Rusutsu, Hokkaido · Things to do
Things to Do in Rusutsu: 11 Places with Seasons, Prices and Access
11 things to do · checked October 23, 2026
11 things to do in Rusutsu, from the resort outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 23, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Rusutsu Resort ski areaルスツリゾート スキー場
Ski area · Rusutsu Resort
Three peaks, West Mt., East Mt. and Mt. Isola, with 4 gondolas, 14 lifts and 37 courses. For 2026–27 the early season is planned from 28 November 2026, the regular season runs 19 December 2026 – 14 March 2027 and the spring season ends 31 March 2027.
- Access
- Resort bus from New Chitose Airport, 120 min, ¥5,000 online (¥5,500 otherwise), reserve by midnight seven days before; it runs to the resort from 28 November 2026 to 30 March 2027. From Sapporo, the Rusutsu Express leaves near the Kamori Building at 8:00, 105 min, ¥3,000, booked online by 15:00 the day before. By car about 90 min from the airport or Sapporo.
- Hours
- Night skiing 16:00–20:00 (last lift 19:45), from around mid-December 2026 to 30 March 2027. Daytime lift hours are not published on the ticket page and change with the period.
- Price
- 1-day ticket, regular season: adults ¥16,700 (online ¥13,200), children 4–12 ¥8,300 (online ¥6,400). Early season from 28 November: adults ¥7,900 at the counter only; 12–18 December and spring season: ¥10,500.
2Rusutsu winter activitiesルスツ ウィンターアクティビティ
Snow activities · Rusutsu Resort
The resort lists ten winter programmes: snowmobile, snow rafting, dog sledding, horse riding (Toya course), a snow train, a nature tour, a winter river trip, ice fishing, snow drifting in a car, and a tent sauna with a snow-hut cool-down.
Winter only. Book by 17:00 the day before.
- Access
- Booked through the resort by 17:00 the day before and paid in advance; contact activity@rusutsu.co.jp or 0136-46-3331. Programmes can be changed or cancelled for weather.
3Rusutsu Resort amusement parkルスツリゾート遊園地
Amusement park · Rusutsu Resort
An amusement park the resort calls one of the largest in Hokkaido, with an outdoor pool during the summer holidays. The 2026 season ran 29 April – 18 October; 2027 dates are not posted yet.
Summer only. The 2026 season ended on 18 October.
- Access
- In summer, the free Rusutsu-go bus ran from Sapporo (8:00, near the Kamori Building, 120 min, booked online by 15:00 the day before) from 29 April to 18 October 2026. The airport bus runs 120 min in summer too.
- Hours
- 2026 season 29 April – 18 October. Ticket counters open 8:45 until 15 minutes before the park closes.
- Closed on
- Mondays, except public holidays, Golden Week, July and August
- Price
- 2026 park-only 1-day ticket, adults: ¥6,300 on weekdays (online ¥5,400), ¥7,600 at weekends and Golden Week, ¥7,900 in the summer holidays (25 July – 23 August). Children 7–12: ¥4,400–¥5,600.
4Yotei Panorama Terrace羊蹄パノラマテラス
Gondola and viewpoint · Rusutsu Resort, West Mt.
A lookout reached by the Yotei Gondola on West Mt., facing Mt. Yotei, Lake Toya and Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Sunset runs operated from 25 July to 23 August 2026.
- Access
- Yotei Gondola from the West Mt. side of Rusutsu Resort. The last ride up is 15 minutes before closing.
- Hours
- 2026 season 29 April – 18 October (summer menu only; no winter terrace service is described)
- Closed on
- Mondays, except public holidays, Golden Week, July and August
- Price
- Round trip ¥2,400 for adults and children 7–12
5Rusutsu Resort Golf 72ルスツリゾートゴルフ72
Golf courses · Rusutsu Resort
Four 18-hole courses, 72 holes in all: Tower, Izumikawa, River and Wood. The Westin Rusutsu Resort connects directly to the Tower course.
- Access
- Inside Rusutsu Resort. Booking online from each course page or through the reservation centre, 0136-46-3111. Twilight 9-hole play (11 May – 30 September in 2026) needs at least two players.
