From Hirakiso Plateau, a popular resting spot for Shirahamacho residents, you can see the Milky Way; the large red star is Antares in Scorpius. Its diameter is about 700 to 800 times that of the Sun, and it lies roughly 550 to 600 light-years from Earth. That means the light we see now left the star 550 to 600 years ago. Hirakiso Plateau is dotted with many cherry trees, and soon it will bustle with crowds enjoying the blossoms.

Winter camellias and the star trail I spun the stars for about an hour Shooting outdoors in winter is cold, but the air is clear and the stars look beautiful The bright glow below is the city lights of Tanabe City

Located at the foot of Mt. Okoji in Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture, and adjacent to the 88th temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Okoji Temple, the Astronomical Telescope Museum is the world’s only museum dedicated exclusively to astronomical telescopes. The museum cleverly repurposes an abandoned elementary school building. Former classrooms now display small telescopes donated by individuals, evoking a warm sense of history; the old indoor pool houses imposing large telescopes from observatories across the country. This blend of old and new creates a fantastical scene with striking visual impact. With more than two hundred telescopes in its collection, the museum not only traces the development of astronomical observation in Japan but also brings together many classic models that people dreamed of owning as children. The staff focuses on restoration and active preservation so these instruments are not merely static antiques but ready-to-use tools that can be pointed at the night sky, captivating astronomy enthusiasts. Around 125 dedicated volunteers run the museum, more than half of whom come from outside the prefecture. By day, the museum offers in-depth tours and hands-on workshops guiding visitors to observe sunspots; by night, it holds viewing sessions that use the collection’s telescopes to capture the splendor of the planets. These instruments, once destined for retirement, are reborn here and lead visitors to look up again at the grandeur of the universe. In the mountain air far from city noise, the pure starlight is enough to make one forget the manmade neon of urban life.

I couldn't photograph the meteor shower, so I switched to capturing star trails.

[Stargazing Photography Workshop Held on November 24] Aiming to introduce the beauty of Minamimaki Village’s night sky to local residents, we held a village-residents-only stargazing photography workshop on Monday, November 24 at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan NOBEYAMA. Thanks to photographer Teruyasu Kitayama’s instruction on shooting techniques and the generous loan of a high-performance camera from OM Digital Solutions Corporation, even an amateur like me was able to take beautiful night-sky photos. The air is clear and it’s a perfect season for astrophotography, but Minamimaki Village’s cold is in a league of its own—please come warmly dressed.

The season for clear stargazing has arrived. The Orion constellation and the Winter Triangle, both iconic winter sights, stood out. Nearby, Taurus, Gemini, and the Pleiades were also visible.

♬ Sophia Sakai Planetarium Concert ♬ Join saxophonist TSUBO‑KEN as you gaze at the stars and savor the saxophone’s beautiful tones 🎷✨ Sign up via the web 😊 📅 Date and time: Saturday, December 13th, 7:00 PM–8:00 PM (doors open 6:45 PM) 📍 Venue: Sophia Sakai Planetarium (@sophiasakai_pla ) 💰 Admission: ¥1,000 👥 Capacity: 140 people (first-come, first-served by application) 🔍 For details, search “Sophia Sakai Planetarium Concert”! 🔗 https://www.sofia-sakai.jp/news/...プラネタリウムコンサート/ #Sophia Sakai #Planetarium #Planetarium Concert #PlanetariumConcert #Sakai City #Saxophone #Sakai City Event https://www.sofia-sakai.jp/news/...プラネタリウムコンサート/

Teshikaga Night Sky Enjoyment Workshop Thanks to your support, we have reached the 12th Teshikaga Night Sky Enjoyment Workshop. This year’s theme is the much-anticipated Geminids meteor shower. The program includes a classroom lecture and an observation session. Why is Teshikaga’s night sky so stunning? How should we protect and make the most of this night sky? What exactly is a meteor shower? What are tips for enjoying it? Which astronomical events should you watch for next year? This workshop is packed with answers and insights. If the sky is clear, we will go outside and observe the meteor shower. We hope you get to see bright meteors that can compete with the waning moonlight. To register, contact Teshikaga Town Community Center. 015-482-2340 We look forward to your participation🌌✨

