| 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.
| Opening Hourse | 07:00 - 23:00 |
| Closed | Open everyday |
| Contact | https://www.odori-bisse.com/ |
| Notes | Shopping mall, 4 floors, restaurants, shopping, sweets and coffee shop |
| Getting There | Odori Bisse is located in central Sapporo. It overlooks Odori Park and is part of the Hokuyo Bank building. It is only a 1 minute walk from Odori subway station. 〒060-0042 Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Odorinishi, 3 Chome-7 Hokuyo Odori Center |
Odori Bisse is a very small shopping complex in the center of Sapporo. It is right across from Odori Park and is part of the Hokuyo Bank building. It is a popular building as it is in a busy area. Odor Bisse is made up of five floors which includes a basement floor, a ground floor and three upper floors. The basement floor has a Seicomart on it and a seating area, plus a cosmetics store. The ground floor or first floor is a sweets and coffee shop called Kinotoya. Kintoya has outside seating and nice views onto the street. The 2nd floor has a few more stores including ‘Tokumitsu Coffee Shop’, ‘Somes’ which is a leather goods store, and if you are looking for some fine Japanese arts and crafts then there is ‘Yuiq’. Yuiq sells Japanese home made items from all around Hokkaido. The 3rd floor has a crab an seafood restaurant, a couple of boutique stores, and a couple of beauty stores for skin, nails, and eyes. The 4th floor is made up wholly of restaurants and is a good area to dine.
| 4th floor | Meat Kappo Tamura (yakiniku, steak, sukiyaki) 11:00 - 14:30 lunch / 17:00 - 22:00 dinner. ¥5000 - ¥10,000 Aburiya (charcoal grill and sushi restaurant) 11:00 - 15:00 lunch / 17:00 - 22:00 dinner. ¥1500 lunch ¥6000 dinner Shingozen Soba (lunch) / Creative Izakaya (dinner) 11:00 - 15:00 lunch / 17:00 - 21:00 dinner. ¥3500 dinner Sushi Natsume 11:30 - 15:00 lunch / 17:00 - 22:30 dinner ¥2000 lunch ¥6000 dinner Otaru Sanko Public Bar 11:30 - 14:30 lunch / 17:00 - 23:00 dinner ¥2000 dinner Cafe & Champagne (bar and restaurant) 11:00 - 15:00 lunch / 17:00 - 23:00 dinner ¥4000 drink and 5 dishes Omurice OMS (omelette rice) 11:00 - 21:00 |
| 3rd floor | Shining Kagayoi (crab and shabu shabu restaurant) 11:30 - 14:00 lunch / 17:30 - 22:30 dinner Nihondo Kampo Boutique (Chinese medicine boutique) 11:00 - 20:00 Beautiful Eye (eyelash curl extension salon) 11:00 - 20:00 Arucamo (women's clothing and imported goods) 10:00 - 22:00 Yag Beauty Clinic (cosmetic clinic) 10:00 - 19:00 Sertoli (cellulite care specialty store) 10:00 - 21:00 Miya (beauty salon and nail salon) 11:00 - 20:00 |
| 2nd floor | Tokumitsu Coffee Cafe & Beans 10:00 - 19:00 (August 1st to October 31st) Somes (leather goods) 10:00 - 20:00 Yuiq (Japanese goods) 10:00 - 20:00 |
| 1st floor | Kinotoya (sweets and cafe) 10:00 - 20:00 |
| Basement 1 floor | Seico Mart (convenience store) 07:00 - 22:00 Ainz & Tulpe (cosmetics store) 10:00 - 21:00 |
| Population | 163,084 |
| Size | 619.34 km2 |
| Contact | https://www.city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp/ |
| Location / Getting There | Obihiro is located in central Hokkaido to the south east. It is a 2 and a half hour drive east from Sapporo. By train it takes 3 hours 20 minutes on average. |
Obihiro was the area first settled by Benzo Yoda in May 1883, and became a city on April 1, 1933. In 1957 the villages of Taishō and Kawanishi merged with Obihiro, bringing it to its current size. Obihiro has a large agricultural sector that revolves around large scale farming. The main crops produced are wheat, potatoes, beets, and beans. Obihiro has one of Japan’s cleanest rivers that flows through its city limits. Obihiro is famous for the unique style of horse racing that takes place at the city’s horse racetrack. Hokkaido farmers in the 1900s had tug-of-war contests between their work horses to judge their strength and value. This gradually became a more formalized event and eventually became the racing we know today as Ban’ei horse racing. Obihiro is famous for ‘butadon’ (a glazed pork dish on rice) and mutton which is called ‘Jingisukan’ named after Ghengis Khan. It is also famous for potatoes and dairy products, which are common produce in Tokachi. Obihiro also claims to be the origin of a dish called chuuka chirashi.
Sightseeing
Kofuku Station Obihiro Centennial Hall
Food
Butadon Tonta Indian Curry Tohoko Butadon Ippen
Nightlife
Tokachi No Nagaya & Kita No Yatai
Shopping
Accommodation
Temples
Outdoors
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥660 3 minute horse ride ¥2400 30 minute beginner lesson ¥1600 45 minute experienced lesson ¥3160 30 minute horse trek *children to junior high school students are half price |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 16:30 |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Contact | 0146-42-1131 https://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp |
| Notes | Car parking available. Booking required a day in advance for riding lesson or trek (3 minute ride can be done without a reservation). Beginner and experienced riders are all welcome. Car needed to access. |
| Location | Riding Hills Shizunai is located along the bottom coast of Hokkaido, south east from Sapporo. The drive is about 2 and a half hours from Sapporo, and 2 hours from Chitose. 7-1 Shizunaimauta, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 056-0011 |
Shizunai is a beautiful part of Hokkaido along the coast. The drive down is fantastic with views over the Pacific. There are rolling hills and many farms. It is here you can find many horses grazing and running through the pasturelands. This area is home of the “Yushun” which has produced many famous horses. At Riding Hills Shizunai, you can try riding a horse drawn by an instructor, take a beginner’s lesson, or go trekking while enjoying the view on the back of a horse through the magnificent scenery. You can enjoy horseback riding on a wide plateau with the Pacific Ocean right in front of your eyes. Perfect for all ages and all levels. For a very quick taste of horse riding, they have a 3 minute try for ¥660 and no need for a reservation. Other courses, you need a reservation. They have parking here and this facility is near an Ainu Museum, park, and other sightseeing spots. A great day out!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥500 - ¥1000 per coffee |
| Opening Hours | Depends on store though most stores open from around 07:30 until 22:00 as a general rule |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.starbucks.co.jp/ |
| Notes | Coffee store, no smoking, internet, power sockets, food available, english menu, card accepted |
| Location | There are 57 locations throughout Hokkaido, in every major city. |
Starbucks first entered the Japanese market in August 1996 with a store in Tokyo’s Ginza district, marking its first international expansion outside of North America. Due the rapid success, a large number of stores opened nationwide. Starbucks has tuned in with Japanese culture adapting to local tastes with seasonal drinks, unique merchandise. Starbucks first ventured into Hokkaido in 2010 with the opening of a Starbucks in Hakodate, in the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse area. Since then there are 57 stores throughout Hokkaido. You can find one in every major city and large town. The menu is simpler in Japan. Most of the staff can speak English and for those traveling, Starbucks offers free internet if you need it. With power sockets in their stores, Starbucks has created a very useful space for travelers. Plus, they have coffee, tea, and shakes to enjoy. Prices are reasonable and they also have many food items. Starbucks also sells items and accessories unique to Japan which can make for a good souvenir.