Comparison
Hakuba Valley vs Niseko United: which has more reliable snow?
Hakuba Valley or Niseko United? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from eleven 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 11 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months of the year, but Hakuba Valley has had the edge more often. Month by month, Hakuba Valley has the edge in December.
Month by month
December: Hakuba Valley 4 of 11, Niseko United 1 of 11 snow-sure winters (59% and 42% of days).
January: Hakuba Valley 10 of 11, Niseko United 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (98% and 99% of days).
February: Hakuba Valley 11 of 11, Niseko United 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Hakuba Valley 11 of 11, Niseko United 11 of 11 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Hakuba Valley 9 of 11, Niseko United 10 of 11 snow-sure winters (92% and 99% of days).
May: Hakuba Valley 0 of 11, Niseko United 0 of 11 snow-sure winters (28% and 20% 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 Niseko United are 728 km apart as the crow flies. Hakuba Valley first, then Niseko United: Village 760 m against 260 m; Mid-mountain 1,296 m against 784 m; Summit 1,831 m against 1,308 m. Mapped downhill runs: Hakuba Valley 30 km, Niseko United 59 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 76% of days at Hakuba Valley and 100% at Niseko United.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Hakuba Valley or Niseko United?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 4 months of the year, but Hakuba Valley has had the edge more often. Month by month, Hakuba Valley has the edge in December.
Which has better snow down to the village, Hakuba Valley or Niseko United?
In February, Niseko United: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 76%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.