Comparison
Myoko Kogen vs Nozawa Onsen: which has more reliable snow?
Myoko Kogen or Nozawa Onsen? 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 Nozawa Onsen. Month by month, Myoko Kogen has the edge in December, April and May.
Month by month
November: Myoko Kogen 0 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (14% and 8% of days).
December: Myoko Kogen 15 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 9 of 30 snow-sure winters (85% and 76% of days).
January: Myoko Kogen 30 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Myoko Kogen 30 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Myoko Kogen 30 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Myoko Kogen 28 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 18 of 30 snow-sure winters (97% and 86% of days).
May: Myoko Kogen 0 of 30, Nozawa Onsen 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (24% and 9% 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
Myoko Kogen and Nozawa Onsen are 25 km apart as the crow flies. Myoko Kogen first, then Nozawa Onsen: Village 750 m against 565 m; Mid-mountain 1,302 m against 1,108 m; Summit 1,855 m against 1,650 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Myoko Kogen and 99% at Nozawa Onsen.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Myoko Kogen or Nozawa Onsen?
Myoko Kogen has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 4 months of the year, against 3 at Nozawa Onsen. Month by month, Myoko Kogen has the edge in December, April and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Myoko Kogen or Nozawa Onsen?
In February, Myoko Kogen: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 100% of days, against 99%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.