Villa Rusutsu

The cabins are pleasant and properly equipped for families or groups, and breakfast was fine. The resort sits a little outside the main village, and staff tried to help with rides into town and other services. The serious problem was the marbled stink bugs. Our cabin, and apparently some others too, had hundreds of them. It got bad enough that operations should have been shut down. Staff said they couldn’t handle it, and what they tried didn’t solve anything. We never saw management. The cabins would be nice once the infestation is dealt with, but it seems like a bigger issue than they want to acknowledge, and management appears to be looking away.

I regret booking this place and won’t consider it for next season. We paid roughly 91,000 Yen per night, and I wish I’d spent the money elsewhere. The log cabin was infested with Stink Bugs coming through gaps in the window seals, exhaust fans, and cracks in the timber. When disturbed, they give off a horrible smell. My wife and I were woken more than once by bugs landing on us. One got inside my ski hood while it was drying by the fireplace. It stank up the hood when I picked it up, but I had to wear it in the freezing cold. Odour beads placed around the cabin didn’t mask the smell. Service was average. Staff vacuumed the bugs once a day, even though there were two or three obvious entry points. A couple of times we came back from skiing at 2pm to find the cabin unlocked and not serviced. I was told they’d only changed the bins and would return later to vacuum the bugs. The spa bath leaked and needed the tap running constantly to keep its water level up. They give guests a number to call about problems, but there’s no room phone, and most international visitors won’t have Japanese call coverage. Maybe a WhatsApp contact would help. We stayed seven nights to ski Rusutsu, which was amazing, but the bug problem ruined the accommodation for me.

We ended up here because we booked last minute and it was the only accommodation left. I’m glad we were disorganized! When we arrived, the resort was almost inaccessible under 600mm of snow. After a day skiing, we came back to find the maze cleared and the place revealed. The high-ceilinged log cabins feel luxurious but cozy, and they’ve really got that balance right. Breakfast was included, had heaps of options, and became a highlight. Most of all, the staff made the trip. From the moment we arrived, they were professional, courteous, and ready to accommodate our requests. That took away the stress that usually comes with a ski trip. We’ll return next year mainly because of them, as well as the lovely place and food.

The team were fantastic, driving us to and picking us up whenever we asked, even outside their usual times. The villa was amazing, and the spa and restaurant were great too. The beds were hard, though the futon bed was good. I’d definitely stay again.