Rusutsu

After Niseko, this is Hokkaido's best known resort, famous for the 13m of deep powder that falls here each winter.

weather Forecast today: Light snow shwr

Max temp: 0.1 °c
Min temp: -6.1 °c
Last snowed: Mon 09 Mar

Last Updated: Tue 17 Mar

weather Forecast today: Light snow shwr

Max temp: 0.1 °c
Min temp: -6.1 °c
Last snowed: Mon 09 Mar

Last Updated: Tue 17 Mar

If you're after bottomless powder, constant snow top ups during your stay then Rusutsu is a good bet as a stopover on your Japanese ski trip.

The crowds are smaller than at Niseko and arguably the steeper terrain is better, with powder also lasting longer here than at its more famous neighbour.

The resort is around an hour from Niseko, making it a viable day trip option, but with a lot of terrain to explore it is worth staying here a little longer to really experience all that the resort has to offer. There’s some smart accommodation at the base, as well as some traditional Japanese options and of course onsen can be found at almost every hotel. Access via bullet train to Sapporo is possible, but if you’re a little short on time then flying is definitely a better option.

Resort website: www.hokkaido-rusutsu.com

Getting to Rusutsu

Flights are available to Kuusamo from which is less than half an hour from Ruka.

* Kuusamo airport: 30 minutes

Rusutsu Piste Map

Top (847m)

	Tue 17 Mar			Wed 18 Mar			Thu 19 Mar			Fri 20 Mar			Sat 21 Mar			Sun 22 Mar			Mon 23 Mar			Tue 24 Mar			Wed 25 Mar			Thu 26 Mar
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow shwr	Generally clear	Generally clear	Rather cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Snow grains	Light snow	Mainly fair	Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow shower	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Mainly fair	Snow grains	Snow grains	Light rain/snow	Snow grains	Light snow	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Light rain/snow	Generally clear	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.3 cm	2 cm	0.8 cm	3.3 cm	6.1 cm	6.6 cm	0.7 cm	0.7 cm	0.4 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	1.4 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	0.1°c	-0.4°c	-4.8°c	3°c	2.5°c	-2.1°c	3.1°c	1.5°c	-4°c	0.5°c	-1.1°c	-4.8°c	-0.5°c	-1°c	-1.8°c	4.4°c	4°c	0.4°c	4.2°c	3.2°c	-0.7°c	2°c	1.1°c	-2.8°c	4.2°c	3.9°c	-1.4°c	5.5°c	4.9°c	0.1°c
Min temp	-1.2°c	-5.4°c	-6.1°c	0.2°c	-2.4°c	-2.7°c	1.5°c	-4°c	-5.1°c	-1.1°c	-4.8°c	-5.4°c	-2.4°c	-2.5°c	-2.4°c	2.5°c	0.4°c	-0.2°c	3.1°c	-0.7°c	-1.5°c	1°c	-2.8°c	-3.4°c	2.1°c	-1.4°c	-1.9°c	3.2°c	0.1°c	-0.1°c
Feels like temp	-4.7°c	-4.4°c	-9.5°c	-2.9°c	0.2°c	-2.4°c	-0.4°c	-2°c	-9.3°c	-4.6°c	-5.9°c	-10.4°c	-8.5°c	-7°c	-7.6°c	-1.3°c	1°c	-3.4°c	0.3°c	0.5°c	-4.2°c	-3.1°c	-2.8°c	-2.8°c	-0.3°c	1.8°c	-5°c	0.6°c	2.9°c	-2.5°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow shwr	Generally clear	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.1°c	-0.4°c	-4.8°c
Min temp	-1.2°c	-5.4°c	-6.1°c
Feels like temp	-4.7°c	-4.4°c	-9.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rather cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm
Max temp	3°c	2.5°c	-2.1°c
Min temp	0.2°c	-2.4°c	-2.7°c
Feels like temp	-2.9°c	0.2°c	-2.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow grains	Light snow	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	2 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	3.1°c	1.5°c	-4°c
Min temp	1.5°c	-4°c	-5.1°c
Feels like temp	-0.4°c	-2°c	-9.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow shower
Wind
Snow expected	3.3 cm	6.1 cm	6.6 cm
Max temp	0.5°c	-1.1°c	-4.8°c
Min temp	-1.1°c	-4.8°c	-5.4°c
Feels like temp	-4.6°c	-5.9°c	-10.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.7 cm	0.7 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-0.5°c	-1°c	-1.8°c
Min temp	-2.4°c	-2.5°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	-8.5°c	-7°c	-7.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Snow grains	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.3 cm
Max temp	4.4°c	4°c	0.4°c
Min temp	2.5°c	0.4°c	-0.2°c
Feels like temp	-1.3°c	1°c	-3.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain/snow	Snow grains	Light snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	1.4 cm
Max temp	4.2°c	3.2°c	-0.7°c
Min temp	3.1°c	-0.7°c	-1.5°c
Feels like temp	0.3°c	0.5°c	-4.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	2°c	1.1°c	-2.8°c
Min temp	1°c	-2.8°c	-3.4°c
Feels like temp	-3.1°c	-2.8°c	-2.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	4.2°c	3.9°c	-1.4°c
Min temp	2.1°c	-1.4°c	-1.9°c
Feels like temp	-0.3°c	1.8°c	-5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain/snow	Generally clear	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	5.5°c	4.9°c	0.1°c
Min temp	3.2°c	0.1°c	-0.1°c
Feels like temp	0.6°c	2.9°c	-2.5°c

