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Rusutsu ski resort
Epic PassView resorts
Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

📷 Rusutsu

Asia

Rusutsu

Closed for the season

Season ended March 31, 2026

Conditions data updated Sat, Aug 29, 12:03 PM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed March 31

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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Past 48 Hours

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Past 10 Days

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

9

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 29, 12:03 PM•Weather at base: 400m

Overview

Rusutsu is a ski resort in Asia, Japan, currently closed for the season (Season ended March 31, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-29 12:03 UTC.

Resort Guide

Rusutsu Resort is located in Hokkaido, Japan, and features three interconnected mountains offering a wide variety of terrain across 37 courses and 42 kilometers of trails. The resort is known for its abundant, high-quality powder snow, family-friendly atmosphere, and scenic views of Mount Yotei. Key amenities include ski-in/ski-out accommodations, a large indoor wave pool, and a range of dining options, making it suitable for both families and advanced skiers. Signature experiences include night skiing and access to extensive off-piste areas.

Resort Info

Summit994m
Base400m
Vertical594m
Lifts18
Runs37
Skiable Area820 acres
Average snowfall551 inches / 1400 cm
CountryJapan
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedMarch 31, 2026
Projected openingNovember 29, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Epic Pass

Epic Pass

View resorts →

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Cricket Bar – Renowned for its cozy alpine ambiance and extensive selection of drinks, Cricket Bar is a favorite among Rusutsu visitors for its relaxed après-ski atmosphere and live music, making it a perfect spot to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

994mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 29, 2026 at 12:03 PM

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24h
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Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
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Prev10d
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Now29
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S30
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M31
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T1
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W2
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T3
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F4
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Hokkaido region

Current Conditions

Reported Sat, Aug 29, 12:03 PM UTC

Base

400m

Temp

14.8°C

Wind

4.7km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

697m

Temp

--°C

Wind

5km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

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Summit

994m

Temp

10.9°C

Wind

4.7km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Rusutsu El Niño rank & forecast

Rusutsu ranks #405 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier E, −15% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter: Strong El Niño winters ran clearly below this resort’s own baseline (≤ −8%). Still skiable — schedule late season; one storm cycle can beat the climatology.

#405 of 488Tier E — Deep timing play — aim late winter

Strong-event signal: −15% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Rusutsu averaged -15% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The honest read: this is the fleet's deepest timing play. The snow still comes — but in Japan the El Niño hit lands on the season's edges, not the heart of the sea-effect window. Point your winter 2026-27 trip at the mid-winter core (January to mid-February), stay flexible on dates, and watch our monthly scorecard. Analog winters: '97-98 -33%, '15-16 -6%, '23-24 -5%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.

'97-98 −33%'15-16 −6%'23-24 −5%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Rusutsu Webcams

All Webcams

Rusutsu Resort

Rusutsu Resort

Rusutsu Resort

3 webcams • Click to expand

Snow Stake Cam

All Snow Stake Cams

Rusutsu Resort

1 snow stake cam • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Rusutsu (japan), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 29, 12:03 PM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
17 / 101.5mm
Sun, Aug 30
14 / 10
Mon, Aug 31
15 / 10
Tue, Sep 1
15 / 11
Wed, Sep 2
14 / 1218.2mm
Thu, Sep 3
17 / 113.6mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)01.10.4000000000114.52.71.710.9
Temp (°C)141611131311131410131411121313141613
Wind (km/h)74510128111081416111817127145
Gusts (km/h)161814253119282820353826272929163223

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (994m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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ICON
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

29

🌧️

17.2°

10.1°

8 km/h

Sun

30

☁️

13.9°

10.1°

13 km/h

Mon

31

☁️

15°

9.6°

12 km/h

Tue

1

☁️

15°

10.5°

17 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

13.7°

11.5°

20 km/h

Thu

3

🌧️

16.8°

11.1°

16 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

13°

7.5°

20 km/h

Sat

5

⛅

16.2°

6.1°

7 km/h

Sun

6

☁️

16.7°

3.4°

8 km/h

Mon

7

🌧️

15.3°

6.3°

17 km/h

Summit elevation (994m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

No official warning service is mapped for this resort’s country yet (v1 covers the United States, Canada and Switzerland). A bulletin may still be published locally.

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Season vs Historic

Updated Sat, Aug 29, 12:03 PM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 212cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 233cm full-season avg

212cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~207.8 cm. That's near the 5-year average (212 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 11% below the 30-year average (233 cm).

Rusutsu Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 245cm with an average of 125 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November24.3cm15 days3cm10cm6.6cm
December53cm26 days21cm37cm10.5cm
January53.6cm26 days50cm65cm12.4cm
February44.4cm23 days68cm79cm10cm
March46.9cm22 days72cm84cm12.3cm
April19cm11 days37cm63cm6.8cm
May1.7cm1 days1cm14cm2.1cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Nov 29, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Rusutsu, ERA5 season snowfall median was 241 cm (95 in), about 2% below this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

241 cm

10 El Niño winters · 2% below median

All-season median

245 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10241 cm224 cm – 266 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12247 cm224 cm – 281 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8243 cm211 cm – 253 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

January

Peak Powder

February

Peak Powder

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical powder season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Rusutsu

Where is Rusutsu?
Rusutsu is a ski resort in Japan.
How high is Rusutsu?
Rusutsu runs from a base elevation of 400 m (1,312 ft) to a summit of 994 m (3,261 ft), giving a vertical drop of 594 m (1,949 ft).
How big is Rusutsu?
Rusutsu has 820 acres (332 hectares) of skiable terrain, 37 marked runs and 18 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Rusutsu?
Rusutsu is on the Epic Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Rusutsu?
Rusutsu typically operates from November to March. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Rusutsu get in a typical season?
Rusutsu averages 551 inches / 1400 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Rusutsu in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #405 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier E · strong-event signal -15% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Rusutsu averaged -15% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The honest read: this is the fleet's deepest timing play. The snow still comes — but in Japan the El Niño hit lands on the season's edges, not the heart of the sea-effect window. Point your winter 2026-27 trip at the mid-winter core (January to mid-February), stay flexible on dates, and watch our monthly scorecard. Analog winters: '97-98 -33%, '15-16 -6%, '23-24 -5%. One caveat that always holds: a single storm cycle can beat the climatology.