Observing Spot Guide
Dark sky locations for stargazing, rated by light pollution level.
Zamami Island — Kerama Blue sea and Milky Way combine in island's remote sanctuary
Zamami Island — Kerama Blue sea and Milky Way combine in island's remote sanctuary
Zamami Island in the Kerama Islands, Okinawa is a national park core. Day diving in Kerama Blue waters, night stargazing in island darkness.
Mt. Iwate Yakehashiri International Exchange Village 'Ginga Station' — Lava flow and starry sky perform together
Mt. Iwate Yakehashiri International Exchange Village 'Ginga Station' — Lava flow and starry sky perform together
The astronomy facility overlooking Mt. Iwate's lava flows features a 20cm refractor telescope. Enjoy both mountain nature and starry sky simultaneously.
Utsukushigahara Highland — Attain ultimate starry sky experience at 2000m heaven
Utsukushigahara Highland — Attain ultimate starry sky experience at 2000m heaven
Utsukushigahara Highland at 2000m in Nagano is a lava plateau. With minimal atmospheric effects, the Milky Way's fine structure appears naked-eye visible—Japan's supreme starry sky.
Shirabiso Highland — Embrace absolute darkness at 1918m with Southern Alps' starry sky
Shirabiso Highland — Embrace absolute darkness at 1918m with Southern Alps' starry sky
Shirabiso Highland at 1918m near Iida, Nagano features zero streetlights—ultimate darkness. Southern Alps' mountains and starry sky create a remote observation sanctuary.
Shimanto Observatory — Enjoy guided starry tours in Kōchi's 'Starry Town'
Shimanto Observatory — Enjoy guided starry tours in Kōchi's 'Starry Town'
Shimanto Observatory in Shimanto City, Kōchi is a public observatory in an Environment-Ministry-certified 'Starry Town'. Experience clear Shimanto River skies with expert guides.
Lake Shikaribetsu — View the night sky from Japan's highest-elevation lake
Lake Shikaribetsu — View the night sky from Japan's highest-elevation lake
At 810m elevation, Lake Shikaribetsu is Japan's highest-elevation natural lake and 'Sky Lake'. Observe the Milky Way in a zero light-pollution environment.
Senjōgahara — Kanto's finest starry sky unfolds in the high-elevation wetland of Nikkō
Senjōgahara — Kanto's finest starry sky unfolds in the high-elevation wetland of Nikkō
At 1400m elevation in Nikkō, Tochigi, Senjōgahara offers near-zero light pollution where the Milky Way clearly appears—Kanto's strongest stargazing location.
Onidake Observatory — Experience alternative-dimension starry sky with a 60cm telescope on a remote island
Onidake Observatory — Experience alternative-dimension starry sky with a 60cm telescope on a remote island
Onidake Observatory on the Goto Islands in Nagasaki features a 60cm large telescope. Island darkness offers incomparable starry sky experience impossible on the mainland.
Okutama Lake — Tokyo's darkest night sky reveals the Milky Way nearby
Okutama Lake — Tokyo's darkest night sky reveals the Milky Way nearby
Okutama Lake, reachable from central Tokyo in about 2 hours via train and bus, offers rare starry sky conditions permitting Milky Way observation within Tokyo.
Odaigahara — Experience supreme starry sky from a 100-famous-mountain peak in the Kii Mountains' remote sanctuary
Odaigahara — Experience supreme starry sky from a 100-famous-mountain peak in the Kii Mountains' remote sanctuary
Odaigahara at 1695m on the Nara-Mie border. The 360-degree starry view from Hidei Peak observation platform is Kinki's darkest and finest.
Nobeyama Plateau — Behold Yatsugatake's starry sky from this mecca of radio astronomy
Nobeyama Plateau — Behold Yatsugatake's starry sky from this mecca of radio astronomy
Nobeyama Plateau at 1350m elevation hosts the National Astronomical Observatory's radio facility. Massive parabola and starry sky create fantastical scenery.