I want to enter a photo contest and this is my first posted! Oishi Park on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi is the best time to visit kochia, so I went to Yamanashi Prefecture. On this day, there was a time when the moon did not rise, so I thought that I would Squid to take a picture with the starry sky, but unfortunately it was forecast to be cloudy on the day. After slowly taking a dip in the Hot Spring with a disappointing feeling, I suddenly went outside and looked up at the sky, and it was sunny! I suppressed my feeling of impatience and headed to Oishi Park by Car and was able to take a picture. The contrast between the cap clouds over Mt. Mount Fuji, the clouds reflected by the town lights, and the pleasant starry sky creates a good atmosphere, and as a result, it became a very favorite piece of the seasonal scenery and coincidence.

Have you seen the Minamimaki Village logo? When I first saw it, I thought, "What is this?", but this logo actually has a meaningful design. Against a backdrop featuring Yatsugatake (Mt. Akadake, Mt. Yokodake, and Mt. Ioudake), the symbol of Minamimaki Village, and a star motif representing the beautiful night sky of Nobeyama Highlands—one of Japan’s three best stargazing spots—the village name "minamimakimura" is expressed as "mmm." I find it to be a very well-crafted logo. We would be delighted if you used this mark in various situations to help promote Minamimaki Village! Anyone may freely use it as long as they follow the usage rules. However, prior approval is required for commercial sales. For details, please see below. https://www.minamimakimura.jp/main/mmmlogo.html...

Happo Pond in Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. I wanted to see the moonlit view of the three mountains of Hakuba reflected in Happo Pond, so I visited by night hike on a night when the moon was out and there was no wind. The view of Mt. Hakuba, Mt. Tsurushi, and Mt. Hakuba reflected in the Happo Pond is the best.

Outdoor Screening and Star‑Gazing Night On Saturday, May 24th, we spent an evening of film and stargazing at the Forest Park. That said, the sky was unfortunately cloudy that night. It was also a bit chilly. We couldn’t look up at the stars, which was a shame, but the talk given by staff from Nayoro Municipal Observatory Kitāsubaru was fascinating, and they kindly opened their observatory vehicle for about 30 minutes. How long would it take to fly from Earth to the Sun by plane…? They explained the universe in a very easy‑to‑understand way, and both children and adults were captivated. While promoting this event, we discovered that far more people than expected are actually interested in the stars, which was a pleasant surprise. We’d like to create another opportunity to invite the observatory vehicle Polaris No. II again. (Nayoro Municipal Observatory website below) https://www.nayoro-star.jp/kitasubaru/... For the screening, we showed the Japanese‑dubbed version of the French animated film Linda Wants to Eat a Chicken! Amid the absurd twists and turns, I kept mentally reacting to the antics while enjoying a delightful 76 minutes. For movie snacks, Cafe Granch and Nishiokoppe Uenshiri Taiko offered food stalls. Coconut dumplings, pudding, popcorn, mamecha (roasted soybean tea), and hojicha chai. Although the stalls were run by village residents, they offered some rarely seen menu items, and thanks to that the event was a big success. This was Nishiokoppe Village’s first outdoor screening. Despite weather concerns and other uncertainties, we managed to hold the event. Alongside this program, we inflated the bouncy dome until 9:00 p.m., and the children kept jumping for a long time—apparently bouncing at night feels different from daytime. Thank you to everyone who came, and to everyone who lent their support to make the event happen! #Nishiokoppe Village #Forest Park #Hokkaido #Outdoor Screening #Linda Wants to Eat a Chicken! #Stargazing #Nayoro Municipal Observatory #Kitāsubaru #Observatory Vehicle Polaris No. II #Cafe Granch #Nishiokoppe Uenshiri Taiko

Mount Fuji, a symbol of Japan, in a historic tea plantation. The starry sky was also wonderful.

[Now Released Today!!] The feature film Detective Conan: The One-Eyed Specter premieres today 🎬️👓️🎀🎉 Nobeyama Highlands in Minamimaki, Nagano Prefecture—the setting for the film and home to the Nobeyama Radio Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan📡—offers spectacular views of the Yatsugatake Mountains⛰️, the JR line’s highest elevation point🚞, the highest-elevation railway station in Japan, Nobeyama Station🚉, one of Japan’s three premier stargazing spots🌠, and top-tier production of highland vegetables nationwide, including leafy greens, corn, and broccoli🥬🌽🥦. There are so many great places and products to enjoy—please take this chance to discover the charms of Minamimaki Village ✨ ▼Access information to the Nobeyama Radio Observatory is here https://www.kanko-nobeyama.jp/info/?p=2413/...

