Japan ski trip Rusutsu vs. Clubmed

Hi! Doing research for the upcoming winter season holiday. Want to take family to Japan to see snow. Any recommendations for resorts? I have 4 yr old and baby, doesn't really have to be awesome snow for ski. Just want to play in the snow, nice room and food. Thanks!

We had been to both. Went to Rusutsu before our boy was born and went to Club Med Sahoro when our boy was 3.


Rusutsu had far better skiing than Sahoro as it has more runs especially the more challenging ones. Sahoro is much more smaller. Rusutsu has different restaurants with very good food (quality and variety) especially seafood, however some restaurants may have quese if you have your meals at peak time. Sahoro has buffet meals (b'fast, lunch and dinner), the food is good but gets a bit boring after a few days.


Club Med Sahoro is definitely more suitable for families, especially if you have young kids and skiing is not your priority. They have all meals included (plus snacks in between) and you don't have to worry about food as such. The child caring facilities are great, our boy joined the Petit Club (at extra cost) and they had full day program for him. That included playing in snow and swimming in the indoor pool with very good supervision (they even washed his swimming gears and dried them). The staffs there are superb with the kids. They have different programs for kids of different ages. We are going back this winter as our boy is over 4 now and he can join the Mini club (all fees included in the package) and learn skiing with the coaches . They have programs for the kids from after breakfast to after dinner. You just have to take the kids back for 1 hour before dinner to give them shower and they can return to their club till 9 pm (otherwise, you can pick them up from the club for naps and meals then return them to the club if you want to). For babies, you can pay the staffs on hourly base to babysit so that you and your partner can have some private time together.


Many parents (especially mums) are not keen skiiers, they may only ski for a little bit. Instead they enjoy themselves by going to the spa there and get pampered (not cheap though) or go to the gym and go swimming. Or just simply get very laid back while the kids and husbands are enjoying themselves on the mountain. Most rooms in Club Med are clean but basic. We don't spend much time in the room anyway. There are so many things to do there and we simply go back to sleep in the room.


If you have young family, I would definitely advise that you go for Club Med. Rusutsu can be too chilly and rough for the young ones.


Good luck!

Great info! Thanks so much.