{"id":3568,"date":"2026-05-09T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pickle-times.com\/?post_type=news&p=3568"},"modified":"2026-05-09T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T04:00:00","slug":"rusutsu-pickleball-opening","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/pickle-times.com\/en\/news\/rusutsu-pickleball-opening\/","title":{"rendered":"Rusutsu Resort\u2019s eight PJF-certified courts launch on April 29\u2014why Hokkaido\u2019s first dedicated outdoor courts enter their second season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rusutsu Resort in Rusutsu Village, Abuta District, Hokkaido, willon Wednesday (a national holiday), April 29, 2026,<\/strong>resume green-season operation of its dedicated pickleball courts.The 8 outdoor courts certified by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF \/ now PJ)<\/strong>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<\/strong>, and the significance Rusutsu holds for thinking about \"pickleball tourism in Japan.\"<\/p>\n

What begins on April 29, 2026 \u2014 the scale of 8 courts and 2,000 m2<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n

The operating period isApril 29 \u2013 October 25, 2026<\/strong>. Reception hours are 8:30\u201316:30, 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.\"<\/p>\n

Fee structure \u2014 \u00a53,000 per hour, paddles \u00a5300, balls \u00a5150<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The fee is standardized at\u00a53,000 per hour<\/strong>per court, and resort-stay ticket holders have one hour included. Rental paddles are \u00a5300 each, and official balls are sold at \u00a5150 each.Up to 6 people per court<\/strong>can 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.<\/p>\n

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 free<\/strong>there's a path prepared to take advantage of that perk.<\/p>\n

Court design \u2014 PJF certification and the advantages of an 8-court block<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Rusutsu's dedicated courts conform to \"the competition standards certified by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF), a general incorporated foundation.\" The predecessor'sofficial release<\/a>explicitly 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<\/strong>\u2014 that's the big difference.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>\u2014 a strength unique to the resort design. Last season, an event inviting a former Badminton World Championships medalist-class guest was also held, with multiple reports on Instagram and elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Summary: Rusutsu 8-court, 2026-season basic data<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Location<\/td>\n13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu Village, Abuta District, Hokkaido, within Rusutsu Resort<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of courts<\/td>\n8 outdoor courts (PJF-certified, 2,000 m2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Operating period<\/td>\nWednesday (holiday), April 29 \u2013 Sunday, October 25, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reception hours<\/td>\n8:30\u201316:30 (use until sunset)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price<\/td>\n\u00a53,000 per court per hour (a resort stay includes one hour)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rentals<\/td>\nPaddles \u00a5300 \/ official balls \u00a5150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capacity<\/td>\nUp to 6 people per court<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Booking<\/td>\nactivity@rusutsu.co.jp \/ 0136-46-3332 ext. 7035<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Three reactions \u2014 the perspectives of the resort, the federation, and enthusiasts<\/strong><\/h2>\n