snowingplaces

Ski resort in Nagano, Japan

Shiga Kogen

Japan's largest ski resort, made up of 18 ski areas on a high plateau in Nagano that is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Forecast updated , when it was 22:00 in Shiga Kogen (GMT+9).

Shiga Kogen snow forecast at 2,307 m (top lift)

Next 24 hours on the upper mountain

No snow in the next 24 hours.

No snow expected in the next 7 days.

High confidence, all three forecast models agree

No snow is forecast for Shiga Kogen at the top lift (2,307 m / 7,600 ft) in the next 7 days, and all three weather models we compare agree. Expect temperatures from 6 to 16 °C (43 to 61 °F) and the freezing level near 4,750 m (15,600 ft) over the next day.

Temperature now
6 °C (43 °F)
Freezing level
4,750 m (15,600 ft)
Wind
8 km/h (5 mph), gusts 16 km/h (10 mph)

Shiga Kogen hour by hour, on the upper mountain

Hourly snowfall

No rain or snow on the upper mountain in Shiga Kogen in the next 24 hours.

Shiga Kogen 7-day snow forecast, on the upper mountain

DayWeatherSnowfall
TonightDry6 °C (43 °F) · freezing level 4,750 m (15,600 ft)No snow
SatDry6 to 16 °C (43 to 61 °F) · freezing level 4,750 m (15,600 ft)No snow
SunRain10 to 14 °C (50 to 57 °F) · freezing level 4,850 m (15,900 ft)No snow
MonRain10 to 12 °C (50 to 54 °F) · gusts 54 km/h (34 mph) · freezing level 5,500 m (18,000 ft)No snow
TueRain5 to 12 °C (41 to 54 °F) · gusts 47 km/h (29 mph) · freezing level 5,300 m (17,400 ft)No snow
WedRain5 to 12 °C (41 to 54 °F) · freezing level 4,750 m (15,600 ft)No snow
ThuDry7 to 12 °C (45 to 54 °F) · freezing level 4,500 m (14,800 ft)No snow

Shiga Kogen 14-day snow outlook, on the upper mountain

Days 8 to 14. Only two of our three models run this far ahead, and forecasts at this range often change, so read this as a guide to the pattern rather than a plan.

DayWeatherSnowfall
Fri 25 SepDry5 to 12 °C (41 to 54 °F)No snow
Sat 26 SepDry5 to 12 °C (41 to 54 °F)No snow
Sun 27 SepRain5 to 10 °C (41 to 50 °F)No snow
Mon 28 SepRain4 to 9 °C (39 to 48 °F)No snow
Tue 29 SepRain3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F)No snow
Wed 30 SepDry3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F)No snow
Thu 1 OctDry3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F)No snow

How much snow is there in Shiga Kogen on the upper mountain?

No snow on the ground

This is an estimate from weather models, not a measurement, so it can differ from the depth a resort reports on its pistes. Check the official snow report before you travel.

Where is Shiga Kogen?

Prefecture
Nagano
Country
Japan
Village
1,325 m
Top lift
2,307 m
Vertical
982 m
Lifts
48
Season
Mid-November to Late May

About Shiga Kogen

Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort groups 18 ski areas, with 48 lifts between them, and runs from 1,325 m up to 2,307 m. It describes itself as the largest ski resort in Japan.

The resort is inside Jōshin’etsu-kōgen National Park, and part of the area is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. It hosted events at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

When does it snow in Shiga Kogen?

In Shiga Kogen, snow falls on about 20 days in January in a typical year, the snowiest month. Snow is regular from November to April.

Average days per month with at least 1 cm of snowfall in Shiga Kogen at mid-mountain, 2016–2025
JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
20 days16 days12 days6 days1 days0 days0 days0 days0 days1 days7 days16 days

Average days each month with at least 1 cm of snowfall at mid-mountain, 2016–2025. Calculated from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Snow in Shiga Kogen month by month

Averages for 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain, from ERA5 reanalysis data.

Average snow days, share of annual snowfall and temperature by month in Shiga Kogen, 2016 to 2025
MonthSnow daysShare of the year's snowLow to high
January2025%−13 to −6 °C (9 to 21 °F)
February1620%−12 to −5 °C (10 to 23 °F)
March1217%−8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F)
April67%−3 to 6 °C (27 to 43 °F)
May11%3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F)
June00%8 to 16 °C (46 to 61 °F)
July00%13 to 20 °C (55 to 68 °F)
August00%14 to 21 °C (57 to 70 °F)
September00%10 to 17 °C (50 to 63 °F)
October11%3 to 10 °C (37 to 50 °F)
November77%−4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F)
December1621%−10 to −3 °C (14 to 27 °F)

Snow in Shiga Kogen in November

In November, Shiga Kogen gets snow on about 7 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 7% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −4 to 4 °C (25 to 39 °F).

