With padel courts in Niseko and pickleball courts in Rusutsu, there are now two very good reasons to pack your racquets for the coolest rally of your life.
If your idea of a perfect Hokkaido summer means strolling lavender fields, eating endless soft serve, and a leisurely hike, it’s time to update the itinerary. Two of the world’s fastest-growing racquet sports have arrived in Hokkaido — padel at Niseko Hanazono and pickleball at Rusutsu Resort.
While the two sports differ slightly — pickleball plays out in the open while padel is within a glass-and-mesh enclosure — the appeal is essentially the same: easy to pick up, enough to get a good sweat in, and paced to get some conversation in between sets. Both racquet sports have been taking the world by storm, just ask padel-crazy David Beckham and pickleball-obsessed Selena Gomez — superstars who are not just avid players, but are also investors in the game.
Why are we so excited about padel and pickleball arriving in Japan’s north? Both sports are more enjoyable to play with a rolling green backdrop and the mountain breeze to keep you cool.
Here’s the lowdown on where to play and stay this summer.
Padel in Niseko: Niseko Hanazono
For those who aren’t familiar (what rock have you been living under?), padel is often described as tennis meets squash. It’s played within a glass-and-mesh enclosure where the walls stay in play. Rallies go longer than expected, and the four-player format means you’re never short of someone to blame for a missed shot.
At Niseko Hanazono, The Padel Academy runs structured lessons from beginner to advanced, including a Padel Discovery programme designed specifically for first-timers. Family and private lessons are also available.
- Season: 17 May – 22 November 2026
- Hours: 8:30am–7:00pm (May–Jul) | 8:30am–6:30pm (Aug) | 8:30am–6:00pm (Sep–Oct 1) | 8:30am–8:00pm (Oct 2–Nov 22)
- Court hire: ¥7,200/hour (2–4 players, min. 2) | Up to 2 hours per booking
- Rental: ¥600/racket | ¥1,000/can (3 balls)
- Lessons: Padel Discovery ¥3,000/person | Mon/Tue 3:30pm, Sat/Sun 10:30am | Ages 6+
- Location: Niseko Hanazono Resort, Hokkaido
Where to Stay
Our newest property in Lower Hirafu, Haven Niseko is the natural base for those who want to be in the thick of it — floor-to-ceiling views of Mount Yotei and everything Hirafu has to offer on the doorstep.
For something more secluded, Intuition Niseko sits tucked into a birch forest in Upper Hirafu, with one to five-bedroom suites, and an indoor-outdoor onsen to wind down after a day on the courts.
Coming as a group? Yuki Drift‘s six-bedroom private chalet in Kabayama is the perfect après-padel base — with a private onsen, forest views, and space entirely to yourselves.
Pickleball in Hokkaido: Rusutsu Resort
As Hokkaido’s first dedicated pickleball facility, Rusutsu Resort boasts eight full-scale courts built to Japan Pickleball Federation (PJF) standards — the kind of set-up seasoned players will appreciate, and first-timers will simply enjoy.
For the newbies, think of pickleball as tennis, badminton, and table tennis distilled into something more immediately playable: smaller court, lighter paddle, slower ball. Give even the most uncoordinated person an hour, and they’ll be serving with flair by the end of it.
- Season: 29 April – 25 October 2026
- Hours: 8:30am – sunset
- Court hire: ¥3,000/hour (up to 6 players)
- Rental: ¥350/paddle + ball set | ¥300/ball purchase
- Bonus: 1 hour free with a valid Resort 1 Day Ticket
- Location: Rusutsu Resort, Hokkaido
Where to Stay
The Vale Rusutsu, our award-winning ski-in ski-out property just steps from everything Rusutsu has to offer with direct access to the resort’s lifts, restaurants, the Kotobuki onsen, and of course, the pickleball courts.
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Planning your active holiday? Read these next:
Game On: The Best Padel Courts in Koh Samui and Where To Stay With Your Crew
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