- Hours
- 2026 seasons: Izumikawa 25 April – 25 October, Tower 2 May – 18 October, Wood 16 May – 12 October, River 23 May – 12 October; dates move with snowmelt and weather
- Closed on
- Tower on Wednesdays; Izumikawa on Tuesdays and Fridays; River and Wood on Mondays and Thursdays (open when the day is a public holiday)
6Michi-no-Eki 230 Rusutsu道の駅 230ルスツ
Roadside station and farm shop · Rusutsu village
The village roadside station on Route 230, at the foot of Mt. Shiribetsu, selling local vegetables and processed foods. It reopened after renovation on 18 April 2025.
- Access
- 127-191 Aza Rusutsu, Rusutsu village, on National Route 230.
- Hours
- 9:00–18:00 (April–October); 9:00–17:00 (November–March)
- Closed on
- New Year holidays
7Michi-no-Eki Boyo Nakayama (Nakayama Pass)道の駅 望羊中山
Roadside station at a mountain pass · Kimobetsu
A roadside station at the top of Nakayama Pass on Route 230 in Kimobetsu, between Sapporo and Rusutsu, with a view of Mt. Yotei. Its fried-potato snack, age-imo, sells about 400,000 a year.
- Access
- 345 Aza Kawakami, Kimobetsu, on National Route 230. The Rusutsu Express bus from Sapporo stops at Nakayama Pass for about 10 minutes.
- Hours
- Shop and take-out 8:30–17:25 (April–October), 9:00–17:00 (November–March); restaurant 11:00–15:00 with some closing days
- Closed on
- No regular closing days
8Makkari Onsenまっかり温泉
Public hot spring · Makkari
A village-run day hot spring with a sauna, tatami rest rooms and one open-air bath each for men and women, known for its view of Mt. Yotei. It is closed for renovation from 2 November to 21 December 2026.
- Access
- 174-3 Midorioka, Makkari village. 100 free parking spaces.
- Hours
- 10:00–21:00 (April–September); 11:00–21:00 (October–March); last entry 20:30
- Closed on
- Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday); renovation closure 2 November – 21 December 2026
- Price
- Adults (junior high and up) ¥600; elementary ¥250; preschool free
9Mt. Yotei, Makkari route and Yotei Natural Park羊蹄山（真狩コース）・羊蹄山自然公園
Volcano hike and park · Makkari
Mt. Yotei (1,898 m) is the peak seen from the Yotei Panorama Terrace and Nakayama Pass. Its Makkari route starts at Yotei Natural Park, which has walking trails and a campsite you can drive into; the climb takes about 4–5 hours up and over 8 hours round trip.
- Access
- Trailhead about 5 min on foot from the park car park, about 20 min from the Yotei Shizen Koen Iriguchi bus stop. Makkari village asks climbers to go with an experienced leader, stay on the trail and avoid meeting bears.
- Hours
- The Makkari route opens each year on the third Sunday of June. Alpine flowers from July; autumn colours from mid-September.
10Lake Toya and Toyako Onsen洞爺湖・洞爺湖温泉
Lake and hot-spring town · Toyako
A lake and hot-spring town below the Mt. Usu volcano, in an area recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark. In 2026 the long-run fireworks went up every night from 28 April to 31 October.
- Access
- About 30 min by car from Rusutsu Resort to Toya Onsen. Free public car parks for the fireworks.
- Hours
- Fireworks 2026: nightly 28 April – 31 October, 20:45 for about 20 minutes, launched from the Toyako Onsen lakeshore
- Price
- Fireworks free to watch
11Nisekoニセコ
Ski resorts (day trip) · Niseko
Four ski areas on one mountain, linked by the Niseko United All Mountain Pass. For 2026–27 Grand HIRAFU and Annupuri plan to open 28 November 2026 – 5 May 2027 (tentative, depending on snow).
- Access
- About 30 min by car from Rusutsu Resort.
Good to know
Rusutsu is one resort with two seasons. In winter it is a ski area on three peaks with 4 gondolas, 14 lifts and 37 courses; the 2026–27 early season is planned from 28 November, the regular season runs 19 December 2026 – 14 March 2027, and night skiing runs 16:00–20:00. In summer the same resort runs an amusement park, the Yotei Gondola up to the Panorama Terrace and four 18-hole golf courses.
The summer side of the resort closed for 2026 on 18 October and the 2027 dates are not posted yet. Between the seasons, the places on this list that stay open are the two roadside stations and Makkari Onsen, which itself closes for renovation from 2 November to 21 December 2026.
