About 30 minutes by car from Lake Toya, Rusutsu Resort in the village of Rusutsu is one of Hokkaido’s largest resorts—an amusement park in summer and a ski area in winter. It’s close enough for a full day out, so the best way to enjoy it is to base yourself at a whole-house rental on Lake Toya and pair the resort with the local onsen. In this article, Kamonoya, a lodging operator right here on Lake Toya, introduces the highlights of Rusutsu Resort and shares tips for making the lake your base.
What is Rusutsu Resort?
Rusutsu Resort is a large resort in the village of Rusutsu, right next to Lake Toya. In summer it’s an amusement park, with thrill rides and other attractions, golf, and a range of activities; in winter it’s a ski area, with vast slopes spread across several mountains. Its appeal is that it has something for everyone all year round, from families to groups looking for an active day out.
Attraction names, opening hours, prices, and operating seasons change from year to year and season to season. Before you head out, please check the official website for the latest and most accurate information.
Rusutsu in summer: one of Hokkaido’s largest amusement parks
In summer, the huge amusement park is the main draw. There’s everything from thrill rides to gentle attractions the whole family can enjoy. Add golf and a variety of outdoor activities, and there’s more than enough to fill an entire day.
Summer at Lake Toya also brings the Long-run Fireworks Festival, so you can plan a day around playing hard at Rusutsu by day and watching fireworks from the lakeside at night.
Rusutsu in winter: one of Hokkaido’s largest ski areas
In winter, Rusutsu is a ski area prized for its vast slopes across several mountains. Many skiers and snowboarders come from Japan and abroad in search of its high-quality powder snow. With a rich variety of runs from beginner to advanced, there’s something for every level.
Base yourself at Lake Toya and it’s easy to venture beyond Rusutsu to spots like Niseko (about an hour by car), making the lake a convenient starting point for a Hokkaido ski trip. For more detailed tips on setting up a winter base, see our winter Lake Toya ski-base guide as well.
How to enjoy Lake Toya as your base
Rusutsu is close enough for an easy day trip, but there are real advantages to staying at Lake Toya rather than within the resort itself: soothing away the day’s tiredness in the warm waters of the onsen town, and relaxing in a space that’s entirely your own—something only a whole-house rental can offer.
All of Kamonoya’s lodgings are whole-house rentals, booked for your group alone and fully equipped with a kitchen. Even when you come back worn out from a day of fun, you can unwind without worrying about other guests.
- Toya Farmer’s House (up to 18 guests, from ¥25,000/night) — a whole-house rental for larger groups. It has a fireplace, making it perfect as a winter ski base.
- Lake Toya Base (up to 20 guests, from ¥30,000/night) — great for three-generation trips and groups, with a large screen and a fireplace.
- Toya House (up to 8 guests, from ¥24,000/night) — in the heart of the onsen town, a handy base for a family stay.
- Cloud9 Toya (up to 11 guests, from ¥27,000/night) — a warm whole-house rental with a wood-burning stove, where you can gather around the fire after a day on the slopes.
For larger groups, our large-group lodging guide is also worth a look. For details you may be wondering about, such as pet policies and amenities, please check each property page or contact us.
Access and things to do nearby
Rusutsu Resort is about 30 minutes by car from the Lake Toya onsen town. As a rough guide, it’s about 2 hours by car from New Chitose Airport and about 2 hours from Sapporo. On the way to or from Rusutsu, you can also stop by Lake Toya’s nearby highlights, such as Showa-Shinzan, the Mount Usu Ropeway, the Silo Observatory, and Lake Hill Farm. Combine the resort with sightseeing around Lake Toya and make the most of your Hokkaido trip.
Booking directly through our official site is the best-value official rate, with no agency commission (best-rate guarantee). Check availability here. If you’d like to browse our other properties too, take a look at the full list of facilities.
FAQ
Q. How far is Rusutsu Resort from Lake Toya?
About 30 minutes by car from the Lake Toya onsen town. It’s close enough for a full day out, so we recommend staying at Lake Toya and using it as your base.
Q. Can you tell me about the attractions and operating seasons?
Summer offers an amusement park (thrill rides, golf, and various outdoor activities) and winter a ski area—completely different ways to enjoy the resort depending on the season. That said, individual attraction names, opening hours, prices, and operating seasons change from year to year, so please check the official website for the latest information before you head out.
Q. In winter, can I visit other areas besides just skiing at Rusutsu?
Yes. Niseko is about an hour by car from Lake Toya, so you can use the lake as a base to tour several ski areas together with Rusutsu. For details, please see our winter Lake Toya ski-base guide.