About Myoko Highlands

The Myoko Highlands are set on a high plain on the floor of a valley located in an inland region of north-central Niigata Prefecture on the border of Nagano Prefecture. The City of Myoko lies nestled between mountains surrounding the historical entrance to the Echigo Plains.

The city is surrounded by five mountains, Mount Madarao, Mount Myoko, Mount Kurohime, Mount Togakushi, and Mount Iizuna. The mountains are collectively known as the Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu (北信五岳, Hokushingogaku). They make up the border of Nagano and Niigata Prefectures.

Most of the city is covered with mountains and forests. As the city name implies, Mount Myoko (2,454m) is in the city, much of which is within the borders of the Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park.

In addition to its namesake, Mount Myoko, the city is home to two other of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, Mount Hiuchi (2,462m) and Mount Takatsuma (2,353m).

The mountain formations and wind currents cause a tremendous amount of snow clouds flowing off the Asian mainland, particularly Siberia, to funnel into the valley fenced in by the five mountains. After the snow clouds cross the Sea of Japan, they encounter the Japanese coast. The Japanese mainland initially rises gradually, but soon the clouds are unable to rise above the mountains, so the clouds dump snow on the Myoko Highlands.

No other area of Japan, perhaps no other place in the world has such a well-structured terrain funnel. On average, this blesses Myoko with 15 metres of snow.