Rusutsu Ski Resort, Hokkaido, Japan

We've spent the past four days on Japan's North island - Hokkaido.  We caught an afternoon flight from Tokyo to Sapporo.  And then about a 90 minute bus ride from the Sapporo airport to Rusutsu Ski Resort.  



Skiing in Japan has many similarities to our skiing in Colorado.  However one difference you notice as you head to the lifts is that Rusutsu happens to have an amusement park right at the base of the ski area!  Notice the roller coaster in the photo above?  Can Vail be far behind?

One of the four gondolas at Rusutsu.

Another difference is that ski boots are not allowed in the hotel.   Notice the slippers.   

Also note the stylish ski apparel.  Fortunately in Japan the ski shops do a "full set" rental which includes not only ski equipment but your gloves, pants, coat, goggles, and helmet (or beanie).  Which saved us from lugging ours around the world - or shipping it all over here.




Yet another difference is that during a blizzard here, the snow falls horizontally.  We learned that the storms come in across the Sea of Japan from Siberia - and dump a lot of snow in a very short time period.  Think 2" per hour.  Ski areas on Hokkaido average 500 - 600 inches of snow per season.  On our first day, we skied in a white out for most of the afternoon.  Which made for a perfect blue sky powder morning the next day!

Mountain cafeteria lunch - Ramen and Asahi.

Dinner our second night was at a restaurant named "Goofy's".  The ambience (translated from Japanese) can best be described as "box made from plywood"  - photo below.

The owner/bartender/host/manager/waiter/busboy/chef/dishwasher was the only employee who worked at Goofy's.   As is standard in Japan, the meal was delicious.  When we finished up, we asked if he could call us a taxi.  He said that would take at least an hour for a cab and he would be happy to drive us back to our hotel!  He walked around to the other diners, let them all know he would be right back, and then loaded us in his car, and drove us the five minutes back to our hotel.  The level of service in Japan is truly unmatched!  Meanwhile the other two or three tables were left without an employee in the restaurant... but knowing he would be right back.  Unbelievable!  

After dinner we were all ready for an "Onsen" (the Japanese hot communal bath) but were sad to learn that they would not allow anyone in with "full body tattoos".  Darn it, I guess we will all need to find another onsen with a bit more liberal rules!

Ski day #2:  Blue sky!  Powder!  

Glad we have clear skies and can now see Mt. Yotei in the distance - another volcano!

Cameron in the powder at noon.  Does anyone else ski here?!  Fresh tracks most of the day.

Mt. Yotei in the background.  Cameron in the foreground.

Allison looking for fresh tracks.

Carol in the powder.  Blue skies and soft snow!

Waiting at the lift station for me to pull myself out of the trees.

We all rang the bell.

A few photos from day #3 below:

Allison in the fall line on a double black diamond!

Another curious difference with Japanese skiing - the chairlifts run about two to eight feet off the snow.  Which makes for some interesting (and cautious) turns when you are skiing the lift line runs below the chairs!  Check out Cameron next to the chair below. Typical around the mountain.  Definitely an obstacle course on those lift line trails.

Mountain top view of Lake Toya - and beyond, the Pacific ocean!

Rusutsu is well known for tree skiing.  And I have to say it is some of the best I've have ever seen - most of the mountain is filled with well spaced birch(?) trees and loads of powder.  

Cameron in the trees.

Dinner our last night in Japan - another plywood box with one employee cooking, waiting, clearing, bartending.  I peeked back in the kitchen and he was washing the dishes too (his wife and baby daughter were watching him)!  

On the road to the Sapporo airport.

We will miss Japan!  The Japanese are so very kind and care so much about making sure visitors enjoy their beautiful country.

On the way to our next adventure - Bejing, China!