We traveled to Hokkaido to ski at two resorts–Rusutsu Ski Resort and Niseko Ski Resort. We traveled to New Chitose Airport via Japan Airlines from Haneda Airport in Tokyo. I booked these flights on the American Airlines site for 7500 AA miles each.
From the New Chitose airport, we took a ski bus to the Westin Rusutsu. I booked the ski bus in advance via Klook. The ski bus information indicates that you should allow 45 minutes from landing a domestic flight until the shuttle time. Our flight was a little bit late, and I was concerned about missing the ski bus, but the ski buses were also delayed. So we made it. The signs indicated that all the ski bus tickets were sold out for the day. So it’s a good idea to book the ski bus in advance.
Rusutsu Ski Resort
We arrived to the Westin Rusutsu around 9 pm and checked in. We booked one night at the Westin with points. The points price was 88k Marriot points per night. We were able to use a transfer bonus, so we used about 53k points for the one night at the Westin. We were also charged a 3rd person fee which I expected. The resort is aging, but the service was good. The room was unique, you entered the room on the loft level that has a bedroom with a door. Then you descend the stairs to the living area that has 2 twin sized murphey beds, a kitchenette, and a bathroom.
The Westin provides a ski equipment locker for each room. There are coin laundry facilities available for guest use. We ordered room service for dinner because there weren’t too many options so late. We also paid for the breakfast buffet which was really good. There is a 7-11 right by the hotel as well, and my son took advantage of purchasing some snacks there.
The Westin also has an onsen that was nice and relaxing.
We had some great powder at Rusutsu Ski resort. The weather was windy and cloudy, and the lifts started closing early. We got enough skiing in though. $222 for 3 ski passes for the day.
The Westin Rusutsu helps book transportation. You complete a request form, and they call with an estimate and you can accept or decline the car service that they find. We were traveling from Rusutsu to the Park Hyatt Niseko. There are some local buses, but it isn’t recommended to take the local buses with all your gear and luggage. So we booked a car service to the Park Hyatt. The weather was quite stormy, and we were grateful for our experienced driver. One of the roads was closed to the resort, so the trip took quite a bit longer and the cost ended up being more than expected at $140 for three of us and all of our gear.
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono
We arrived to the beautiful 5-star Park Hyatt Niseko. I booked the Park Hyatt with points about one year in advance for 135k points for 3 nights. Our room wasn’t ready even though it was after 5 pm when we arrived, so they gifted us a drink at the lounge. We enjoyed our drinks and then our room was ready. I had a Guest of Honor award applied to our room which gave us breakfast for 2 adults. We paid for breakfast for one each day.
We had a standard king room which was so nice. It has two bathrooms, one king bed, a sleeper sofa, a table for four, and a mini-bar area. There is a wall between the king bedroom area and the sofa area which provides privacy.
After storing our ski gear, we had some dinner at the cafe. There are multiple restaurants at the Park Hyatt.
Park Hyatt has ski lockers for all your gear and ski valets that help with your gear to and from the slopes. This would be very handy with kids. We gathered our gear and hit the slopes of Niseko. Of all the resorts we visited, this one is the most updated, the most expensive, the nicest, and the most busy.
The breakfast buffet was extensive and delicious. A great start to the day. It was about $40.
The snow was amazing, and we enjoyed the day with some friends that met us there.
There are 4 resorts that make up Niseko United–Hanazono, Grand Hirafu, Niseko Village, and Annupuri. An all mountain pass for 2 days was $129 for one person. My husband and I had Mountain Collective passes which included 2 days at Niseko.
After skiing, we enjoyed hanging out at the Park Hyatt pool. Also in the pool locker room, there is a swimsuit spinner. Can be helpful to spin handwashed clothing.
There is a dinner shuttle during the winter that stops at Park Hyatt and makes stops at a few areas. We took the shuttle on our second day to have dinner at a delicious Indian restaurant and also found a souvenir shop.
There is on onsen at the Park Hyatt as well. You have to make appointments, but it is included in your stay. There were 2 hot onsens and a cold plunge.
Our Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono stay and ski was amazing. So much great powder, good food, relaxing pool and onsens.
We checked out on Saturday morning and headed to Sapporo. Transportation to Sapporo was a little tricky. There are ski buses that travel from the Park Hyatt to the New Chitose airport, and there is a ski bus that travels from Niseko to Sapporo, but those buses are later in the afternoon. Our goal was to visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, so we took an adventure!
Our adventure started with the hotel booking 2 taxis to take us to the Kutchan train station. From here we took 2 trains to Sapporo. The train at Kutchan was packed. Standing room only and packed like sardines. It wasn’t ideal.
Lunch at Niseko resorts had some delicious options. My son got a steak one of the days! I highly recommend a ski trip to Japan. It was full of exciting adventure and in 2025 deep powder!
See part 1 about skiing Hakuba Valley.
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