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: Snow

Max temp: -5.6 °c
Min temp: -14.1 °c
Last snowed: Sat 20 Dec

Last Updated: Fri 26 Dec

weather Forecast today: Snow

Max temp: -5.6 °c
Min temp: -14.1 °c
Last snowed: Sat 20 Dec

Last Updated: Fri 26 Dec

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)

	Fri 26 Dec			Sat 27 Dec			Sun 28 Dec			Mon 29 Dec			Tue 30 Dec			Wed 31 Dec			Thu 1 Jan			Fri 2 Jan			Sat 3 Jan			Sun 4 Jan
	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	Snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds	Occasional snow	Light rain/snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Light snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Snow shower	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	13.4 cm	6.7 cm	4 cm	3.7 cm	3.9 cm	4.1 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.8 cm	0.1 cm	1.3 cm	1.8 cm	2.1 cm	3.6 cm	4.5 cm	5.6 cm	3.6 cm	2.9 cm	3.9 cm	4.4 cm	2.6 cm	2.7 cm	2.1 cm	2.3 cm	3.7 cm	3.4 cm	4.5 cm	2.8 cm	2 cm
Max temp	-5.6°c	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-10.4°c	-10.4°c	-9.3°c	-4.8°c	-5°c	-4.4°c	1.2°c	0.4°c	0.1°c	-3.6°c	-6.6°c	-8.8°c	-8.1°c	-9.6°c	-11.1°c	-9.7°c	-10.4°c	-12°c	-9°c	-9.7°c	-10.9°c	-7.1°c	-7.8°c	-8.4°c	-5.2°c	-6.3°c	-7.9°c
Min temp	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-14.1°c	-12°c	-11.8°c	-10.4°c	-7.1°c	-6.2°c	-5.2°c	-0.5°c	-0.4°c	-1°c	-6.6°c	-8.8°c	-9.9°c	-9.6°c	-11.2°c	-12.1°c	-11.1°c	-12°c	-12.4°c	-10.6°c	-11.2°c	-11.5°c	-8.5°c	-9.1°c	-8.9°c	-6.3°c	-8.2°c	-8.1°c
Feels like temp	-10.4°c	-16.9°c	-20.5°c	-20.4°c	-19.5°c	-17.8°c	-14°c	-10.9°c	-10.2°c	-4.7°c	-3.3°c	-4.1°c	-9.1°c	-12.8°c	-14.2°c	-14.6°c	-15.8°c	-17.6°c	-16.3°c	-15.6°c	-17.2°c	-15.6°c	-15°c	-16.2°c	-13.3°c	-13°c	-14.2°c	-10.9°c	-11.4°c	-12.7°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow	Light snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	13.4 cm	6.7 cm	4 cm
Max temp	-5.6°c	-9.1°c	-12.2°c
Min temp	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-14.1°c
Feels like temp	-10.4°c	-16.9°c	-20.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	3.7 cm	3.9 cm	4.1 cm
Max temp	-10.4°c	-10.4°c	-9.3°c
Min temp	-12°c	-11.8°c	-10.4°c
Feels like temp	-20.4°c	-19.5°c	-17.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-4.8°c	-5°c	-4.4°c
Min temp	-7.1°c	-6.2°c	-5.2°c
Feels like temp	-14°c	-10.9°c	-10.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Light rain/snow	Light snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.8 cm	0.1 cm	1.3 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	0.4°c	0.1°c
Min temp	-0.5°c	-0.4°c	-1°c
Feels like temp	-4.7°c	-3.3°c	-4.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	1.8 cm	2.1 cm	3.6 cm
Max temp	-3.6°c	-6.6°c	-8.8°c
Min temp	-6.6°c	-8.8°c	-9.9°c
Feels like temp	-9.1°c	-12.8°c	-14.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Light snow	Light snow
Wind
Snow expected	4.5 cm	5.6 cm	3.6 cm
Max temp	-8.1°c	-9.6°c	-11.1°c
Min temp	-9.6°c	-11.2°c	-12.1°c
Feels like temp	-14.6°c	-15.8°c	-17.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	2.9 cm	3.9 cm	4.4 cm
Max temp	-9.7°c	-10.4°c	-12°c
Min temp	-11.1°c	-12°c	-12.4°c
Feels like temp	-16.3°c	-15.6°c	-17.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	2.6 cm	2.7 cm	2.1 cm
Max temp	-9°c	-9.7°c	-10.9°c
Min temp	-10.6°c	-11.2°c	-11.5°c
Feels like temp	-15.6°c	-15°c	-16.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	2.3 cm	3.7 cm	3.4 cm
Max temp	-7.1°c	-7.8°c	-8.4°c
Min temp	-8.5°c	-9.1°c	-8.9°c
Feels like temp	-13.3°c	-13°c	-14.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Snow shower	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	4.5 cm	2.8 cm	2 cm
Max temp	-5.2°c	-6.3°c	-7.9°c
Min temp	-6.3°c	-8.2°c	-8.1°c
Feels like temp	-10.9°c	-11.4°c	-12.7°c

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Resort (482m)

