| Cost per night | ¥20,000 - ¥30,000 standard room (2 people) ¥34,000 during winter on average |
| Check-in | 14:00 |
| Check-out | 11:00 |
| Contact | 01 123-522-211 https://yubari-resort.co.jp/ |
| Restaurant | Yes |
| Wi-fi | Yes |
| Onsen (hot spring) | Yes |
| Notes | * Spacious guest rooms including twin rooms, family rooms, suites, and even Japanese-style rooms. All rooms are non-smoking * In addition to the basic hot spring baths, there’s a natural onsen with indoor and outdoor bathing areas plus a mist sauna *The hotel’s buffet restaurant serves breakfast and dinner with a broad selection of dishes. * The hotel offers easy access to the ski slopes — some sources note ski-in/ski-out convenience, and there’s space for ski storage. * 24-hour front desk with luggage storage. * Free on-site parking is available for guests with cars. |
| Location | By car - From Sapporo: about 90 min drive south via National Route 274 and Hokkaido Route 3. From New Chitose Airport : about 60 min drive via the Dōtō Expressway to Yubari-IC, then local roads to Yubari city. By public transport Train: From New Chitose Airport (or Sapporo), take JR to Shin-Yubari Station on the JR Sekishō Line. Bus: At Shin-Yubari Station, transfer to a local Yutetsu bus / Yubari city bus toward Racey Resort Mae. This stop serves the ski area and hotel vicinity (typically ~35–45 min ride). 2 Chome-4 Suehiro, Yubari, Hokkaido 068-0411, Japan |
huge maps – google map here
Hotel Mount Racey in Yubari is a well-known 4-star resort hotel that offers comfortable accommodation and easy access to the surrounding attractions of this historic coal-mining town. Situated just a short walk from the Beginners Lift 4 cable car at the Mount Racey ski area, the hotel features 118 guest rooms equipped with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs, and is a great base for winter sports during the ski season. Guests can also relax in natural hot spring baths and enjoy nearby sightseeing, including the Coal Mining Museum and Yubari Shrine, while Yubari’s scenic landscapes and seasonal events—like cherry blossoms in spring and the famous Yubari melon harvest in summer—add to its year-round appeal. The hotel’s convenient location, about an hour by car from New Chitose Airport, makes it a popular choice for travelers exploring central Hokkaido.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Around ¥3000 - ¥4000 |
| Opening Hours | 17:00 - 23:30 Weekends are open 15:00 - 23:30 |
| Closed | Tuesdays |
| Contact | 011-218-1200 |
| Notes | Bar, ¥300 sit down charge, card accepted, seating 30, private rooms available, no parking |
| Location | This restaurant is located right near the Tanukikoji Shopping arcade near the 6th block in Sapporo. It is a 5 minute walk from either Odori subway or Susukino subway station. 〒060-0062 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Minami 2 Jonishi, 6 Chome 1F |
Located in the lively streets near Tanukikoji in central Sapporo, Hakko Yard is a stylish dining bar that blends creative fermentation-themed cuisine with an inventive drink menu. The cozy space, illuminated by a neon sign, draws in locals and visitors alike for its rich flavors, bold seasonal dishes, and lively atmosphere. One of the bar’s signature features is its unique cocktail lineup, including a spicy mojito and a spicy highball that stand out among the drink options. Hakko Yard’s drink menu also includes craft gin, natural wines, sake, and seasonal beverages, all chosen to pair with its inventive small plates and fermentation-inspired fare. Whether you’re stopping by for drinks after work or enjoying a night out with friends, Hakko Yard delivers a creative, flavor-forward experience in Sapporo.
| Population | 6,374 |
| Size | 763.20 km2 |
| Contact | https://www.city.yubari.lg.jp/ |
| Location / Getting There | By car the distance is about 61 km from Sapporo to Yūbari. Head east. By public transport from Sapporo Station take a train to Shin-Yūbari Station. From Shin-Yūbari Station transfer to a local bus operated by Yutetsu Bus (or other local bus) into Yūbari city centre. ¥3000 – ¥4800. 2 hour travel time. |
Yubari is a fascinating place to visit as it has turned predominantly into a ghost town though there are still a few places to see there. Yubari is most famous for its melons, hence the ‘melon bear mascot’ (which is a must see if you haven’t seen it), and the annual film festival. But first let’s look a little into the history of Yubari. The city was founded on April 1, 1943, as a coal mining town. During this lucrative time Yūbari had as many as 120,000 people. The mines closed in the 1980s, and an attempt was made to convert the economic base to tourism. Subsidies were obtained from the central government and huge debts incurred for the building of tourist attractions, but few visitors came. In 2007 Yubari went into bankruptcy. Walking the now deserted streets, you can see many places falling into disrepair that were once thriving. There are still remnants of the Yubari of old, but it is a lonely place which makes it very unique.
There are still some places to visit here, and there are a couple of reported ‘haunted sites’ in the area. A lot of the infrastructure is unkept and the wild cry of deer in the mountains does add to the atmosphere. It is not all doom and gloom however. There is a ski resort here which is a good place to go to get away from the large crowds. there is the coal mine museum and there are some beautiful old temples, a few restaurants and every year, the Yubari Film Festival is held. In fact, in Quentin Tarantino’s film Kill Bill, one of the characters is named ‘Gogo Yubari’. You need a car to get to Yubari and is an interesting place to walk around, especially in the fall.
