snowingplaces

Ski resort in Hokkaido, Japan

Rusutsu

A large Hokkaido resort spread over three mountains, with a hotel complex and a summer amusement park.

Forecast updated , when it was 22:00 in Rusutsu (GMT+9).

Rusutsu snow forecast at 994 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Rusutsu at the top lift (994 m / 3,300 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from 7 to 16 °C (45 to 61 °F) and the freezing level near 4,150 m (13,600 ft) over the next day.

Temperature now
7 °C (45 °F)
Freezing level
4,150 m (13,600 ft)
Wind
5 km/h (3 mph), gusts 10 km/h (6 mph)

Rusutsu hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Rusutsu in the next 24 hours.

Rusutsu 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TonightDry7 °C (45 °F) · freezing level 4,150 m (13,600 ft)No snow
SatDry7 to 16 °C (45 to 61 °F) · freezing level 4,000 m (13,100 ft)No snow
SunDry10 to 18 °C (50 to 64 °F) · freezing level 4,150 m (13,600 ft)No snow
MonDry8 to 18 °C (46 to 64 °F) · freezing level 4,300 m (14,100 ft)No snow
TueDry6 to 16 °C (43 to 61 °F) · freezing level 4,000 m (13,100 ft)No snow
WedDry4 to 15 °C (39 to 59 °F) · freezing level 3,600 m (11,800 ft)No snow
ThuDry4 to 14 °C (39 to 57 °F) · freezing level 3,250 m (10,700 ft)No snow

Rusutsu 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepDry2 to 13 °C (36 to 55 °F)No snow
Sat 26 SepDry6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepRain5 to 13 °C (41 to 55 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepDry4 to 12 °C (39 to 54 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepDry4 to 12 °C (39 to 54 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepDry6 to 10 °C (43 to 50 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctDry4 to 11 °C (39 to 52 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Rusutsu on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Rusutsu?

Prefecture
Hokkaido
Country
Japan
Village
400 m
Top lift
994 m
Vertical
594 m
Pistes
42 km
Lifts
19
Season
Late November to Late March
Airports
New Chitose (CTS)

About Rusutsu

Rusutsu Resort’s ski terrain covers three mountains: West Mountain, East Mountain and Mount Isola. It has 37 courses, a vertical drop of 594 m and a longest run of 3.5 km.

The resort also runs an amusement park, hotels and golf courses. A shuttle bus from New Chitose Airport takes about two hours.

When does it snow in Rusutsu?

In Rusutsu, snow falls on about 17 days in December in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from November to April.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Rusutsu at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
16 days15 days9 days4 days<1 days0 days0 days0 days0 days<1 days7 days17 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Rusutsu month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Rusutsu, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January1624%−12 to −6 °C (10 to 21 °F)
February1520%−11 to −5 °C (12 to 23 °F)
March917%−7 to 0 °C (19 to 32 °F)
April46%−2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F)
May<10%5 to 13 °C (41 to 55 °F)
June00%9 to 17 °C (48 to 63 °F)
July00%14 to 21 °C (57 to 70 °F)
August00%15 to 22 °C (59 to 72 °F)
September00%11 to 18 °C (52 to 64 °F)
October<12%4 to 11 °C (39 to 52 °F)
November79%−3 to 3 °C (27 to 37 °F)
December1722%−10 to −4 °C (14 to 25 °F)

Snow in Rusutsu in November

In November, Rusutsu gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 9% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 3 °C (27 to 37 °F).

Snow in Rusutsu in December

In December, Rusutsu gets snow on about 17 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 22% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −10 to −4 °C (14 to 25 °F).

Snow in Rusutsu in January

In January, Rusutsu gets snow on about 16 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 24% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −6 °C (10 to 21 °F).

Snow in Rusutsu in February

In February, Rusutsu gets snow on about 15 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 20% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −11 to −5 °C (12 to 23 °F).

Snow in Rusutsu in March

In March, Rusutsu gets snow on about 9 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 17% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −7 to 0 °C (19 to 32 °F).

Snow in Rusutsu in April

In April, Rusutsu gets snow on about 4 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 6% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −2 to 7 °C (28 to 45 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Rusutsu?

Of the last ten winters in Rusutsu, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 43% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2018/19, about 25% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 11 January 2022.

Snowfall in Rusutsu for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/17104% of average
2017/18143% of average
2018/1975% of average
2019/2097% of average
2020/21102% of average
2021/22124% of average
2022/2387% of average
2023/2491% of average
2024/2581% of average
2025/2698% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Rusutsu

Does Rusutsu have snow at Christmas?

Rusutsu had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.

Does Rusutsu have snow at New Year?

Rusutsu had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in every one of those years.

Does Rusutsu have snow in mid-February?

Rusutsu had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.

Does Rusutsu have snow at Easter?

Rusutsu had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 4 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Rusutsu?

It snows on about 69 days a year in Rusutsu at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. December has the most, about 17 days.

What is the snowiest month in Rusutsu?

January is the snowiest month in Rusutsu, bringing about 24% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025. December has the most snowy days, about 17.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Rusutsu?

Of the last ten winters in Rusutsu, 2017/18 was the snowiest, about 43% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2018/19, about 25% below average.

How cold does Rusutsu get in winter?

January is the coldest month in Rusutsu at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −12 °C (10 °F) and highs of −6 °C (21 °F).

How high is Rusutsu?

The village or lowest lift at Rusutsu is at 400 m (1,300 ft) and the top lift is at 994 m (3,300 ft), a vertical drop of 594 m (1,900 ft).

When does the ski season start in Rusutsu?

The lifts at Rusutsu usually open in late November and close in late March. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Rusutsu

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of RusutsuNiseko United, about 20 km away, no snow this week; Otaru, about 50 km away, out of season; Sapporo, about 50 km away, out of season; Hakodate, about 110 km away, out of season; Furano, about 130 km away, no snow this week.50 km100 km150 kmNNiseko United: No snow this weekOtaru: Out of seasonSapporo: Out of seasonHakodate: Out of seasonFurano: No snow this weekNiseko UnitedOtaruSapporoHakodateFuranoRusutsu
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
Niseko UnitedSki resort, about 20 km awayNo snow this weekOtaruCity, about 50 km awayOut of seasonSapporoCity, about 50 km awayOut of seasonHakodateCity, about 110 km awayOut of season

Compare Rusutsu for snow

More ski resorts in Hokkaido

Sources: Wikipedia, Rusutsu Resort airport bus, Rusutsu Resort winter lift tickets, Skiresort.info (Rusutsu)