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Rusutsu Resort is Hokkaido's largest winter resort, boasting magnificent scenery and the finest powder snow. With 37 runs, each with its own unique features, for not only beginners but also skiers of intermediate and advanced levels, there’s so much to do and see—even dog-sled and snowmobile adventures!
There are two accommodation facilities: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention and The Westin Rusutsu Resort, both offering a comfortable stay with high-quality food specialties from Hokkaido.

Guests staying at Rusutsu Resort, around two hours by bus from New Chitose Airport or Sapporo, are requested to get off the bus either in front of the north wing of the Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention or in front of The Westin Rusutsu Resort. Both are within reach of your destination resort.

The following is a detailed explanation of how to get Rusutsu Resort from major locations in Hokkaido.
Text & Photo:Kawashima Nobuhiro

Contents

1: Access from New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort: Big Runs bus service for guests staying at Rusutsu Resort
2: Access from New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort: Resort Liner
3: Access from Sapporo to Rusutsu Resort: "Rusutsu" free shuttle bus service
4: Access from Niseko to Rusutsu Resort
5: Access from Kutchan to Rusutsu Resort

1: Access from New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort: Big Runs bus service for guests staying at Rusutsu Resort

Big Runs is a bus service exclusively for guests staying at Rusutsu Resort's official hotels, There is a fee to ride the bus. Reservations are required at least seven days in advance. Early reservations are recommended if you’re planning to stay at any of the official hotels.
Big Runs bus immediately before departure
Before heading for the bus stop at New Chitose Airport, be sure to go to the meeting place inside the domestic terminal building or international terminal building to sign up for the bus service. The domestic and international terminal buildings are separate and it takes more than 10 minutes to walk from one to the other, but can go back and forth with your luggage cart under cover.
There are several bus stops. Sightseeing buses arrive one after another.
You can sign up for the bus service 20 minutes before departure if you’re arriving on a domestic flight and 15 minutes ahead if arriving an international flight. After signing up, be sure to return to the meeting place at the designated before heading for the bus stop. A staff member will guide you.

The information below explains how to get to the meeting place for passengers arriving on domestic flights, followed instructions for passengers arriving on international flights.

For passengers arriving on domestic flights: Go to the reception counter in front of Arrival Gate 5 on the ground floor of the terminal building.

The Big Runs Counter on the ground floor of the domestic terminal building is the place to sign up for the Big Runs bus service. The counter is in front of Arrival Gate 5, one of the five arrival gates on the same floor. If you exit from any of the four other gates, you have walk to the counter.
Arrival Gate 5, left, is in front of the counter on the right, which is just beside the airport information desk.
There are various brochures on Rusutsu Resort.
The Big Runs Counter is in front of Arrival Gate 5, which is easy to find as it is just beside the airport information desk. If you exit through Arrival Gate 4, turn left and continue 100 meters, and you’ll see the counter on your right. Take care not to be confused on the way, as there are many other counters run by travel agencies, etc.

From Arrival Gates 1, 2 and 3, you have to walk a longer distance. Immediately after passing through one of the these gates, turn left and continue until your find the car rental agency counters, where you then go outside the building to the zone along the bus/taxi lane. Find and follow the yellow path leading to the Arrivals hall on the south side.
Follow the yellow path leading to the Arrivals hall on the south side.
Walk past the taxi stand and continue to the spot where there is a crowd of people. Just beside the spot is the door leading to the Arrivals hall on the south side.
Keep going a little further until you find another spot where there is another door leading inside the building. Just inside through the door is Arrival Gate 4, from where you can continue to the Big Runs Counter as described above. Expect to take 10-15 minutes for the whole trip, especially if you’re carrying a lot of luggage.

Keep in mind that you have to sign up for the bus service at least 20 minutes before departure. Because the arrival gate you use depends on the flight, give yourself plenty of time when scheduling your bus trip.

For passengers arriving on international flights: From the arrival gate, go down one floor to the ground floor of the terminal building.

The Big Runs reception counter is on the ground floor of the international terminal building. To go down one floor from the second floor where the international arrivals gate are situated, walk past in front of Customs and use the elevator on your right. Be sure not to get confused, as there are many other counters run by bus companies and travel agencies on the second floor.
Turn right as you come out through the International Arrivals gate. (You'll come through the door shown in the photo.)
After baggage claim and other procedures, you’ll leave the restricted-access zone through the arrival gate and head to your right. Go past the Lawson convenience store before using an elevator behind you to the right to go down to the ground floor.

On the ground floor, head for the information desk in the center of the building. Just beside a nearby smoking room is the meeting place, which is marked by a pink sign in English. It may be a little difficult to find as there is no counter there. Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the bus you are taking departs. It takes about 5 minutes to get there from the Arrivals gate.
The meeting place is marked by this sign written in English, Korean and traditional/simplified Chinese to ensure passengers from overseas can understand it.

