After experiencing huge rooms, wonderful staff, tasty restaurants and a relaxing onsen, it’s easy to see why The Westin Rusutsu was voted Japan’s Best Ski Resort in 2017 and 2018.
Traveller: Lisa Wagstaff
Hotel: The Westin Rusutsu Resort
Room type: Traditional (4 BEDS) 1 Bedroom Bi-level Loft
Date: January 2019
Best for: On-snow accommodation with stunning views of Rusutsu’s mountains
The Westin Rusutsu Resort is approximately a 90-minute drive from Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport. Located between Lake Toya and Mt Yotei, in winter the resort sits amid a white wonderland of snowy mountains with tangerine sunsets washing the surrounding mountains in colour.
The resort is a 23-floor tower built in 1993 with an extension built in 2016 when The Westin took over the hotel management. This extension contains the lobby; Atrium, a restaurant offering all-day dining; Kazahana, the signature restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine; an onsen; rental and retail shops; and ski lockers.
Our room is a massive bi-level loft with big windows facing the mountain, the perfect spot for a child (or parent) to sit watching snowflakes fall.
Upstairs is the main bedroom with two extremely comfortable Westin Heavenly® Beds, downstairs are two Murphy beds, a living room, bathroom and kitchenette with a Nespresso machine. They obviously know how much Aussies love coffee.
Rusutsu Resort was voted the best ski resort in Japan at the World Ski Awards; it is made up of Mt Isola, East and West Mountains. From the Westin there is a two-person chairlift to access the resort’s East Mountain. The grading of runs is 30% beginner, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced.
The resort is great for its many tree runs with plenty of powder. Over 70% of the resort offers gladed skiing. It’s great fun riding through arched branches and finding small jumps amongst the deciduous trees.
The peak of Mt Isola is the tallest point at 994 metres, with sweeping views of the volcanically formed Lake Toya on the left and Mt Yotei to our right. West Mountain is the most beginner-friendly and families can access it via a free monorail from the hotel.
The resort has English signs, an average snowfall of 13 metres and a lift capacity of 30,000 people per hour.
Jump on the free monorail from The Westin Rusutsu to get to Rusutsu Resort Hotel, where you’ll find an indoor kids ski school for kids aged three to 12. Kids start off on the indoor frictioned slope to get a better grasp of balance before heading outside. Right by the outdoor ski school meeting area is the Shinchan Kids Park, named after a popular kids anime character that puts in regular appearances. At the park we watch children’s faces light up as they slide down the slope in tubes and snow striders.
Our mornings begin at Atrium for Westin Rusutsu’s breakfast buffet.There are plenty of healthy Japanese and Western options available as well as holiday treats like pancakes with Canadian maple syrup and fresh danishes that go perfectly with the best cappuccino we’ve found in Rusutsu. At night this space is used for the dinner buffet. Highlights are the snow crab hot pot station, Japanese curries and of course the chocolate and cheese fondue.
The hotel also has a formal restaurant, Kazahana dishing up high-quality, local produce in a kaiseki style, traditional multi-course Japanese dinner. The menu is changed each day, and among the spread you’ll find king salmon sashimi, crab dumplings and grilled chicken. The food is expertly prepared and mouth watering. The kids’ version is similar but slightly more westernised.
Within the hotel there are retail and rental shops, so families are able to get ski and snowboard hire easily organised.
And if you’re still after an adrenaline hit after tearing up the slopes all day, visit Rusutu Resorts Snow Activity Land for dog sledding and snow rafting excitement.
A must-do is the resorts onsen. Inside you’ll find a sauna, 18-degree pool, and three 40+ degree pools, including one outside. It’s a tranquil place to sit and soak tired muscles. Children are allowed but need to be quiet and respectful and onsens are single sex. The compulsory nakedness might be a culture shock for some but it’s great to go in the evening and sit in the outdoor bath enjoying the cool air and sparkling lights of night skiing on Rusutsu’s West Mountain.
Every night there is a light projection show at the Rusutsu Resort Hotel, showcasing the colours of the Northern Lights.
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