Planning a Hokkaido Ski Trip? Here’s How Niseko and Rusutsu Compare in 2025

The first time I skied Niseko was back in February 2014, when I was still in full backpacker mode. I stayed in a budget ski hostel, rode the train in from Sapporo, and got the kind of Japow week you dream about: fresh snow every single day until my legs were begging for mercy. At the time, I was something of a novelty as an American skiing in Japan.

Fast forward to February 2025, and the trip looked very different. My brother flew in from Denver with a friend, we rented a car at the airport, and checked into a cozy Niseko Airbnb. This time, we split our ski days between Niseko and Rusutsu, just a short 20-minute drive apart, chasing the best snow and smallest crowds each day.

Both resorts still deliver the deep Hokkaido powder that put them on the map, but the vibe, scale, and experience couldn’t be more different. Niseko is the big, international hub with more terrain, more nightlife, and, these days, more crowds. Rusutsu is quieter, more local-feeling, and where we found our best powder day of the trip. In this post, I’ll break down what it’s really like skiing both in 2025 so you can decide which one’s right for your style — or why you might want to ski both.

If you’re just after the TL;DR, here’s how Niseko and Rusutsu stacked up after skiing both in February 2025.

I first skied Niseko more than a decade ago, when it still felt like a bit of a secret. In 2025, it’s anything but. The skiing is still phenomenal, and the Japow still delivers, but the experience comes with more people, more infrastructure, and a more polished (and busier) resort scene.

Niseko United combines four interconnected ski areas — Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, and Annupuri — giving you a huge variety of runs, tree lines, and backcountry access gates. On a powder day, it’s easy to spend hours lapping your favorite lift or chasing fresh lines into the sidecountry.

For a better sense of the mountain layout and where each base area sits, here’s the official Niseko United trail map, covering Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village, and Annupuri.

The snow is as good as ever, but wind can sometimes close upper lifts and gate access. On my trip, we had one day where the Hanazono backcountry gates reopened after being shut for several days, and the ridge hike looked like ants marching toward the goods. Still worth it, but expect to share those fresh turns with plenty of other powder hunters.

🎥 Here’s a quick clip from that day:

Niseko has firmly cemented itself on the global ski map, thanks in part to Ikon Pass access and strong international marketing. These days, you’ll hear plenty of American, Australian, and European accents in the lift lines, and dining reservations are a must in peak season.

The atmosphere is lively, especially in Hirafu Village, where you’ll find bars, restaurants, and après spots buzzing into the night. If you like the social side of ski trips, Niseko delivers.

For this trip, I skipped bringing my own skis from Korea and rented from Rhythm Japan in Hirafu. I’d rented from them before and knew their gear was top-notch. This time I ended up on the latest K2 Reckoners — perfect for deep Hokkaido powder.

Powder skis aren’t just nice to have in Niseko; they’re the difference between floating effortlessly and fighting to stay on top. Unless you have a great baggage deal, it’s usually easier and more cost-effective to rent locally. Rhythm’s staff speak English, have multiple locations, and don’t mind if you take their gear to other resorts like Rusutsu.

We based ourselves in an Airbnb near Annupuri, which made it easy to reach any of the four ski areas by car. Niseko’s lodging scene is extensive, from budget hostels to luxury hotels like the Park Hyatt at Hanazono. If you want slopeside convenience, you’ll find plenty of ski-in/ski-out hotels and condos on Trip.com or Booking.com. For more space or a home-like setup, VRBO has some great chalet-style rentals right in the village. Whatever your budget, book early — peak season fills up fast.

Dining is just as varied, with everything from ramen counters to upscale izakayas. The catch? Reservations are often essential, especially for the most popular spots. Many restaurants in Niseko use TableCheck for online booking, so it’s worth making those plans before you even arrive.

Just a short drive from Niseko, Rusutsu offers a very different feel. It’s smaller in scale, but that’s part of its charm. The pace is more relaxed, the lift lines are shorter, and the vibe feels more local — without losing the deep Hokkaido powder you came for.

Rusutsu may not match the sheer size of Niseko United, but it still offers more than enough terrain for a multi-day ski trip. The resort spans three distinct peaks — West Mountain, East Mountain, and Mount Isola — each with its own mix of tree runs, groomed pistes, and wide-open bowls.

On our trip, we scored our best powder day of the week here. With fewer people on the slopes, the fresh snow in the trees lasted far longer than at Niseko. There’s still an early morning rush for first tracks, but once those initial lift lines disperse, the rest of the mountain remains blissfully uncrowded.

For a clearer picture of the layout, here’s the official Rusutsu Resort trail map, showing lift locations, main runs, and how the three peaks connect:

Compared to Niseko, Rusutsu feels quieter and more low-key. You won’t find a buzzing après-ski scene or rows of late-night bars, but you will find a friendly, easygoing atmosphere and a stronger sense of skiing among locals.