Misato Observatory — Enjoy 105cm telescope and starry guidance in Wakayama's mountain valley
Misato Observatory — Enjoy 105cm telescope and starry guidance in Wakayama's mountain valley
Misato Observatory in Kimino Town, Wakayama features a 105cm telescope at a public observatory. Specialized staff provide starry sky guidance, ideal for beginners.
Mineyama Highland — Experience a natural planetarium in Hyogo's resort highland
Mineyama Highland — Experience a natural planetarium in Hyogo's resort highland
Mineyama Highland at about 930m elevation in Kaminaka, Hyogo is a resort area with hotels and campgrounds. A convenient Kinki-area hidden gem for stargazing.
Minami-Aso Luna Observatory — Experience starry nights with Aso's natural beauty and auberge cuisine
Minami-Aso Luna Observatory — Experience starry nights with Aso's natural beauty and auberge cuisine
Luna Observatory in Minami-Aso Village, Kumamoto features an 82cm telescope. Stay at Auberge Mori no Atelier to savor both Aso's starry sky and fine cuisine.
Kuma-Kōgen Observatory — Explore the cosmos with Shikoku's largest 60cm telescope
Kuma-Kōgen Observatory — Explore the cosmos with Shikoku's largest 60cm telescope
Kuma-Kōgen Observatory in Kuma-Kōgen Town, Ehime is a professional facility with Shikoku's largest 60cm reflector. Experience Shikoku's premier starry sky at 700m highland.
Kuju Highland — Kyushu's finest starry grassland at the foot of the Kuju Mountains
Kuju Highland — Kyushu's finest starry grassland at the foot of the Kuju Mountains
Kuju Highland in Taketa, Oita Prefecture spreads with the Kuju Mountain range as backdrop—Kyushu's premier stargazing spot with expansive grassland and starry sky.
Kihoku Sky Ball — Kagoshima's famous starry place recognized 7 times as Japan's clearest skies
Kihoku Sky Ball — Kagoshima's famous starry place recognized 7 times as Japan's clearest skies
Kihoku Sky Ball in Kanoya, Kagoshima has been certified as 'Japan's clearest starry sky' 7 times by the Environment Ministry. Panoramic starry sky with Sakurajima backdrop.
Jododaira Observatory — Experience Tōhoku's finest starry sky at 1575m elevation
Jododaira Observatory — Experience Tōhoku's finest starry sky at 1575m elevation
Jododaira Observatory on Bandai-Asahi Skyline at 1575m elevation in Fukushima. Outstanding transparency with a 40cm reflector offers Tōhoku's supreme stargazing experience.
Ishigaki Saare Observatoorium Jaapani — Jaapani esimene tähede kaitse ala lõunapoolse ristiga vaatamisel
Ishigaki Saare Observatoorium Jaapani — Jaapani esimene tähede kaitse ala lõunapoolse ristiga vaatamisel
Ishigaki Saare Observatoorium Okinawas on Kyushu-Okinawa suurim 105cm teleskoop. Asub Jaapani esimeses rahvuslikult määratud tähestuse kaitsealal, jälgida lõunast krossi kordumatust madala laiuse asukohast.
Hateruma Saare Star Tower Jaapani — Lõpuliku tähtedega Jaapani Southernmost elanike saarel
Hateruma Saare Star Tower Jaapani — Lõpuliku tähtedega Jaapani Southernmost elanike saarel
Hateruma Saar, Jaapani southernmost elanike saare, pakub rahvuslike tumedaimatel öiste taevastel. Saar Observatooriumi tornist jälgida lõunaristist ja 84 tähistellust.
Gunma Prefektuuri Observatoorium Jaapani — Jaapani suurimate avalike 150cm teleskoopide hulgas
Gunma Prefektuuri Observatoorium Jaapani — Jaapani suurimate avalike 150cm teleskoopide hulgas
Asuv Takayama külas, Gunma prefektuuris, Gunma Prefektuuri Observatoorium omab 150cm teleskoobi - Jaapani suurimate avalikult ligipääsetavate instrumentide hulgas. Üks Kanto piirkonna kõige ulatuslikumaid vaatlemise ehitisi.
