Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention

Amazing, just checked in, spacious, gorgeous, all amenities including great coffee

We stayed here with another family (both with 4 year old sons) to experience skiing in Japan and having a ski in ski out location to avoid having to carry equipment around and get two four year olds around quickly. Rusustu ticked that box. We had rooms in the west wing, ski lockers for the duration of our stay in the middle of the resort and rented equipment from across the road at AMUSE Sports which were significantly cheaper than the on-site rental. There is a free bus you need to book from Sapporo Station which brings you here. You can also pay for a bus to take you to Sapporo or the airport when you leave. The resort catered for kids with the wave pool, carousel (used once only), Daniel and Dixie Diggers singing animal band near the food court, snow park with tube slides and other activities. Skiing wise it covered all levels which was good as we had complete beginners to advanced in our group. The ski school was easy to book private or kids ski school lessons but we had a mixed experience with them which i will review separately. SOme good, some disappointing. Belle Vue steak and seafood restaurant was delicious but very expensive. Daniel Street did basic take away food which was cheap enough and convenient and was our go to for quick and easy meals with 4 year olds. We ate breakfast at Oktoberfest as the kids were used to more western meals and the buffet did the job. It seems to get busy after 8am though. Access to the ski slopes was pretty easy from our accomodation. Neve Cafe did a good hot chocolate. The onsen was good and the massage was fantastic but booked out each day and did not start until 2pm. The kids enjoyed the wave pool as something different but its smaller than you'd expect and the waves turn on and off every so often. The rooms were very hot in February given it was cold outside. the temperature control in the room was limited and did nothing so we slept with the window slightly open to offset the heat. The rooms were fine. Two double beds were enough for us. They only provided 2 towels so we had to keep asking for more as we had 2 adults and 1 child. Ski passes were very reasonably priced. the slope were busier on weekends and out first weekend we were inundated with huge groups of students learning and taking over the beginner runs. It was much quieter during the week thankfully. There is a 7/11 and small grocery store across the road along with a restaurant that does take away (the braised pork belly and rice was good). That is also where we rented skis and snowboards from AMUSE sports who were very good and much cheaper. We would stay here again for the convenience with kids.

Ski trip, February. Arrive on later bus after flight, to Convention center. No place with food available at 22:30 for missed dinner. None! One place to drink - a substantial cover charge and a charge for nuts - closed ar 23:30. Whole place has a depressingly deserted feel. Difference to European resorts is downright painful.