Guide · Drift
Rusutsu snow drift 2026-27: rides, lessons and prices
Ride-alongs from $71 (¥11,000), driving lessons from $200 (¥31,000). Mid-December 2026 to late February 2027, booked by 17:00 the day before.
Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido sells snow drift rides and lessons for the 2026-27 season, from mid-December 2026 to late February 2027. A 4-minute ride-along costs $71 (¥11,000) to $175 (¥27,000) per person, depending on the car and the group size. Driving yourself starts at $200 (¥31,000) for a 30-minute lesson and needs a licence. The resort wants bookings by 17:00 the day before.
This guide sits under the Drift hub. The resort, lift tickets and access are in Rusutsu, and the island is covered in Hokkaido.
Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.
What does snow drifting at Rusutsu cost?
Ride-alongs cost $71 to $175 (¥11,000 to ¥27,000) per person, and driving lessons cost $200 to $395 (¥31,000 to ¥61,000) for the driver. Ride-alongs are priced per person, and the Subaru B4 price drops as the group grows. Each ride lasts 4 minutes.
| Car | Group | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Subaru B4 | 1 or 2 people | $110 (¥17,000) |
| Subaru B4 | 3 to 5 people | $90 (¥14,000) |
| Subaru B4 | 6 or more | $71 (¥11,000) |
| GT-R, GR Yaris | any | $175 (¥27,000) |
In the GT-R or GR Yaris, up to three people take turns in each slot.
Group size sets the total. Two people pay $220 (¥34,000) together and five pay $450 (¥70,000). Six people pay $425 (¥66,000), less than five, because the six-person rate is lower. These are our sums for Subaru B4 rides.
The two driving options are priced by seat. The driver sits behind the wheel with an instructor beside them; a second person can ride in the back seat.
| Course | Length | Driver | Back seat | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 30 min | $200 (¥31,000) | $65 (¥10,000) | 15:00 only |
| Driving Course | 1 h 15 | $395 (¥61,000) | $130 (¥20,000) | 8:30, 10:00, 13:00 |
A driver and one back-seat guest pay $265 (¥41,000) on the Introduction and $525 (¥81,000) on the Driving Course, our sums. Each car takes up to two people.
The page lists a companion fee at the venue of $29 (¥4,500) in its price table and $26 (¥4,000) in its remarks. Ask the desk which applies.
Pages from the 2023-24 winter list lower prices and different course names, such as a 1-hour Drift Challenge at $250 (¥38,500). Use the 2026-27 figures above.
When does snow drifting run?
The 2026-27 page lists mid-December 2026 to late February 2027 and gives no exact dates. Dates and prices can change, and the venue can cancel for weather. The sessions are at fixed times: ride-alongs at 8:30, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00, the Driving Course at 8:30, 10:00 and 13:00, and the Introduction at 15:00 only.
Slots are fixed, so choose one that fits around your lift ticket. Lift ticket prices and season dates are in Rusutsu.
How do you get to Rusutsu?
From Tokyo, fly to New Chitose (Haneda takes about 1 hour 40 minutes), then take a bus of about 2 to 2.5 hours for $32 to $35 (¥5,000 to ¥5,500), per two sources. From Sapporo the bus takes about 2 hours. No 2026-27 timetable is published yet.
The resort shuttle was free and turns paid on 28 November 2026. Fares and routes were not announced in our sources, so ask your hotel before you count on it. More on transfers: Can I ski Hokkaido without a car?
What happens on the day?
Expect a waiver, and for drivers a licence check and an alcohol check. You sign the waiver at the reservation desk, and insurance is included in the price. The instructor may refuse a driver. On the Introduction and Driving Course the instructor sits in the passenger seat, and the car is an Impreza (automatic) or a Subaru B4 of the instructor’s choosing. The venue is the River Wood car park.
The venue decides on the day whether weather allows the sessions to run.
Do you need a licence?
Ride-alongs need no licence. For the Introduction and the Driving Course, you must present a licence at the start.
The page does not mention an IDP and does not say which foreign licences count. Ask the desk in writing which of your documents it accepts. The wider picture across operators is in Which IDP do you need for a drift lesson in Japan?
The minimum height is 140 cm, and the page states no minimum age.
How do you book, and what if you cancel?
Booking is required, and the resort wants it by 17:00 the day before. You pay in advance. The reservation desk is open 8:00 to 16:00; the phone is +81-136-46-3332 and the email address is on the snow driving page.
Cancellation is listed as 10% at booking, 50% on the day before and 100% after 17:00 the day before. The booking page lists no refund terms for a weather cancellation, so ask the desk for them in writing.
The site is in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Which language the instructor teaches in is not stated.
Before you book Reserve before 17:00 the day before, and ask the desk three things: which licences it accepts, which companion fee applies and what happens if weather stops your slot.
Which option fits your trip?
The cheapest ride is a B4 ride-along in a group of six or more, and the first drive is the Introduction.
| Goal | Option |
|---|---|
| Cheapest taste | B4 ride-along, group of six or more, $71 (¥11,000) each |
| Passenger, small group | B4 ride-along, $90 to $110 (¥14,000 to ¥17,000) each |
| Sports car | GT-R or GR Yaris ride, $175 (¥27,000) each |
| First time driving | Introduction, $200 (¥31,000) |
| Longer drive | Driving Course, $395 (¥61,000) |
Ebisu Circuit is the passenger option outside winter. Three riders split its $325 (¥50,000) car price at $110 (¥16,700) each, our sum, against $90 (¥14,000) each for three on a Rusutsu B4 ride. The Ebisu booking page lists a 45-minute session per car, while a Rusutsu ride lasts 4 minutes, and Ebisu in winter 2026-27 is unconfirmed. See Ebisu drift taxi: price, height, booking and winter. For lessons at other operators and their licence terms, see Drift lessons in Japan for tourists.
Where next?
Return to the Drift hub, or read Rusutsu for the ski side of the trip.
Questions
A 4-minute ride-along is $110 (¥17,000) each for 1 or 2 people, $90 (¥14,000) for 3 to 5 and $71 (¥11,000) for 6 or more. A GT-R or GR Yaris ride is $175 (¥27,000). Driving lessons start at $200 (¥31,000) for 30 minutes.
Not for a ride-along. To drive, you must present a licence. The resort page does not mention an IDP or say which foreign licences count, so ask the desk before you pay.
The 2026-27 page lists mid-December 2026 to late February 2027 and gives no exact dates. Sessions start at 8:30, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00, and the venue can cancel for weather.
Booking is required, by 17:00 the day before, with payment in advance. The desk is open 8:00 to 16:00 on +81-136-46-3332.
The page sets 140 cm as the minimum height and states no minimum age.