Comparison
Hakuba Valley vs Myoko Kogen: which has more reliable snow?
Hakuba Valley or Myoko Kogen? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from thirty winters of weather data.
The season at a glance
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 30 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Myoko Kogen has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 3 at Hakuba Valley. Month by month, Myoko Kogen has the edge in April.
Month by month
November: Hakuba Valley 0 of 30, Myoko Kogen 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (9% and 14% of days).
December: Hakuba Valley 15 of 30, Myoko Kogen 15 of 30 snow-sure winters (81% and 85% of days).
January: Hakuba Valley 30 of 30, Myoko Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Hakuba Valley 30 of 30, Myoko Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Hakuba Valley 30 of 30, Myoko Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Hakuba Valley 22 of 30, Myoko Kogen 28 of 30 snow-sure winters (93% and 97% of days).
May: Hakuba Valley 0 of 30, Myoko Kogen 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (16% and 24% of days).
A snow-sure winter is one where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of that month’s days.
Height and terrain
Hakuba Valley and Myoko Kogen are 36 km apart as the crow flies. Hakuba Valley first, then Myoko Kogen: Village 760 m against 750 m; Mid-mountain 1,296 m against 1,302 m; Summit 1,831 m against 1,855 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Hakuba Valley and 100% at Myoko Kogen.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Hakuba Valley or Myoko Kogen?
Myoko Kogen has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 3 at Hakuba Valley. Month by month, Myoko Kogen has the edge in April.
Which has better snow down to the village, Hakuba Valley or Myoko Kogen?
In February, Hakuba Valley: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 100%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.