	Fri 26 Dec			Sat 27 Dec			Sun 28 Dec			Mon 29 Dec			Tue 30 Dec			Wed 31 Dec			Thu 1 Jan			Fri 2 Jan			Sat 3 Jan			Sun 4 Jan
	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	Snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds	Occasional snow	Light rain/snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Light snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Snow shower	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	13.4 cm	6.7 cm	4 cm	3.7 cm	3.9 cm	4.1 cm	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0.8 cm	0.1 cm	1.3 cm	1.8 cm	2.1 cm	3.6 cm	4.5 cm	5.6 cm	3.6 cm	2.9 cm	3.9 cm	4.4 cm	2.6 cm	2.7 cm	2.1 cm	2.3 cm	3.7 cm	3.4 cm	4.5 cm	2.8 cm	2 cm
Max temp	-5.6°c	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-10.4°c	-10.4°c	-9.3°c	-4.8°c	-5°c	-4.4°c	1.2°c	0.4°c	0.1°c	-3.6°c	-6.6°c	-8.8°c	-8.1°c	-9.6°c	-11.1°c	-9.7°c	-10.4°c	-12°c	-9°c	-9.7°c	-10.9°c	-7.1°c	-7.8°c	-8.4°c	-5.2°c	-6.3°c	-7.9°c
Min temp	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-14.1°c	-12°c	-11.8°c	-10.4°c	-7.1°c	-6.2°c	-5.2°c	-0.5°c	-0.4°c	-1°c	-6.6°c	-8.8°c	-9.9°c	-9.6°c	-11.2°c	-12.1°c	-11.1°c	-12°c	-12.4°c	-10.6°c	-11.2°c	-11.5°c	-8.5°c	-9.1°c	-8.9°c	-6.3°c	-8.2°c	-8.1°c
Feels like temp	-10.4°c	-16.9°c	-20.5°c	-20.4°c	-19.5°c	-17.8°c	-14°c	-10.9°c	-10.2°c	-4.7°c	-3.3°c	-4.1°c	-9.1°c	-12.8°c	-14.2°c	-14.6°c	-15.8°c	-17.6°c	-16.3°c	-15.6°c	-17.2°c	-15.6°c	-15°c	-16.2°c	-13.3°c	-13°c	-14.2°c	-10.9°c	-11.4°c	-12.7°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	13.4 cm	6.7 cm	4 cm
Max temp	-5.6°c	-9.1°c	-12.2°c
Min temp	-9.1°c	-12.2°c	-14.1°c
Feels like temp	-10.4°c	-16.9°c	-20.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	3.7 cm	3.9 cm	4.1 cm
Max temp	-10.4°c	-10.4°c	-9.3°c
Min temp	-12°c	-11.8°c	-10.4°c
Feels like temp	-20.4°c	-19.5°c	-17.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	-4.8°c	-5°c	-4.4°c
Min temp	-7.1°c	-6.2°c	-5.2°c
Feels like temp	-14°c	-10.9°c	-10.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.8 cm	0.1 cm	1.3 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	0.4°c	0.1°c
Min temp	-0.5°c	-0.4°c	-1°c
Feels like temp	-4.7°c	-3.3°c	-4.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	1.8 cm	2.1 cm	3.6 cm
Max temp	-3.6°c	-6.6°c	-8.8°c
Min temp	-6.6°c	-8.8°c	-9.9°c
Feels like temp	-9.1°c	-12.8°c	-14.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	4.5 cm	5.6 cm	3.6 cm
Max temp	-8.1°c	-9.6°c	-11.1°c
Min temp	-9.6°c	-11.2°c	-12.1°c
Feels like temp	-14.6°c	-15.8°c	-17.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.9 cm	3.9 cm	4.4 cm
Max temp	-9.7°c	-10.4°c	-12°c
Min temp	-11.1°c	-12°c	-12.4°c
Feels like temp	-16.3°c	-15.6°c	-17.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.6 cm	2.7 cm	2.1 cm
Max temp	-9°c	-9.7°c	-10.9°c
Min temp	-10.6°c	-11.2°c	-11.5°c
Feels like temp	-15.6°c	-15°c	-16.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.3 cm	3.7 cm	3.4 cm
Max temp	-7.1°c	-7.8°c	-8.4°c
Min temp	-8.5°c	-9.1°c	-8.9°c
Feels like temp	-13.3°c	-13°c	-14.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	4.5 cm	2.8 cm	2 cm
Max temp	-5.2°c	-6.3°c	-7.9°c
Min temp	-6.3°c	-8.2°c	-8.1°c
Feels like temp	-10.9°c	-11.4°c	-12.7°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	20/12/2025
Snowfall	Next 3 days	44.6 cm
Depths	Upper piste depth	85 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	35 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Old snow
Lifts	Lifts open	13 out of 18
	Resort opening date	Sat 06 Dec 2025
	Resort closing date	Tue 31 Mar 2026

Snow Overview

Japan

Updated 24/12

Japan finally comes to life after a monumentally slow start, with temperatures on Honshu dropping rapidly into Christmas day followed by 2ft of snowfall into Boxing Day. This will sit on a very humid snowpack and wet ground, creating a mix of very-early-season and spring-like snowpack, so expect the avalanche forecast to tick up accordingly until this has had a chance to settle. Things return to more settled albeit remaining cool into the weekend, before a flurry of new snow into the new week.

On Hokkaido, temperatures start cold and turn colder, with the freezing line hitting sea level into Christmas Day. Around 1.5ft of snow is expected over this period and into the weekend, before milder albeit still snow conditions return in to the new week.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast

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