Lake Toya (Toya Onsen) and Niseko are each about 30 minutes by car from the resort. The resort's own buses come from New Chitose Airport (120 min) and Sapporo (105 min in winter), booked in advance.
Winter resort, summer resort, or the roads around it
Season, adult price and how you get there. Children's prices are on each card above. Summer figures are the 2026 season; 2027 dates are not posted yet.
| What | Season | Adult price | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ski area and night skiing | 28 Nov 2026 (planned) – 31 Mar 2027; night skiing from about mid-Dec to 30 Mar, 16:00–20:00 | 1 day ¥16,700 regular (online ¥13,200); ¥7,900 early season | Resort bus: airport 120 min ¥5,000 online; Sapporo 105 min ¥3,000 |
| Amusement park | 29 Apr – 18 Oct 2026; closed most Mondays | Park 1 day ¥6,300 weekdays to ¥7,900 summer holidays | Free Rusutsu-go bus from Sapporo in summer 2026, 120 min |
| Yotei Panorama Terrace | 29 Apr – 18 Oct 2026; sunset runs 25 Jul – 23 Aug | Gondola round trip ¥2,400 | West Mt., inside the resort |
| Golf 72 | Late Apr – late Oct 2026, by course | Not checked here; see each course page | Inside the resort |
| Nakayama Pass, 230 Rusutsu, Makkari Onsen | All year (Makkari Onsen closed 2 Nov – 21 Dec 2026) | Roadside stations free; onsen ¥600 | By car; Rusutsu Express stops about 10 min at Nakayama Pass |
| Lake Toya and Niseko | Toya fireworks 28 Apr – 31 Oct 2026; Niseko ski season from 28 Nov 2026 (tentative) | Fireworks free | About 30 min by car to each |
By kind of trip
A ski trip
The regular season runs 19 December 2026 – 14 March 2027, with night skiing until 20:00 (last lift 19:45). Winter programmes such as snowmobile, dog sledding and snow rafting are booked by 17:00 the day before.
Rusutsu Resort ski area · Rusutsu winter activities · Niseko
Summer with children
The amusement park adds an outdoor pool in the summer holidays. The Yotei Gondola costs the same ¥2,400 round trip for adults and children 7–12. Both were closed on most Mondays in 2026, but open every day in July and August.
Rusutsu Resort amusement park · Yotei Panorama Terrace · Mt. Yotei, Makkari route and Yotei Natural Park
Golf
Four 18-hole courses with different 2026 seasons and closing days. Izumikawa opens first (25 April) and closes last (25 October).
On the drive in
Route 230 from Sapporo passes Boyo Nakayama at the top of Nakayama Pass, then 230 Rusutsu in the village. Makkari Onsen has an open-air bath facing Mt. Yotei for ¥600.
Michi-no-Eki Boyo Nakayama (Nakayama Pass) · Michi-no-Eki 230 Rusutsu · Makkari Onsen
A day away from the resort
Toya Onsen and Niseko are each about 30 minutes by car. In 2026 the Lake Toya fireworks ran nightly at 20:45 until 31 October.
Questions
When is the Rusutsu ski season for 2026–27?
The early season is planned from 28 November 2026, the regular season runs 19 December 2026 – 14 March 2027, and the spring season runs 15–31 March 2027. Night skiing is 16:00–20:00 (last lift 19:45) from around mid-December to 30 March 2027.
How much is a Rusutsu lift ticket?
A regular-season 1-day ticket is ¥16,700 for adults (¥13,200 online) and ¥8,300 for children 4–12 (¥6,400 online). In the first early season it is ¥7,900, sold at the counter only; 12–18 December and the spring season are ¥10,500.
Is the Rusutsu amusement park open in autumn?
The 2026 season ran 29 April – 18 October, so the park is closed now. The Yotei Panorama Terrace ran on the same dates. The 2027 dates have not been posted yet.
How do I get to Rusutsu from New Chitose Airport or Sapporo?
The resort's airport bus takes 120 minutes, ¥5,000 booked online, and must be reserved by midnight seven days before. From Sapporo the winter Rusutsu Express takes 105 minutes, ¥3,000, booked by 15:00 the day before. By car both take about 90 minutes.