Snow in Shiga Kogen in December

In December, Shiga Kogen gets snow on about 16 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 21% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −10 to −3 °C (14 to 27 °F).

Snow in Shiga Kogen in January

In January, Shiga Kogen gets snow on about 20 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 25% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −13 to −6 °C (9 to 21 °F).

Snow in Shiga Kogen in February

In February, Shiga Kogen gets snow on about 16 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 20% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −12 to −5 °C (10 to 23 °F).

Snow in Shiga Kogen in March

In March, Shiga Kogen gets snow on about 12 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 17% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −8 to 0 °C (18 to 32 °F).

Snow in Shiga Kogen in April

In April, Shiga Kogen gets snow on about 6 days at mid-mountain, and the month brings about 7% of the year's snowfall. Daily temperatures usually run from −3 to 6 °C (27 to 43 °F).

Which winters were snowiest in Shiga Kogen?

Of the last ten winters in Shiga Kogen, 2016/17 was the snowiest, about 16% above the ten-year average at mid-mountain. The leanest was 2025/26, about 18% below average. The biggest single day of snowfall in the record was 12 March 2024.

Snowfall in Shiga Kogen for each of the last ten winters, as a percentage of the ten-year average
WinterCompared with average
2016/17116% of average
2017/18105% of average
2018/19102% of average
2019/20101% of average
2020/2186% of average
2021/22112% of average
2022/2383% of average
2023/24105% of average
2024/25108% of average
2025/2682% of average

Winters are compared with each other rather than given in centimetres. The ERA5 record is reliable on which winters were big and which were lean, but it underestimates absolute snowfall in the mountains, so the resort's own measured totals are the ones to trust for amounts.

Questions about snow in Shiga Kogen

Does Shiga Kogen have snow at Christmas?

Shiga Kogen had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Christmas Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 20 to 26 December in every one of those years.

Does Shiga Kogen have snow at New Year?

Shiga Kogen had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on New Year's Day in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 27 December to 2 January in every one of those years.

Does Shiga Kogen have snow in mid-February?

Shiga Kogen had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on 15 February in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during 10 to 20 February in every one of those years.

Does Shiga Kogen have snow at Easter?

Shiga Kogen had at least 2.5 cm (1 in) of snow on the ground on Easter Sunday in every one of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025 at mid-mountain. Fresh snow fell during Good Friday to Easter Monday in 4 of those years.

How many days a year does it snow in Shiga Kogen?

It snows on about 80 days a year in Shiga Kogen at mid-mountain, counting days with at least 1 cm of snowfall, averaged over 2016 to 2025. January has the most, about 20 days.

What is the snowiest month in Shiga Kogen?

January is the snowiest month in Shiga Kogen, bringing about 25% of the year's snowfall at mid-mountain, based on ERA5 reanalysis data for 2016 to 2025.

Which recent winter was the snowiest in Shiga Kogen?

Of the last ten winters in Shiga Kogen, 2016/17 was the snowiest, about 16% above the ten-year average. The leanest was 2025/26, about 18% below average.

How cold does Shiga Kogen get in winter?

January is the coldest month in Shiga Kogen at mid-mountain, with average daily lows of −13 °C (9 °F) and highs of −6 °C (21 °F).

How high is Shiga Kogen?

The village or lowest lift at Shiga Kogen is at 1,325 m (4,300 ft) and the top lift is at 2,307 m (7,600 ft), a vertical drop of 982 m (3,200 ft).

When does the ski season start in Shiga Kogen?

The lifts at Shiga Kogen usually open in mid-November and close in late May. Exact dates change each year with the snow, so check the resort's own website before you book.

Snow forecasts near Shiga Kogen

Map of ski resorts and cities within 150 km of Shiga KogenNozawa Onsen, about 20 km away, no snow this week; Nagano, about 30 km away, out of season; Hakuba Valley, about 60 km away, no snow this week; Toyama, about 120 km away, out of season; Niigata, about 140 km away, out of season.50 km100 km150 kmNNozawa Onsen: No snow this weekNagano: Out of seasonHakuba Valley: No snow this weekToyama: Out of seasonNiigata: Out of seasonNozawa OnsenNaganoToyamaNiigataShiga Kogen
Blue dots expect snow in the next 7 days. Distances are straight lines, not driving distances.
Nozawa OnsenSki resort, about 20 km awayNo snow this weekNaganoCity, about 30 km awayOut of seasonHakuba ValleySki resort, about 60 km awayNo snow this weekToyamaCity, about 120 km awayOut of season

Sources: Shigakogen Mountain Resort, Wikipedia