Mt. Gomadan — View Kii Peninsula's starry sea from this sacred peak of the Kii Mountains
Mt. Gomadan — View Kii Peninsula's starry sea from this sacred peak of the Kii Mountains
Mt. Gomadan (elevation 1372m), the highest mountain in Wakayama Prefecture, is an accessible observation site along the Koya-Ryujin Skyline. Surrounded by deep forests with ultimate darkness.
Ginganomori observatoorium Jaapani — suurim avalik teleskoop tähtedega jaotatud linnas
Ginganomori observatoorium Jaapani — suurim avalik teleskoop tähtedega jaotatud linnas
Hokkaido Rikubetsu linnas asuv Ginganomori observatoorium pakub 115cm peegeltelekoopi — ühe suurima avalikult ligipääsetava instrumendi Jaapanist. Avastage erakordsed vaatlustingimused ametlikult määratud 'Tähtede linnas'.
Dōdaira Observatory 'Star and Green Creation Center' — Experience authentic stargazing with the former National Astronomical Observatory's 91cm telescope
Dōdaira Observatory 'Star and Green Creation Center' — Experience authentic stargazing with the former National Astronomical Observatory's 91cm telescope
Dōdaira Observatory in Tokigawa Town, Saitama Prefecture, is a historic facility with a 91cm reflector telescope once used by the National Astronomical Observatory. Serious celestial observations possible while staying overnight.
Chōkai Highland — Akita's highland with Japan's 2nd-best starry sky
Chōkai Highland — Akita's highland with Japan's 2nd-best starry sky
Chōkai Highland in Akita Prefecture ranked 2nd in Japan's national starlight survey. The perfect starry sky unfolds from the pasture park at the foot of Mt. Chōkai.
Bisei astronoomia observatoorium Jaapanis — Jaapani esimene valgutugevuse vähendamise määrus kaitseb tähistaevast
Bisei astronoomia observatoorium Jaapanis — Jaapani esimene valgutugevuse vähendamise määrus kaitseb tähistaevast
Bisei linn Okayama prefektuuris võttis vastu Jaapani esimese valgustegevuse vähendamise määruse. Bisei astronoomia observatoorium koos 101cm teleskoobi varustab tõelist tähistaevast, mida kaitseb see määrus.
Biei mäed Jaapanis — 360-kraadine tähistaevaz üle Hokkaido kalnuste
Biei mäed Jaapanis — 360-kraadine tähistaevaz üle Hokkaido kalnuste
Laialdased Biei linna kalnuste ala pakuvad takistamata 360-kraadist tähistaevast. Neli aastaegu ja taevase vaade loovad siin ilu harmooniat.
Amagi kõrgharitoire — 1000m üle Izu poolsaare, vaata Rahvali ookeani veeliini ja tähistaevast
Amagi kõrgharitoire — 1000m üle Izu poolsaare, vaata Rahvali ookeani veeliini ja tähistaevast
Amagi kõrgasunigas Izu linnas Shizuoka prefektuuris umbes 1000m kõrgusel. Atvered tähistaevaz, mis ulatub Rahulikku ookeani veelinia, on atraktiivilev fjord kõrgusel.
Akiyoshidai — 360-kraadine tähistaevaz Jaapani suurima karstiplaatvormi kohal
Akiyoshidai — 360-kraadine tähistaevaz Jaapani suurima karstiplaatvormi kohal
Akiyoshidai Yamagoto prefektuuris on Jaapani suurim karstiplatvorm. Ainulaadne topograafia valged kreedikividega ja 360-kraadine tähistaevaz loob ebatavalise vaatluskogemuse.
Achi küla — Jaapani parim tähistaevaz keskkonnakaitseministeeriumi järgi
Achi küla — Jaapani parim tähistaevaz keskkonnakaitseministeeriumi järgi
Achi küla Nagano prefektuuris, kelle Jaapani keskkonnakaitseministeerium nominis parimaks tähe vaatlemise paigaks nr. 1, pakub Nambai parki imepärase öise taevastikuga.