Sightseeing
Yubari Coal Mine Haunted School
Food
Nightlife
Shopping
Accommodation
Mount Racey
Temples
Yubari Shrine
Outdoors
Yubari Ski Resort
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Around ¥2000 - ¥3000 per person |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 00:00 |
| Closed | Sundays |
| Contact | 011-2318-488 |
| Notes | Small bar, no parking, seating 8, menu in Japanese |
| Location | This bar is located in Susukino, Sapporo. It is across from the Norbesa building (look for the ferris wheel). It is just a 2 minute walk from Susukino subway station. Take the exit and head west 2 blocks. Address: Toshimatsu Building, 5 Chome-6-1, Minami 4 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 064-0804 |
This is a cozy little wine bar on the street side of Sapporo. There is only seating for about eight people so this bar suitable for very small groups. It is run by a friendly local who has a nice listing of wines to enjoy. These wines aren’t cheap and patrons are looking at around ¥1200 to ¥2500 a glass. There is also a sit down charge as well. The bar is an open space that faces the street so it’s good for people watching. During the winter it has a plastic covering so you can keep fairly warm. The food dishes that are on the menu include rather large oysters, french fries and other small dishes. The liver pate with bread is very good here and goes well with the wine which is also very good! the menu is only in Japanese but this a nice spot to visit, especially if you like wine.
| Ski Pass | ¥15000 1 day ticket ¥34000 25 hour ticket ¥90000 Season pass |
| Opening Hours | 09:00 - 20:00 (weather depending |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-136-46-3331 011-136 46-3111 (Reservations Center) https://rusutsu.com/ |
| Accommodation | Rusutsu Resort Hotel The Westin Rusutsu Resort The Vale Rusutsu Camp Village (summer) |
| Getting There | Rusutsu is about a 2 hour drive from Sapporo station. There are a few ways to get to the resort. 1. Direct Ski Bus (Easiest) ⏱Time: ~2 hours 💴Cost: ¥3,000–¥3,500 one way Rusutsu operates official ski buses during the winter season (usually Dec–Apr). Buses depart from Sapporo Station or major hotels (e.g. Sapporo Prince Hotel, ANA Crowne Plaza). Drop-off is directly at Rusutsu Resort Hotel — no transfers. Advance reservations are usually required. Where to book: Rusutsu Official Bus Service or 3rd-party services like Hokkaido Resort Liner, Good Sports, or SkiJapan. 2. Train + Bus Combo (Cheaper but slower) ⏱ Time: ~2.5–3 hours 💴 Cost: ~¥2,500 one way Take a JR train from Sapporo Station → Toya Station (about 1 h 45 min). From Toya Station, take the Donan Bus to Rusutsu Resort (approx 50 min). Note: Service frequency may be limited in winter — check Donan Bus schedules. 3. Private Shuttle or Taxi ⏱ Time: ~1.5–2 hours 💴 Cost: ¥25,000–¥35,000 (one way, car for up to 4 people) Available through services like SkyExpress, Whiteroom Tours, or Hokkaido Resort Liner private charter. 〒048-1711 Hokkaido, Abuta District, Rusutsu, Izumikawa, 13-13 |
There are quite a few ski resorts all over Hokkaido. Rusutsu is one of the more well known ones. It is located only a couple of hours from Sapporo and unlike the Niseko ski resort, it is not as busy though it is getting more popular over the years. There are many options for accommodation at and near the resort. The Rusutsu Resort Hotel, The Westin Rusutsu Resort and The Vale. Other options and one of the best value options is Rusutsu Lodges which is located across the road. The ski fields themselves have 18 lifts in total, which includes 4 gondolas and 14 chairlifts. There are 37 ski runs across its three peaks: West Mountain, East Mountain, and Mt Isola. Ski and snowboard gear is available to rent. For everything including skis or snowboard it will cost up to ¥20,000. The huge resort also has more than 30 restaurants ranging from casual cafés and snack spots to full-service French, Italian, Japanese and buffet-style dining. The resort also has onsens, massage, shopping and rest areas. During the off peak times (summer), the resort extends to things like golf courses, amusement park rides, outdoor activities, and camping.
| Closed | Open everyday |
| Contact | https://www.gyomusuper.jp/english/ |
| Notes | Supermarket, cheap, multiple locations, overseas goods available |
| Getting There | There are many locations in Sapporo. Most are only accessed via car. For public transport, can go to Odori subway station. Take the exit and it is a 5 minute walk to Tanuki Koji shopping arcade. A Gyomu Super is on the second block. |
Gyomu Super is a very popular chain of supermarkets all over Japan. Gyomu Super first opened its doors in 2000. Since then, the chain has grown to over seven hundred locations in Japan. In Hokkaido these locations are found in Sapporo and the outlying suburbs. In 2025 there are about twenty Gyomu stores and counting. What makes these supermarkets so popular? They are different to your main stream supermarkets. They are very cheap but what makes them so special is that they sell many overseas items and they are sold in bulk. You can find many overseas items (especially from Asia), making it a very convenient store. You will find here, frozen goods, dried goods, canned goods, condiments and an array of vegetables and fruits. With so many locations in Sapporo, it isn’t hard to find. the most common Gyomu is in the Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade. Take some time and check out these supermarkets, though you will find most are accessed by car.