Test Shuttle Bus Service to the National Astronomical Observatory Nobeyama Observatory! Because many visitors are already coming to the Nobeyama Radio Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatory, we have arranged an impromptu free shuttle bus trial between Nobeyama Station and the observatory📡🚌💨🚉🆓 The trial runs only on Saturday April 5, Sunday April 6, Saturday April 12, and Sunday April 13. Departures begin from in front of Nobeyama Station at 8:45 and from the observatory at 9:00, then run roughly every 30 minutes, with the last bus leaving the observatory at 17:30🕘 Please note that, depending on crowding, we may add extra runs and the schedule may not be followed exactly, so thank you for your understanding in advance🙏

New: The Nagano Prefecture tourism map has arrived. The 2025–2026 edition of the Nagano tourism map is here, and gracing the cover is the 45 m antenna of the Nobeyama Radio Observatory—surely one of this year’s most talked-about sights. It’s a great honor for the observatory to appear on the cover of a map that represents Nagano’s 77 cities, towns, and villages. Copies of the map will be available at tourist spots throughout Nagano Prefecture. Pick one up and take a look.

Stars orbiting the North Star Here at Nobeyama Highlands Elevation There are Nobeyama Radio Observatory National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Highlands of 1300~1500m. In winter, the air is clear and it is a perfect place for stargazing. Looking at the stars orbiting the North Star, you can't help but feel the profundity of the universe.

Nobeyama Highlands Today This morning’s lowest temperature in Nobeyama was −13.2°C, and the daytime high reached 4.4°C, creating a temperature gap of more than 20°C. More than the numbers suggest, it felt warm and springlike today. This kind of weather looks set to continue this week, but snow is forecast again next week. Come on, spring—hurry and arrive!

In winter, the air is clear and the clear nights are perfect ✨🌟✨ for stargazing Even in Shibu Onsen, if you avoid the streets and look up at the sky, the sky 🌌 is full of stars You can 💫💫 also take a picture of the winter constellation Orion with your iPhone Sometimes you can see it from the open-air bath! !️🙈✨️ ♨️

Even after the New Year, it is still sunny in Okuyamanashi. The blue skies of the day continue into the night, with scattered jewel-like stars dominating overhead. You can clearly see the difference in the color of the stars in the night sky here. This winter, Jupiter and orange Mars are in the constellation. It's gorgeous with 10 first-magnitude stars. Why don't you check it out in the extreme darkness of Hayakawa Town?

⛷️🏔️ A special tour to fully enjoy nature and culture in winter in Shinanomachi 🍶🎨 Would you like to enjoy a winter-only special experience in Shinanomachi, Nagano Prefecture, one of Japan’s top ski resort areas? ❄️✨ 💡 Top 3 highlights of this tour 💡 1️⃣ Freeride experience Enjoy the thrill of freeriding at a snow resort with the best snow quality—feel the freedom as you carve down the slopes on a snowboard! Suitable for beginners to advanced riders. You can also take lessons from pro snowboarder Konishi! 2️⃣ Indigo-dye remake workshop Try your hand at creating original items in a traditional indigo-dye workshop using Furumi indigo and Ise-katagami paper stencils. Don’t miss the rare, delicate patterns of the Ise-katagami. 3️⃣ Star-gazing and gourmet dinner Cook together using a special menu supervised by a top chef and experience traditional Japanese preparation methods! In the evening, relax under a sky full of stars 🌌✨ 🗺️ The charms of Shinanomachi 🗺️ Rich nature and fresh air: areas like Kurohime Plateau and Lake Nojiri offer beautiful seasonal scenery. A food treasure trove: corn, tomatoes, and botan chili peppers showcase exceptionally high-quality produce! History and culture: the Naumann Elephant Museum and Uga Shrine on Lake Nojiri reflect the region’s history and traditions. 📅 Dates 1️⃣ Saturday, January 4th, 2025 – Monday, January 6th, 2025 2️⃣ Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025 – Friday, January 24th, 2025 If you’re interested, DM the tour conductor @donapon.kazuma📩 We will provide more details! Let’s create new winter memories together ❄️✨

I went to photograph the Shibungiza meteor shower. I was expecting a lot of many meteors, but I was only able to confirm about 5 on my computer.

