Little Steps Reviews: The Vale Rusutsu In Hokkaido With Kids

HOW TO GET TO THE VALE RUSUTSU IN HOKKAIDO:

Before our trip, we hadn't heard much about Rusutsu as a ski destination, but now we can't stop praising it. Families arrive at New Chitose Airport (the same airport as Niseko) and can take private transport or a bus straight to The Vale Rusutsu.

Taking The Bus: New Chitose Airport - Rusutsu

• BIG RUN BUS:  You can book Big Run Bus For JPY 4,500 per person via the link here.
• Note, the bus runs exclusively to customers using Rusutsu Resort (which includes The Vale Rusutsu).  They will pick you up and drop you off at the door.
• If your flight arrives late, the bus may not be an option for you.  Be sure to check in advance and arrange a private transfer if the bus is not running for your flight times.

Taking Private Transfer: New Chitose Airport - Rusutsu

• You can ask the lovely team at The Vale Rusutsu to arrange a private transfer which costs between JPY 48,000 and JPY 62,500, depending on the availability of transfer companies.

STAY: THE VALE RUSUTSU

For families seeking a blend of luxury and convenience, The Vale Rusutsu is the perfect choice for a ski getaway. Named the world's best new ski hotel in 2021 and Japan’s best ski hotel in 2024, it offers the most luxurious accommodations in Rusutsu. With spacious rooms that can accommodate up to 10 guests, exceptional customer service, and a prime ski-in/ski-out location, it’s designed for ultimate family fun.

The Rooms:

• The Vale Rusutsu is the only condo-style hotel in town and can accommodate a variety of family sizes from 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom Penthouse requests.  We traveled as a family of 3 and stayed in the 2-bedroom Premier Residence.
• Our room was gorgeous with views of the slopes via the giant floor-to-ceiling windows.  The style is spacious, minimalistic, and practical.  The layout was ideal with space for everyone, a kitchen, a dining room, in-room laundry, and the most comfy lounge in town.  Of course, everyone loved the Japanese toilets!

The Hotel:

• It's all in one place!  We all know how much time and energy ski trips can be with kids in tow.  From the trips to ski rental shops, the lines, the ski school drops, and the carrying of skis, there is a lot of stress in typical ski trips with families.  At The Vale Rusutsu, they have it all in one place for easy breezy fun from ski set-up to after-ski onsens.
• Ski-In / Ski-Out:  Directly next to the cafe, you will find the locker room where you can store your skis and equipment overnight.  The slope is directly out the side door making the morning ski runs simple and drama-free.  Our mornings typically consisted of a coffee, hitting the lockers, and then hitting the slopes - all within an hour.
• Ski lockers On Site - We can't say enough about this perk!
• Reception That Goes Beyond The Norm:  The kids loved that you can request free ski sleds from the reception at any time of the day.  Another huge perk is the shuttle!  The hotel provides a shuttle to anywhere in Rusutsu!  We visited the famous 7'11 (always a hit in Japan with kids) and took it to an Izakaya.  You book in advance and they have you covered.

The Extra Perks Of Staying Here With Kids:

• Easy Dining-In-Room With Kids: The kitchen is a huge bonus!  You can easily grab goodies from the bakery downstairs and whip up fresh pasta for the kids or order homemade pizza after 4 pm delivered to your room.
• For those looking to book ProPeak Ski School - that is also done in the lobby!
• One last thing - they have a lift ticket printer at reception so once you order online, you just pick it up and go.

SKIING IN RUSUTSU, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

Rusutsu is the perfect family skiing destination, offering a blend of stunning scenery, diverse terrain, and family-friendly amenities. With gentle slopes ideal for beginners and challenging runs for more experienced skiers, everyone in the family can enjoy the thrill of the mountains. The resort features excellent ski schools, ensuring kids and adults alike can learn and improve their skills together. Plus, with convenient ski-in/ski-out access and a variety of winter activities, Rusutsu makes it easy to create unforgettable memories on and off the slopes.

Ski Lift Tickets: We opted for the convenient 25-hour ski lift pass for our 4-day stay, which let us choose when we wanted to hit the slopes. The best part? We also got to enjoy the exciting night skiing right at the doorstep of The Vale Rusutsu! Top-ups in increments of 5 hours are available. You can easily book your ski lift tickets online and pick them up at the machine in the hotel lobby using the QR code sent to your email.

