Can I drive in Hokkaido in winter if I have never driven on snow?

Yes, most visitors manage fine. Keep your speed down, leave two to three times your normal following distance, and avoid sudden inputs - no sudden acceleration, braking or steering. Every Rusutsu Rental Car vehicle is 4WD with studless snow tires, and insurance plus 24/7 roadside assistance are included in the base price.

Do I need 4WD and studless snow tires in Rusutsu?

Yes. Roads around Rusutsu are compacted snow and ice for much of the winter, so 4WD with studless tires is strongly recommended. All our cars come with both as standard, at no extra charge.

What should I do if I get caught in a blizzard?

Do not push on. Pull over somewhere safe, turn on your lights and hazard lights so others can see you, and wait for visibility to improve. If you must keep moving, slow down further and keep the tail lights of the car ahead in sight while maintaining distance.

Is snow removal good on the roads around Rusutsu?

Main roads between Rusutsu, Kimobetsu, Lake Toya and Niseko are ploughed regularly through the winter, but the surface is usually packed snow rather than bare asphalt. Expect a slippery surface even on a clear day, and be extra careful on bridges, in shade and at intersections.

Winter driving

Driving in Hokkaido in winter: a guide for Rusutsu visitors

Short answer: keep your speed down, leave a big gap, and avoid anything sudden. Do those three things and a first-timer can drive here safely. Every car we rent is 4WD with studless snow tires, insurance included.

Winter roads in Hokkaido are different from what most visitors are used to. For months at a time the surface is packed snow or ice rather than bare asphalt, and a clear morning can turn into a whiteout by afternoon. None of that makes driving here off-limits - it just means the car needs the right equipment and you need to adjust how you drive.

Equipment first: 4WD and studless tires

On packed snow and ice, four-wheel drive and studless (winter) tires make the difference between a relaxed drive and a stressful one. In Japan, studded tires are not used - "studless" winter tires are the standard. Every Rusutsu Rental Car vehicle has 4WD and studless tires as standard, with no winter surcharge. Insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance are also in the base price.

How to drive: pulling away, moving, stopping

Pull away gently
Press the accelerator too hard and the wheels just spin. Squeeze it on slowly and let the speed build.
Slow down and leave room
Stopping distances are much longer on snow and ice. Aim for two to three times the gap you would leave on a dry road.
Brake early and softly
Start slowing well before you need to, in several gentle applications. Hard braking is what starts a skid.
Slow before the corner, not in it
Get your speed off in a straight line, then hold the steering and the throttle steady through the bend.

Where it catches people out

🌉 Bridges and shaded stretches

Colder than the road around them, so they freeze first. Ease off before you reach them.

🧊 Intersections and tunnel mouths

Constant braking and pulling away polishes the snow into glass. Treat these as the slipperiest spots on your route.

🌨 Blizzards and ground blizzards

When visibility drops, pull over somewhere safe and wait. Lights and hazards on so others can see you.

🅿 Parking in snow

Watch for snow banks and deep ruts. Park on flat, cleared ground and stand the wipers up so they do not freeze to the glass.

Before you set off

Clear snow off the windows, mirrors and lights so you can see and be seen, and start with plenty of fuel. Local gas stations close in the evening, so for a night trip the fuel-included plan saves you hunting for one in the dark. If the forecast looks bad, deciding not to make a long trip is a perfectly good call. Should anything happen, see accident and breakdown - roadside assistance runs 24/7, 365 days.

Every car we rent is prepared and cleaned for winter conditions: 4WD, studless tires, unlimited bodily-injury and property-damage insurance, and 24-hour roadside assistance, all included in the base rate of ¥13,800 per 6-hour block.

FAQ

I have never driven on snow. Will I be OK?

Most first-timers are. Keep the speed down, leave a big gap, avoid sudden inputs. All cars are 4WD with snow tires, and insurance and roadside assistance are included.

Do I really need 4WD and studless tires?

Around Rusutsu in winter, yes. Both are standard on our cars at no extra charge.

What if I hit a blizzard?

Pull over somewhere safe, lights and hazards on, and wait it out. If you keep going, slow right down and hold your distance.

Are the roads ploughed?

Main roads are ploughed regularly, but the surface stays packed snow rather than bare tarmac. Assume it is slippery even on a sunny day.

→ Getting around Rusutsu　→ Airport & Sapporo access

Winter-ready cars, insurance included

4WD and studless tires on every car. Book only the hours you need.

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