Bus service period

Available every day when the ski resort is open

Travel time to the ski resort

Access to Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention
From New Chitose Airport’s domestic terminal: around 120 minutes
From New Chitose Airport’s international terminal: around 130 minutes

Access to The Westin Rusutsu Resort
From New Chitose Airport’s domestic terminal: around 130 minutes
From New Chitose Airport’s international terminal: around 140 minutes

Reservations

Prior reservations required.
Reservations are required by 6:00 p.m. at least seven days ahead of your planned departure. (You may still be able to make a reservation after this deadline, depending on seat availability.)
If you’re staying overnight at accommodation facilities other than Rusutsu Resort, or arriving for a day trip, we recommend using the Resort Liner bus service.
*As of October 2019
*Service periods and other information are subject to change. Check the official website for details and updates to the service period, timetable, fares, etc.

2: Access from New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort: Resort Liner

The following explains about Resort Liner, another direct bus service from New Chitose Airport to Rusutsu Resort, including rules for passengers, as well as detailed access information.
Follow the staff member's directions to the bus stop and get on the bus.
This bus, bound for Niseko, stops at Rusutsu Resort before arriving at the terminal. Prior reservations are necessary, but you can still use the service even if you are not staying overnight.
Those who using the bus for a day trip may only get on and off the bus at Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention, not at The Westin Rusutsu Resort.

At New Chitose Airport, be sure to arrive at the designated meeting place in either the domestic terminal or the international terminal to sign up for the bus service, rather than going directly to the bus stop, just like you would for the Big Runs bus service.

Passengers arriving on domestic and international flights are all requested to arrive at the meeting place at least 15 minutes before the bus departs.
Please note that the meeting place is different to that for the Big Runs bus service, as explained below.

For passengers arriving on domestic flights: To sign up for the bus service, go to the tour desk for domestic flights situated on the ground floor of the terminal building.

The reception desk for the Resort Liner bus service is situated between Arrival Gate 4 and Arrival Gate 5 on the ground floor of the domestic terminal building. The desk is marked by an orange Hokkaido Resort Liner sign to distinguish it from counters run by other travel agencies, etc. lined up nearby.

After passing through Arrival Gate 4, turn left and continue walking for around two minutes. In the case of Arrival Gate 5, turn right and continue for around one minute. If you exit through Arrival Gate 1, 2 or 3, you’ll need to walk further as mentioned above. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time when scheduling your bus trip.
Several counters run by travel agencies stand side by side. The reception desk is marked by an orange sign.

For passengers arriving on international flights: The meeting place is just in front of the arrival gate on the second floor of the international terminal building.

The reception desk for the Resort Liner bus service is situated on the second floor of the international terminal building. After leaving the restricted-access zone through the Arrivals gate, turn left and keep walking until you arrive at a spot where there are several tour counters standing together. Go to the desk marked with the sign HOKKAIDO RESORT LINER in English. It takes one or two minutes to get there after exiting the Arrivals gate.

Please note that the meeting place is subject to change, so check the bus company’s official website for the latest information.
Those signs are also written in English, Korean and Chinese.

Bus service period

From December 1, 2019 until April 3, 2020

Travel time to the ski resort

Access to Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention
From New Chitose Airport’s domestic terminal: around 125 minutes
From New Chitose Airport’s international terminal: around 115 minutes

Access to The Westin Rusutsu Resort
From New Chitose Airport’s domestic terminal: around 130 minutes
From New Chitose Airport’s international terminal: around 120 minutes

Reservations

Reservations required
*As of March 2019
*Service periods and other information are subject to change. Check the official website for details and updates to the service period, timetable, fares, etc.

3: Access from Sapporo to Rusutsu Resort: "Rusutsu" free shuttle bus service

From Sapporo to Rusutsu Resort, there’s the “Rusutsu” free shuttle bus service available, which takes 120 minutes. Other options include the paid Resort Liner direct bus service linking major hotels in Sapporo City to Rusutsu Resort, and another service between Sapporo Station Terminal and Toyako Onsen via Rusutsu Resort. The following explains the “Rusutsu” free bus service.
The Rusutsu bus service is free of charge, making it great value.
You need to make a reservation to use the “Rusutsu” bus service. Not only guests at Rusutsu Resort, but also those arriving for a day trip and wanting a bus service just to access a ski resort can use this bus service.

Get on the bus in front of the Kamori Building 3, which is around two minutes’ walk from JR/subway Sapporo Station.
After leaving JR Sapporo Station through the south exit, head diagonally forward to the right and you will see the Sapporo Daimaru department store on your right and a police box on your left. Keep walking and you will see a silver building with a Yomiuri Shimbun sign across a street ahead of you and to the left and another silver building, ASTY 45, further back.
The Yomiuri Shimbun building, front, and the ASTY 45 building, right
At the crossing of Kita 5/Nishi 4. Use the pedestrian crossing in the front-right or the left in the photo.
Use the crossing of Kita 5/Nishi 4 on a green light to reach the side of the Yomiuri Shimbun building. Keep going straight with the Yomiuri Shimbun building on your left, and you’ll soon see a Lawson convenience store on your left. The building with the Lawson store is Kamori Building 3. The bus will arrive in front of the building.
The building with a Lawson convenience store
You need to make a prior reservation for this bus service. Unless you make a reservation by 17:00 on the day before your planned ride, you will not be allowed to get on the bus.

