Comparison
Nozawa Onsen vs Shiga Kogen: which has more reliable snow?
Nozawa Onsen 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 3 at Nozawa Onsen. Month by month, Shiga Kogen has the edge in November, December and April.
Month by month
November: Nozawa Onsen 0 of 30, Shiga Kogen 0 of 30 snow-sure winters (8% and 21% of days).
December: Nozawa Onsen 9 of 30, Shiga Kogen 26 of 30 snow-sure winters (76% and 95% of days).
January: Nozawa Onsen 30 of 30, Shiga Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
February: Nozawa Onsen 30 of 30, Shiga Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Nozawa Onsen 30 of 30, Shiga Kogen 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Nozawa Onsen 18 of 30, Shiga Kogen 29 of 30 snow-sure winters (86% and 98% of days).
May: Nozawa Onsen 0 of 30, Shiga Kogen 1 of 30 snow-sure winters (9% 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
Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen are 19 km apart as the crow flies. Nozawa Onsen first, then Shiga Kogen: Village 565 m against 1,340 m; Mid-mountain 1,108 m against 1,824 m; Summit 1,650 m against 2,307 m.
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days at Nozawa Onsen and 100% at Shiga Kogen.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Nozawa Onsen or Shiga Kogen?
Shiga Kogen has had the more reliable natural snow: mid-mountain was snow-sure in 5 months of the year, against 3 at Nozawa Onsen. Month by month, Shiga Kogen has the edge in November, December and April.
Which has better snow down to the village, Nozawa Onsen or Shiga Kogen?
In February, Shiga 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.