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Resort (482m)

	Tue 17 Mar			Wed 18 Mar			Thu 19 Mar			Fri 20 Mar			Sat 21 Mar			Sun 22 Mar			Mon 23 Mar			Tue 24 Mar			Wed 25 Mar			Thu 26 Mar
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow shwr	Generally clear	Generally clear	Rather cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Mainly cloudy	Snow grains	Light snow	Mainly fair	Snow shower	Snow shower	Snow shower	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Mainly fair	Snow grains	Snow grains	Light rain/snow	Snow grains	Light snow	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Light rain/snow	Generally clear	Snow grains
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.3 cm	2 cm	0.8 cm	3.3 cm	6.1 cm	6.6 cm	0.7 cm	0.7 cm	0.4 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	1.4 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	0.1°c	-0.4°c	-4.8°c	3°c	2.5°c	-2.1°c	3.1°c	1.5°c	-4°c	0.5°c	-1.1°c	-4.8°c	-0.5°c	-1°c	-1.8°c	4.4°c	4°c	0.4°c	4.2°c	3.2°c	-0.7°c	2°c	1.1°c	-2.8°c	4.2°c	3.9°c	-1.4°c	5.5°c	4.9°c	0.1°c
Min temp	-1.2°c	-5.4°c	-6.1°c	0.2°c	-2.4°c	-2.7°c	1.5°c	-4°c	-5.1°c	-1.1°c	-4.8°c	-5.4°c	-2.4°c	-2.5°c	-2.4°c	2.5°c	0.4°c	-0.2°c	3.1°c	-0.7°c	-1.5°c	1°c	-2.8°c	-3.4°c	2.1°c	-1.4°c	-1.9°c	3.2°c	0.1°c	-0.1°c
Feels like temp	-4.7°c	-4.4°c	-9.5°c	-2.9°c	0.2°c	-2.4°c	-0.4°c	-2°c	-9.3°c	-4.6°c	-5.9°c	-10.4°c	-8.5°c	-7°c	-7.6°c	-1.3°c	1°c	-3.4°c	0.3°c	0.5°c	-4.2°c	-3.1°c	-2.8°c	-2.8°c	-0.3°c	1.8°c	-5°c	0.6°c	2.9°c	-2.5°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.1°c	-0.4°c	-4.8°c
Min temp	-1.2°c	-5.4°c	-6.1°c
Feels like temp	-4.7°c	-4.4°c	-9.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm
Max temp	3°c	2.5°c	-2.1°c
Min temp	0.2°c	-2.4°c	-2.7°c
Feels like temp	-2.9°c	0.2°c	-2.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	2 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	3.1°c	1.5°c	-4°c
Min temp	1.5°c	-4°c	-5.1°c
Feels like temp	-0.4°c	-2°c	-9.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	3.3 cm	6.1 cm	6.6 cm
Max temp	0.5°c	-1.1°c	-4.8°c
Min temp	-1.1°c	-4.8°c	-5.4°c
Feels like temp	-4.6°c	-5.9°c	-10.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.7 cm	0.7 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-0.5°c	-1°c	-1.8°c
Min temp	-2.4°c	-2.5°c	-2.4°c
Feels like temp	-8.5°c	-7°c	-7.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.3 cm
Max temp	4.4°c	4°c	0.4°c
Min temp	2.5°c	0.4°c	-0.2°c
Feels like temp	-1.3°c	1°c	-3.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	1.4 cm
Max temp	4.2°c	3.2°c	-0.7°c
Min temp	3.1°c	-0.7°c	-1.5°c
Feels like temp	0.3°c	0.5°c	-4.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	2°c	1.1°c	-2.8°c
Min temp	1°c	-2.8°c	-3.4°c
Feels like temp	-3.1°c	-2.8°c	-2.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	4.2°c	3.9°c	-1.4°c
Min temp	2.1°c	-1.4°c	-1.9°c
Feels like temp	-0.3°c	1.8°c	-5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	5.5°c	4.9°c	0.1°c
Min temp	3.2°c	0.1°c	-0.1°c
Feels like temp	0.6°c	2.9°c	-2.5°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	09/03/2026
Snowfall	Next 3 days	24.9 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	170 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	120 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Heavy snow/snow crust
Lifts	Lifts open	14 out of 18
	Resort opening date	Sat 06 Dec 2025
	Resort closing date	Tue 31 Mar 2026

Snow Overview

Japan

Updated 10/03

Cooler conditions return across both main Japanese Islands through this week and into the weekend, albeit things will remain mostly dry throughout.

Honshu will see cold night time temperatures will rise during the day and turn mild into the weekend. A few flurries of snowfall will come throughout this period but won’t be enough to register on a snow stake. Similarly, cool temperatures dominate on Hokkaido, but remain cold throughout the weekend. Snow will fall on Thursday bringing a useful 5cm to areas to keep things fresh ahead of what looks like more dry weather =.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast

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