Bus service period

Available every day when the ski resort is open

Travel time to the ski resort

Access to Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention
From Sapporo (Kamori Building 3): around 120 minutes

Access to The Westin Rusutsu Resort
From Sapporo (Kamori Building 3): around 130 minutes

Reservations

Prior reservation required.
Reservation required by 17:00 on the day before your planned ride.
*As of October 2019
*Service periods and other information are subject to change. Check the official website for details and updates to the service period, timetable, fares, etc.

4: Access from Niseko to Rusutsu Resort

As the bus service linking Niseko, an internationally renowned winter resort, and Rusutsu Resort has a limited capacity, it’s only available by reservation and only during a limited period. Niseko is home to several large-scale ski slopes at the foot of Mt. Niseko Annupuri, and the bus stops off at three of the slopes, adjacent hotels, etc.

Travel time differs depending on where you start from, and ranges from 60 to 100 minutes. The Rusutsu Resort terminal is in front of the north wing of Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention. The following information describes the three ski slopes where the bus stops.
In front of the north wing of Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention
(Photo by Akira Tsujino)
Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area features a ski field slope with big, wide runs. The bus arrives at nearby hotel Niseko Northern Resort Annupuri and stops at the Niseko Annupuri bus stop near Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area before heading for the next area.

Niseko Village Ski Resort boasts a slope with many long runs, including some that wind through primeval forests. The bus stops at two hotels directly connected to the ski field. The bus arrives at Green Leaf Hotel and then stops at Hilton Niseko Village before heading to the next slope.

Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort is the largest ski slope in the Niseko area and looks like a winter resort city thanks to its plentiful accommodation facilities and restaurants. The bus stops at the Hirafu Welcome Counter in front of the Hirafu Welcome Center, which is close to ski field, and at the Hirafu Crossroads bus stop near the entrance to this area.
There are bus stops set up by various bus companies in front of the Welcome Center.
(Photo by Akira Tsujino)
Travel time to Rusutsu Resort
From Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area: around 100 minutes
From Niseko Village Ski Resort: around 90 minutes
From Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort: around 60 minutes

Bus service period

From December 13, 2019 until March 8, 2020

Required time to ski resorts

Required time to Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention
From Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area: around 100 minutes
From Niseko Village Ski Resort: around 90 minutes
From Niseko Grand Hirafu Ski Resort: around 60 minutes

Reservations

Reservations required (Donan Bus Kutchan Office TEL: 0136-22-1558)
*Service periods and other information are subject to change. Check the official website for details and updates to the service period, timetable, fares, etc.

5: Access from Kutchan to Rusutsu Resort

To visit Rusutsu Resort by train, it’s convenient to use the local bus service from JR Kutchan Station. This route is best if you’re also visiting other sightseeing spots like Otaru and Yoichi by public transport. This bus stops at Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention, but not at The Westin Rusutsu Resort.

The bus ride takes about 56 minutes. There are no reservations for this fixed route bus, and the service runs all year round.

Bus service period

Available all year round

Travel time to ski resorts

Travel time to Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention
From JR Kutchan Station: around 56 minutes

Reservations

Reservations not required
*As of March 2019
*Service periods and other information are subject to change. Check the official website for details and updates to the service period, timetable, fares, etc.

Rusutsu Resort

Located a 90-minute bus ride from Sapporo/New Chitose Airport, the resort boasts 37 runs spread over three mountains: West Mt., East Mt. and Mt. Isola. The largest snow resort in Hokkaido, with the finest powder and a total run length of 42 km, also features hooded lifts/gondolas that guarantee your comfort. There are runs with compacted snow designed for beginners; Freedom Park where both intermediate and advanced skiers can let loose fun; and a back-country park that takes advantage of the natural topography and uncompacted snow.

Facility Information

New Chitose Airport

Address
Bibi, Chitose-shi, Hokkaido 066-0012
URL
http://www.new-chitose-airport.jp/ja/

Sapporo (Kamori Building 3)

Address
Kita 4-Jo Nishi 4-chome 1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 060-0004

Rusutsu Resort

Address
13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu-mura, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 048-1711
URL
https://surfsnow.jp/guide/htm/r0331s.htm

Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area

Address
485 Niseko, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 048-1511
URL
https://surfsnow.jp/guide/htm/r0260s.htm

Niseko Village Ski Resort

Address
Higashiyama-onsen, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, 048-1592
URL
https://surfsnow.jp/guide/htm/r0119s.htm

Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu

Address
204 Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0081
URL
https://surfsnow.jp/guide/htm/r0148s.htm

JR Kutchan Station

Address
Minami 3-Jo Nishi 4-chome 3, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0033

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