most staff.

Strange place, but what the facilities & staff may be lacking, the snow makes up for. Well groomed runs....easy access...ski-in ski-out.....and powder through the trees I have never seen the likes of.

And it SNOWS constantly!

Not the wet sticky stuff, but the light, dry, doesn''t-stick-to-your-goggles stuff.

Worth the trip!