Rusutsu Resort Guide | Access from Tokyo
Rusutsu Resort: Skiing & Access Guide
Rusutsu ski resort links three peaks of birch glades and deep Hokkaido powder — with an amusement park's Ferris wheel lit up over the snow at night.
Buy train package to Sapporo →About the resort
Birch glades and bottomless powder
Rusutsu ski resort spreads across three connected peaks — East Mountain, West Mountain, and Mt. Isola — famous for wide-open birch tree runs and some of the most consistent powder in Hokkaido. A resort hotel complex, anchored by The Westin Rusutsu Resort, sits at the base with its own amusement park, making it an easy choice for families too.
🌲 Birch tree glades
Wide-spaced birch forest makes Rusutsu one of Japan's benchmark tree-skiing resorts.
🏔 Three connected peaks
East Mountain, West Mountain, and Mt. Isola link together on one lift pass.
❄️ Deep, consistent powder
Hokkaido's cold, dry storms deliver reliable powder through the core season.
🎡 Resort amusement park
A Ferris wheel and amusement rides at the base make this an easy pick for families.
Terrain by level
Getting there
Tokyo to Rusutsu, step by step
Book your train package to Sapporo
Choose your date, pay online, and receive your QR voucher by email.
Shinkansen + Limited Express: Tokyo → Sapporo
Ride the Hokkaido Shinkansen (Hayabusa) to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, then the Limited Express Hokuto to Sapporo. Print your tickets from your QR voucher at a station machine.
approx. 8 hrs totalRusutsu-go free shuttle: Sapporo → Rusutsu
The resort's own Rusutsu-go bus runs from central Sapporo (near Sapporo Station) to the resort. It's free, but you must reserve online by 15:00 the day before. See the timetable ↓
approx. 2 hrs · freeRide the birch glades
Three connected peaks of wide-spaced tree runs and groomed cruisers await.
Resort info
The resort, by the numbers
Three peaks, one hotel base.
| Courses | 37 across East Mountain, West Mountain, and Mt. Isola |
|---|---|
| Total run distance | 42 km |
| Gondolas | 4 |
| Top elevation | 1,150 m (Mt. Isola) |
| Terrain mix | 30% beginner · 40% intermediate · 30% advanced |
| Season | Early December – early May |
| Family facilities | On-site amusement park and kids' programs |
| Rusutsu access | Train from Tokyo to Sapporo, then the free Rusutsu-go shuttle (approx. 2 hrs, reservation required by 15:00 the day before) |
Winter services
A self-contained family resort
Rusutsu is built around one large hotel complex, with services to match.
🎿 Rentals
The resort's rental center stocks gear for all ages and levels.
🎓 Ski & snowboard schools
Group and private lessons run daily, including English-language options.
🎡 Amusement park
An on-site Ferris wheel and rides give non-skiers (and tired kids) something to do.
👶 Kids' programs
Childcare and kids' ski school options run throughout the season.
Village info
One resort hotel, everything included
Rusutsu doesn't have a separate village — the resort hotel complex at the base is the whole operation.
- The resort hotels — The Westin Rusutsu Resort and the Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention make up the base complex, with lodging, dining, an indoor pool, and the amusement park under one roof.
- Ski-in, ski-out — Most rooms offer direct or near-direct access to the lifts.
- Family-oriented — The mix of skiing and amusement park rides makes Rusutsu an easy pick for mixed-ability families.
- Good to know — There's little reason to leave the resort complex — it's designed as a self-contained destination.
Restaurant & nightlife
Dinner without leaving the hotel
Dining at Rusutsu centers entirely on the resort hotel's own restaurants.
- Hotel restaurants — Multiple restaurants cover everything from casual family meals to more formal dinners.
- Local specialties — Hokkaido seafood, dairy, and Genghis Khan grilled lamb feature on hotel menus.
- Buffet options — Family-style buffet dining is popular for groups with mixed tastes.
- Good to know — There's no real village to explore off-site — plan on dining at the resort.
When to go
Rusutsu season at a glance
Getting here
Sapporo → Rusutsu Shuttle
The Rusutsu-go shuttle runs daily between central Sapporo and the resort in about two hours. Winter timetable below is provisional, based on the 2025–26 season (November 29 – March 31). Please confirm the latest schedule with the operator before your trip.
| Stop | Bus 3101 |
|---|---|
| Sapporo (Kamori Building No. 3) | 8:00 |
| Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention | 10:00 |
| The Westin Rusutsu Resort | 10:10 |
| The Vale Rusutsu | 10:20 |
| Stop | Bus 3102 |
|---|---|
| The Vale Rusutsu | 16:40 |
| The Westin Rusutsu Resort | 16:50 |
| Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention | 17:00 |
| Sapporo (Kamori Building No. 3) | 19:00 |
| Fare | Free |
|---|---|
| Journey time | approx. 2 hours (10-min rest stop at Nakayama Pass on the way out) |
| Frequency | One departure each way, daily |
| Reservation | Required — online only, by 15:00 the day before travel |
| Boarding point | Kamori Building No. 3, 2 min from Sapporo Station south exit (check in at 1F counter) |
| Operating period | November 29, 2025 – March 31, 2026 |
Good to know
Rusutsu FAQ
How do I get to Rusutsu from Tokyo?
Is the Sapporo shuttle really free?
Is there a Rusutsu airport, or which is nearest?
Is Rusutsu good for families?
Is Rusutsu good for tree skiing?
How does the train package work?
Birch glades.
Bottomless powder.
Tokyo → Sapporo train package + free Rusutsu shuttle · QR voucher by email
Buy your ticket →