2008/2009 SEASON IS ON

　The 2008/2009 season has started! December of 2008 has been the warmest one during the last decade. There have been spells with more snow and with less, and the weather was changing all the time, but now it feels like middle winter! It’s been snowing for a week which made skiing conditions excellent, and yet another full week of snow is expected. Guests who are lucky to be in Rusutsu at the moment can’t get enough of it! They (especially those who come to Rusutsu for the first time) are amazed how it’s possible to have so much snow in this global warming era! Piles of fresh powder every morning! Well, just another season of top quality snow and beautiful tranquility in Rusutsu. “The four of us, 2 adults, and 2 kids hatched the heavenly view run on our first day. Great snow condition and variety and no crowds!” Yesterday the sun peeked through and we almost saw the top of Mt. Yotei. (Robert Greville, New Zealand).

　A thing not to miss when coming to Rusutsu is midnight skiing when the slopes are opened until 12 am. This season the event is planned for the 10th and 24th of January and for the 14th and 28th of February. Make sure you have a good dinner at Pirateman before you go so you’ll have energy to enjoy it up to the very last minute.

Snow in Rusutsu is really magical. It glitters as most precious diamonds on sunny days and looks like the softest feather blanket on a cloudy day. And when it snows for days the place turns into a fairy-tail country where you can meet Santa Claus riding his Reindeer any minute.

　Rusutsu’s marvelous snow is the same but guests coming to the resort have been changing.

　World economic crisis and strong positions of Japanese yen prevented a lot of Australians (who were the majority of foreign guests till now) from coming to Japan this year. However, here in Rusutsu we welcome more guests from Asia this season, particularly from Hong Kong and Singapore. Attracted by wonderful quality snow as well as by Japanese cuisine and other local delights, more and more people come to Hokkaido, and Rusutsu in particular, which resulted an increase in regular Hong Kong-Sapporo flights.

　 It looks like it will be another snowy season full of fun and exciting meetings.