• Ski Lift Tickets, https://rusutsu.com/en/winter-lift-tickets/

Ski And Snowboard Rental: Renting equipment is a breeze as it's located inside the hotel!  Book in advance online here and just head downstairs for the fitting.  They have skis and snowboards for all ages including toddlers.  After you pick up your skis. you can move them upstairs to your locker and store them.

• Ski Rental At The Vale Rusutsu, https://rusutsu.com/en/ski-rentals/

Ski School:  Rusutsu has both group and private lessons available.  We opted for the high-value private lesson as the kids had not skied in a while.  We booked 2 days and loved and learned so much that we added on one extra day.  Our guide from ProPeak, Jacob, was a big hit with the kids and helped hone their skills, their confidence, and their knowledge of navigating the mountain!  We also learned about where to get ramen / hot chocolate after a full day.  You can book ski school in advance online here and meet your instructor in the lobby of The Vale Rusutsu.

• ProPeak Ski School, https://www.propeak.org/private-lessons

Dining On The Mountain:  There are a variety of options for lunch!  We had amazing cheese toast (with Hokkaido cheese) and gyoza from the coffee shop at The Vale Rusutsu.  We also enjoyed ramen, Hokkaido ice cream, hot chocolate, and more at the base mountain options.  You order food via a machine and go (credit card payments are available).  Super fun and affordable too.

OTHER NON-SKI ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY AROUND THE VALE RUSUTSU:

Beyond skiing, there’s so much fun to be had. Picture this: snowmobiling through stunning landscapes and even cozying up in a snow tent sauna! Kids can try snow rafting or ice fishing, while you soak in the beauty of Hokkaido’s winter wonderland. Plus, everything is super safe with trained guides.

On our trip, we tried the snowmobiling which was a blast!  We wore ski clothing and snow boots to keep warm.  Kids aged 13+ can drive their snowmobile so we were all riding solo!  The scenery was stunning and it was a bucket list activity we all want to do again.

We also tried snow rafting which is a big raft (all 3 of us jumped inside) which is pulled by a snowmobile guide.  It's as fast or slow as your tribe wants it to be!  The result was 3 snow-covered people and a lot of laughs.  Highly recommend!

Rusutsu Resort Winter Activities, https://rusutsu.com/en/winter-activities/

DINING IN AND AROUND THE VALE RUSUTSU:

Dining Inside The Vale Rusutsu:

• Seed Bagel And Coffee Company: We loved this cafe next to the lockers before ski days!  They offer amazing coffee, hot chocolate, and healthy breakfast items!  They also offer a mini grocery for picking up homemade DIY dinners and more.
• Homemade Pizza:  The hotel has homemade pizza on offer from 4pm every day.  The pizza can be ordered from your room and delivered too. You can even watch them cook it up outside in the cooking hut (pictured).

Dining Outside The Hotel:

• Dining Inside Rusutsu Resort:  What is so unique about this resort is that there is a giant tunnel connecting the hotel to the rest of the resort (hotels/restaurants/shops/groceries).  You can access all of these restaurants without stepping out into the cold!  If you have older kids - this perk is a big bonus as they can be independent and run around without any worries.  You can click here for a link to restaurants inside Rusutsu Resort.  We loved the isakaya - Kakashi as it was open late and had a fun Japanese vibe.  You can check which ones require reservations and which ones do not via the main link.
• Isakayas:  There are some fabulous local isakayas outside the hotel as well. These are small and popular so ask the concierge to book up!  If you are traveling during non-peak periods, you should not have a problem getting in but it's always best to book in advance. We loved Ou Teru!

ONSEN EXPERIENCE AT THE VALE RUSUTSU:

Who does not love a Japanese onsen? After a fun day on the slopes, unwind at Rusutsu Onsen - Kotobuki! This beautiful hot spring opened in 2019 and offers a stunning outdoor bath with panoramic mountain views. Kids and parents can enjoy the spacious family-friendly washing area, complete with kid-sized chairs. The healing waters, rich in sodium bicarbonate, are perfect for soothing sore muscles and rejuvenating your skin. Don’t miss the cave bath and soothing saunas, too! With convenient amenities and breathtaking scenery, it’s the ideal spot for families to relax and recharge during your winter getaway. Treat yourselves—we sure did!

Rusutsu Onsen Kotobuki, https://rusutsu.com/en/onsen-wellness/