Rusutsu Resort

Rusutsu Resort
LocationRusutsu, Hokkaidō, Japan
Vertical594 m (1,949 ft)
Top elevation994 m (3,261 ft)
Base elevation400 m (1,312 ft)
Skiable area2.12 km2 (523.9 acres)
Trails37
Longest run3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi)
Lift system19 (4 gondola lifts, 7 quad chairlifts, and 8 pair chairlifts)
Lift capacity30,300 per hour
Websitehttp://www.rusutsu.co.jp/

The Rusutsu Resort (ルスツリゾート, Rusutsu Rizōto) is the largest resort in Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by Kamori Kankō. The resort is famous for its ski slopes but also offers year-round attractions including an amusement park and golf courses.

Ski resort

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The ski resort extends over three mountains; West Mountain, East Mountain, and Mount Isola. The total number of courses is 37, with a total length of 42 kilometres (26 mi). Rusutsu Resort was the first Japanese ski resort to be awarded Best Small Resort by The Great Skiing & Snowboarding Guide, a British ski magazine. According to a 2003 survey by View Communications, Japanese NPO, skiers ranked the resort as the most satisfying among 48 ski resorts in Japan.

Courses

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All slopes allow skiing, snowboarding, and snowscooting.

  • Slopes for beginners: 10
  • Slopes for intermediate skiers/snowboarders: 12
  • Slopes for advanced skiers/snowboarders: 11
  • Slopes for very advanced skiers/snowboarders: 4
  • Total: 37

Aerial lifts

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Name Japanese Length Max. speed Capacity Built
per
lift
per
hour
West Gondola ウエストゴンドラ 1,104 m
(3,622 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 1,200 November 1983
West 1st Quad ウエスト第1クワッド 619 m
(2,031 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 2,400 November 1997
West 2nd Quad ウエスト第2クワッド 924 m
(3,031 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 2,400 November 1994
West Pair Lift ウエストペアリフト 637 m
(2,090 ft)
2.0 m/s
(6.6 ft/s)
2 1,048 December 1986
West Tiger Pair Lift ウエストタイガーペアリフト 512 m
(1,680 ft)
2.3 m/s
(7.5 ft/s)
2 900 November 2005
East Gondola Line 1 イーストゴンドラ1号線 1,654 m
(5,426 ft)
5.0 m/s
(16.4 ft/s)
6 1,800 November 1987
East Gondola Line 2 イーストゴンドラ2号線 2,071 m
(6,795 ft)
5.0 m/s
(16.4 ft/s)
6 1,800 November 1987
East Quad イーストクワッド 1,381 m
(4,531 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 2,400 December 1987
East 1st Pair Lift イースト第1ペアリフト 721 m
(2,365 ft)
1.6 m/s
(5.2 ft/s)
2 1,200 November 1997
East 2nd Pair Lift イースト第2ペアリフト 810 m
(2,657 ft)
2.3 m/s
(7.5 ft/s)
2 1,200 November 1995
Tower Pair Lift タワーペアリフト 1,182 m
(3,877 ft)
n/a 2 n/a 2007
Across 1st Pair Lift アクロス第1ペアリフト 149 m
(489 ft)
1.8 m/s
(5.9 ft/s)
2 1,200 December 1988
Across 2nd Pair Lift アクロス第2ペアリフト n/a n/a 2 n/a December 1989
Isola Gondola イゾラゴンドラ 2,858 m
(9,377 ft)
5.0 m/s
(16.4 ft/s)
6 1,800 December 1988
Isola 1st Quad イゾラ第1クワッド 1,732 m
(5,682 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 2,400 December 1989
Isola 2nd Quad イゾラ第2クワッド 1,421 m
(4,662 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 2,400 November 1990
Isola 3rd Quad イゾラ第3クワッド 1,660 m
(5,446 ft)
4.0 m/s
(13.1 ft/s)
4 2,400 December 1995
Isola 4th Quad イゾラ第4クワッド 1,140 m
(3,740 ft)
5.0 m/s
(16.4 ft/s)
4 2,400 November 1996
Isola 5th Pair Lift イゾラ第5ペアリフト 498 m
(1,634 ft)
2.3 m/s
(7.5 ft/s)
2 1,028 2006

Amusement park

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The amusement park offers more than 60 attractions and rides including eight roller coasters, swimming pools, ropes courses, train rides, go karts and other thrill rides.

The operator increased the number of rides by buying discounted facilities from closing amusement parks and local exposition from other parts of Japan and overseas. The outdoor swimming attractions are open in summer vacation season, can be open as short as four weeks from the end of July.

Roller coasters
Year opened Name Manufacturer Type Design
1983 Cokescrew Arrow Development Steel Sit down
1983 Mountain jet coaster Meisho Amusement Machine Steel Sit down
1983 Loop the loop Meisho Amusement Machine Steel Sit down
1985 Standing coaster Togo Steel Standing
1989 Ultra twister Togo Steel Sit down
1996 Hurricane Vekoma Steel Suspended
2003 Mad mouse Saeki Kogyo Steel Sit down/Kiddie
2005 Go go sneaker Togo Steel Sit down/Kiddie

Golf courses

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There are four golf courses; Tower Course, Izumikawa Course, River Course, and Wood Course, with 72 holes in total.

Hotels

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There are six hotels; South Wing, North Wing, and The Westin Rusutsu Resort (previously Rusutsu Tower),The Vale Rusutsu (Condo Hotel),Travel Lodge, Highland Lodge(previously Main Building) . The facilities can accommodate up to 4,000 visitors. The 79 m (259 ft) tall Rusutsu Tower opened in 1993 and is a symbol of the resort. Since July 8, 2016, it has been renamed to The Westin Rusutsu Resort. It is linked to South Wing by a slope car (small rack monorail), and to East Mountain by Tower Pair Lift.

There also is a campsite. Renewaled at 2021, expanded shop service and opened RV grounds.

See also

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42°44′59″N 140°54′12″E / 42.74968°N 140.90329°E / 42.74968; 140.90329