For some, the lack of nightlife is a drawback. For others, it’s exactly the reason to come.

We didn’t stay overnight in Rusutsu, since our Niseko Airbnb made day-tripping easy. If you do want to base yourself here, most accommodations are large-scale resort hotels, like The Westin Rusutsu Resort and Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention.

These properties offer ski-in/ski-out convenience and full-service amenities, but there’s less variety compared to Niseko’s mix of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals. You can browse options on Trip.com or Booking.com, keeping in mind that the quieter vibe extends to the base village.

On my first trip to Niseko back in 2014, I took the train from Sapporo. It worked fine for a backpacker budget, and I didn’t mind the slower pace. For this 2025 trip, with my brother and his friend flying in from Denver, we went with a rental car — and I’d recommend it if your budget allows. The difference in flexibility was night and day.

With a car, you can move easily between Niseko’s four base areas and make last-minute calls on whether to head over to Rusutsu based on snow and crowds. The drive between the two resorts takes only about 20–30 minutes, so you can chase fresh powder without relying on fixed bus or train schedules.

We rented a Nissan SUV from New Chitose Airport, which handled the snowy Hokkaido roads without issue. If you’re coming from North America, remember that Japan drives on the left-hand side. And since Hokkaido gets a ton of snow, you’ll want a rental with proper winter tires and 4WD — plus confidence driving in winter conditions.

For booking, I used EconomyBookings this trip with no problems, but I’ve also had good results browsing DiscoverCars for competitive rates. Both offer convenient pickup options at New Chitose Airport.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether to rent a car or rely on public transport, I offer free, personalized Asia travel planning sessions via Zoom or email. You can find more details here.

If driving isn’t for you, it’s still easy to reach both resorts using Japan’s excellent train and bus network. The JR train runs from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport toward Niseko, with a transfer to a local line or bus for the final stretch. It’s scenic but slower, and you’ll need to coordinate with resort shuttles or hotel pickups.

Rusutsu doesn’t have a direct train station, so the main alternatives are resort buses from Sapporo, Niseko, or New Chitose Airport. If you’re traveling light and staying slopeside, this can work fine — just be aware you’ll have less flexibility to chase conditions between the two resorts once you’re there.

For those planning more rail travel around Hokkaido, a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass can be a great value. It offers unlimited travel on JR lines (including to Niseko) for a set number of days and can be booked in advance through Klook. This not only locks in your pass but also saves you from navigating ticket machines or language barriers on arrival.

If your schedule and logistics allow, I think the best move is to ski both Niseko and Rusutsu. They’re only about 20 minutes apart by car, and snowfall can differ surprisingly between them despite the short distance. With a rental car, it’s easy to monitor snow reports and pick the best mountain each day.

That said, if you have to choose just one, it comes down to what kind of ski trip you’re after. Do you want to be in the heart of the action, with busy après-ski bars, packed restaurants, and a lively international scene? Go for Niseko. It’s actually four ski areas combined into one large resort (Niseko United), with the most terrain, a ton of dining and nightlife, and a big-resort energy that draws visitors from all over the world.

Prefer something more laid-back and less discovered, but with equally legendary tree skiing? Rusutsu might be for you. It’s quieter, has fewer crowds, and still delivers on deep Japow days. You’ll find a handful of high-end options like the Westin Rusutsu, but without the party scene Niseko is known for.

If I had to make a Colorado comparison, Niseko feels like Vail or Aspen: big, bustling, and world-famous. Rusutsu feels more like Breckenridge or Crested Butte: still fantastic, just a little less glitzy. My honest take? Ski them both if you can.

When my brother, his friend, and I were in Hokkaido, we went hunting for cool resort merch from Niseko and Rusutsu—and came up empty. No shirts, no hoodies, nothing that really captured the Japow vibe. So, I designed my own.

My Japow Apparel line features custom Niseko and Rusutsu designs inspired by Japan’s legendary light, dry powder snow. You’ll find ski hoodies, t-shirts, long sleeves, and hats that bring the spirit of Hokkaido’s mountains home. Perfect for après-ski, trip mementos, or just daydreaming about your next powder run.

See the full collection here: Japow Apparel – Shop Now!

Whether you’re dreaming of Niseko’s nightlife or Rusutsu’s quieter powder stashes, planning a ski trip to Japan takes some insider knowledge. That’s why I’m currently offering free, personalized Asia travel planning sessions over Zoom or email — I can help you sort out lodging, transport, passes, and itineraries so you spend more time skiing and less time stressing.

👉 Learn more here: Asia Travel Planning – Free Assistance

And if you’re curious about what’s next beyond Japow, I’ve already started exploring other ski frontiers in Asia. In fact, I recently confirmed my spot with Gulmarg Powder Guides in Kashmir, India for February 2026 — part of my ongoing search for new, less-discovered powder destinations.

You can check out my post on Skiing in Asia 2026 for the full brainstorming process that led me there.