Rusutsu Resort Guide

The Skiing

Rusutsu is divided into two entirely separate mountain areas for skiing. West Mountain is chiefly for beginners and has a great kids area and some lovely greens to progress on to. Worth noting however that for an English speaking lesson you will need to go private. East Mountain includes masses of rolling cruisers as well as offering the best of the tree skiing which is exactly what makes Rusutsu such a gem. You can even get some great lines through the trees without any hiking and just make use of the lifts. Another, less adrenaline-fuelled, but nevertheless attractive feature is the fact that many of the runs offer impressive views of the surrounding volcanic landscape dotted with blue lakes.

Off the Slopes

Rusutsu is a great resort for families with the Rusutsu Resort Hotel being a property that could comfortably fit in at Disneyland or even in Las Vegas. Decked out like a Bavarian village complete with an antique merry-go-round and singing tree it is certainly rather unexpected in a ski resort. However, the property has excellent facilities including a wave pool and games room. The resort has a children’s snow park with tubing and snow biking and there are some more sedate activities on offer such as dog-sledding as well. The Rusutsu Resort Hotel has its own spa and the resort also has two indoor onsen (hot springs) and one outdoor.

Dining options are largely confined to what is on offer within the Rusutsu Resort Hotel, but there are no fewer than 11 different restaurants and bars to sample, more than enough for a week.