Rusutsu Resort in Rusutsu Village, Abuta District, Hokkaido, willon Wednesday (a national holiday), April 29, 2026,resume green-season operation of its dedicated pickleball courts.The 8 outdoor courts certified by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF / now PJ)were only just born as Hokkaido's first dedicated facility last July. Entering their second season, ways to enjoy them combined with a resort stay have become considerably more realistic. This article organizes the latest information onfees, reservation methods, and court design, and the significance Rusutsu holds for thinking about "pickleball tourism in Japan."
What begins on April 29, 2026 — the scale of 8 courts and 2,000 m2
Rusutsu Resort is one of Hokkaido's premier year-round resorts, about 90 minutes by car from Sapporo and about 120 minutes from New Chitose Airport. What opens this time is8 dedicated pickleball courts adjacent to the "Fishing Pond" in the South area, with a site area of about 2,000 m2. It had its pre-opening on July 4 last year (2025) as Hokkaido's first PJF-certified dedicated courts, and now enters its second season.
The operating period isApril 29 – October 25, 2026. Reception hours are 8:30–16:30, and usage hours are from 8:30 until sunset. In line with the opening day of the entire green season, pickleball also operates from day one. Because outdoor play in winter isn't realistic in Hokkaido, Rusutsu's outdoor courts are positioned as a rare base that "stably supplies dedicated courts playable for about half the year in Japan."
Fee structure — ¥3,000 per hour, paddles ¥300, balls ¥150
The fee is standardized at¥3,000 per hourper court, and resort-stay ticket holders have one hour included. Rental paddles are ¥300 each, and official balls are sold at ¥150 each.Up to 6 people per courtcan use it, designed so that groups and families can also use it lesson-style. The fee structure is unchanged from the previous season, and no fluctuation between peak and off-peak periods has been announced so far.
Reservations are by email (activity@rusutsu.co.jp) or phone (0136-46-3332, extension 7035). Since private bookings by local clubs and enthusiasts tend to increase early in the season, securing early via the resort's official website is the safe bet for peak weekend slots. For guests who book as a set with a resort-stay package,the first hour freethere's a path prepared to take advantage of that perk.
Court design — PJF certification and the advantages of an 8-court block
Rusutsu's dedicated courts conform to "the competition standards certified by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF), a general incorporated foundation." The predecessor'sofficial releaseexplicitly stated "the first PJF-certified dedicated courts in Hokkaido." Because they meet competition standards down to the surface treatment, line-marking, and fencing layout,they're easy to operate as a host venue for clubs' official matches and regional tournaments— that's the big difference.
The advantage of grouping them into an 8-court block is that a doubles tournament can run at least 4 matches in parallel. Regional clubs can easily put together their own plans like a "private 16-court-time" booking, andboth camp-style practice sessions and weekend leagues can be handled at the same facilityのがリゾート設計ならではの強みです。前シーズンには招聘イベントも開催され、利用者からのレポートも複数上がっていました。
Summary: Rusutsu 8-court, 2026-season basic data
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu Village, Abuta District, Hokkaido, within Rusutsu Resort |
| Number of courts | 8 outdoor courts (PJF-certified, 2,000 m2) |
| Operating period | Wednesday (holiday), April 29 – Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| Reception hours | 8:30–16:30 (use until sunset) |
| Price | ¥3,000 per court per hour (a resort stay includes one hour) |
| Rentals | Paddles ¥300 / official balls ¥150 |
| Capacity | Up to 6 people per court |
| Booking | activity@rusutsu.co.jp / 0136-46-3332 ext. 7035 |
運営関係者の視点
- Rusutsu Resort official"Full-scale courts on all 8, conforming to PJF competition standards" (a summary from the official site)
- PJF (now PJ)-related：2025年7月の竣工時に北海道初のPJF公認専用コートとして認定。その後、the JPA and PJF merged in April 2026, and the new organization "Pickleball Japan (PJ)"was reorganized
- 利用者の声（SNS）「家族で日帰りプレー＋温泉でリフレッシュできるのが利点」
Impact on enthusiasts — a template for "resort × pickleball in Japan"
Within Sapporo there are few permanent courts, and the current reality is that people often rely on hourly rentals of indoor gymnasiums. Rusutsu's 8 courts function asa "hub court" where enthusiasts from all over Hokkaido gather in summer. Being easy to arrange for stay-based use — club-level camps, three-generation family trips, corporate training packages, and so on — is a strength no other region has. With good access from the airport, trips from Kanto and Kansai come into view too.
At the same time, Rusutsu's fee structure (¥3,000 per hour) is clearly cheaper than urban indoor courts (in the ¥4,000–6,000-per-hour band), and given that a stay ticket includes one hour,"combined with resort use, pickleball approaches being effectively free"— that's the path it creates. It's probably an attractive option for hybrid players who handle weekend group practice in Hokkaido.
Ripple effects on the industry — the meaning of more "success stories" of destination pickleball
Rusutsu's efforts are a pioneering case that digs into the Japanese niche of resort facilities × pickleball.Looking at the facility rush advancing at domestic hotels and commercial facilitiesthe model of folding a dedicated pickleball court into "stay value" looks set to become the mainstream going forward. Resorts equipped with a dedicated outdoor block are still only a handful even now, and Rusutsu's second-season operating data draws attention as a reference for other resorts.
In 2026,official matches at Tokyu Resort–affiliated venues such as Hamanakoalso continue, and the possibility of turning it into an official tour set at resorts has emerged. How far Rusutsu breaks into that lineage depends on the collaboration between the local federation and the operating team.
Practical information — reservations, how to get there, gear
| Use | Details |
|---|---|
| Reservation desk | activity@rusutsu.co.jp / 0136-46-3332 ext. 7035 |
| Access | About 120 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, about 90 minutes by car from Sapporo Station. The Resort Liner (seasonal service) can also be used |
| Gear | Paddles and official balls are available to rent/buy; shoes may be other than indoor-competition ones |
| For Beginners | A private 1-hour booking allows a group-lesson format (up to 6 people / court) |
| Club use | Tournament operation is also supported with the 8-court block, conforming to PJF standards |
Summary — a second season that backs up "destination pickleball works in Japan too"
Rusutsu Resort's dedicated pickleball courts are a facility that, rare within Japan, combines the conditions offull-scale 8 outdoor courts × PJF certification × half-year operation. 2026 enters the second season, and although there are no major changes to fees or rules, the operators' experience rises, and private club-level bookings and tournament operation become smoother. As a place to concretely experience "Japan's pickleball tourism," a summer worth traveling for is set to begin for enthusiasts in Kanto and Kansai too.
Information sources
- Rusutsu Resort official "Pickleball" page (rusutsu.com/summer-activities/pickleball)
- Rusutsu Resort official "Hokkaido's first dedicated pickleball courts are born at Rusutsu Resort!" (rusutsu.com/news-and-topics/pickleball)
- Rusutsu Resort official "Amusement park opens 4/29! Golden Week packed with events!" (rusutsu.com/news-and-topics/green-season-open)
