Comparison
Myoko Kogen vs Shiga Kogen: which has more reliable snow?
Myoko Kogen or Shiga 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
Shiga Kogen has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Myoko Kogen. Month by month, Shiga Kogen has the edge in December.
Month by month
November: Myoko Kogen 0 of 30, Shiga Kogen 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (14% and 21% of days).
December: Myoko Kogen 15 of 30, Shiga Kogen 26 of 30 snow-sure winters (85% and 95% of days).
January: Myoko Kogen 30 of 30, Shiga Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Myoko Kogen 30 of 30, Shiga Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Myoko Kogen 30 of 30, Shiga Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Myoko Kogen 28 of 30, Shiga Kogen 29 of 30 snow-sure winters (97% and 98% of days).
May: Myoko Kogen 0 of 30, Shiga Kogen 1 of 30 snow-sure winters (24% and 31% 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 Shiga Kogen are 33 km apart as the crow flies. Myoko Kogen first, then Shiga Kogen: Village 750 m against 1,340 m; Mid-mountain 1,302 m against 1,824 m; Summit 1,855 m against 2,307 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 100% of days at Myoko Kogen and 100% at Shiga Kogen.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Myoko Kogen or Shiga Kogen?
Shiga Kogen has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 4 at Myoko Kogen. Month by month, Shiga Kogen has the edge in December.
Which has better snow down to the village, Myoko Kogen or Shiga Kogen?
In February, Myoko Kogen: 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.