The Westin Rusutsu Resort

The loft-style rooms were roomy, stylish, and practical, making them a good fit for families or groups. It was convenient to have sports and food shops on site, though they aren’t tax-free. The food was excellent, with lots of variety and quality local ingredients, and service stayed friendly and attentive throughout. After a day on the slopes, I really enjoyed the clean, modern sauna and bubbling aromatics hot pool. The indoor and outdoor onsens were excellent too, with mountain views and refreshing air during the outdoor soak. The Westin Rusutsu Resort brings together comfort, luxury, and Hokkaido’s natural beauty for a relaxing ski stay. Highly recommended for the Rusutsu area.

The room was large, clean, and had great views, and the Murphy beds were already made. The layout was awkward, though, with the washroom downstairs and little space upstairs. The onsen and sauna were nice, but there were no extra services to make the stay feel special. Getting through check-in took forever, with a long line and only a few staff who spoke English well enough. Breakfast and dining in the lobby were also slow and involved more lines. Three slow elevators had to serve too many guests. I’ve visited Japan several times, and for a 4 star resort the service was among the least efficient I’ve encountered. I wouldn’t recommend it, since there are surely better service options around Japan, and the value just wasn’t there.

The onsen was such a good end to a ski day, with several mineral baths and everything kept very clean. I did feel a bit awkward crossing the lobby in a robe at first, though everyone else was doing it too, so I got used to it. A second-floor connection from the rooms would be nice. Our two-level room had a bedroom upstairs and a huge living area below, with two queen Murphy beds, a small bar area, and sweeping views of both the east and west mountains. The east gondola was a short walk away, and a quick monorail ride took us to the neighboring hotel for access to the west mountain. I mostly skied there since I’m a beginner and liked the green runs. We never faced long lift lines. There were plenty of places to eat nearby, but we kept going to the Westin Rusutsu for its amazing buffet. The rental shop had everything we needed, and the stores were good too. We ended up buying a whole new outfit and equipment. It was so convenient to stay right by the slopes without driving through snow or hauling all our gear around. We had a great time and I’d happily come back.

The staff were really helpful, and the big lobby and parking areas made things easy. There are a few shops, rental counters, and a monorail over to the resort. The onsen is accessible, and the hotel is close to the ski areas. I enjoyed the stay, though the decor and amenities felt pretty dated compared with other Westins I’ve visited. With so many guests coming through, I guess it does the job.