This is the snow-capped Mt. Fuji and the constellation Orion taken at Lake Yamanaka. Mt. Fuji and the constellation Orion were also visible on the surface of the lake, which was a wonderful sight.

This photo was taken at the Forest and Starry Sky Camp Village in Motegi Towns, Tochigi Prefecture. While enjoying winter camping, you can see the beautiful starry sky and the Great Triangle in winter, so it is very healing.

"The Beginning of Midwinter in Okuyama" It was as cold as if it had suddenly become the middle of winter from early winter. Gari the temperature drops further at night, and stars of sharpened brilliance appear one after another in the eastern sky. This winter's starry sky is even more lively and sparkling. Every night in Okuyama, countless jewels Unfold on the roof, above the heads of those who look up.

Nobeyama Highlands Today This morning the temperature at Nobeyama Highlands was −13.4°C🌡️It felt colder than the number suggested🥶 The observatory’s 45 m antenna was unusually pointing toward the Yatsugatake Mountains📡🏔️ Snow has mostly melted from main roads, but shaded stretches like Ichibazaka remain damp on the surface even during the day❄️ Please take extra care when driving🚙🎅

[Gokase Town, Miyazaki Prefecture — Accommodation] Potunto Detached House Kuraoka "An escape from the everyday that still lets you enjoy rural daily life" I want to try living in the countryside. I want to relax in a quiet place. I want to focus quietly on work for a few days. I want a day that makes me forget everything. A nostalgic place like the grandmother’s house I visited as a child. This is an accommodation where you can experience that kind of deep-mountain lifestyle. A home for lovers of mountains and rural life. From October 2024, a newly opened whole-house simple lodging, Potunto Detached House Kuraoka, is available for rent. Come and take a leisurely taste of country living! ↓For detailed rates and other information↓ https://potnt-kuraoka.com/#contents... Contact 3959-2 Kuraoka, Gokase, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki 882-1201 TEL: 0982-83-0522

Gokase Highland Ski Resort Safety Prayer Ceremony Today, Thursday, December 12, a safety prayer ceremony was held at Gokase Highland Ski Resort, which is set to reopen in eight days for the first time in three years. 🙏✨ Around 60 people boarded shuttle buses from the base to gather, and amid heavy media coverage, a Shinto ritual took place inside the ski center. 😌 The ritual proceeded smoothly, and after offering prayers for the resort’s safety and success, participants toasted together. 🍻 At the post-ceremony gathering, everyone spent a relaxed time, eagerly anticipating the ski area’s opening. 🤗 Along the road up to the resort, snow had accumulated in places, and the slopes were adorned with frost-covered trees that created a magical scene. ❄️✨ When the wind blows, it really is cold, isn’t it? 🥶 I came fully bundled up today, but cold is cold. 🤣 Still, a ski resort should feel like this! Right? 💪❤️‍🔥 Only a little time left until opening. 🤩 Let’s hold on a bit longer and wait with excited anticipation. ✨

【Star Photography Workshop Held on November 30】 We held a star photography workshop again this year to introduce the villagers to the beautiful night sky of Minamimaki Village, one of Japan’s three top stargazing spots.📋✏️ We photographed the stars at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, a facility that is usually closed at night.📡📷 Thanks to photographer Teruyasu Kitayama’s instruction on shooting techniques and the generous loan of a high-performance camera from OM Digital Solutions Corporation, even an amateur like me could capture beautiful images.😚 The air has turned clear and it’s the perfect season for star photography, but Minamimaki Village’s cold is on another level.🥶 Please dress warmly when you come.🧣🧤

Notice of public toilet closures for winter To prevent freezing, some public toilets in Minamimaki Village will be closed from Monday, November 25, 2024 until mid-April 2025 (scheduled). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please note that the public toilet in front of nobeyama station remains available 24 hours during winter. The restroom inside the Minamimaki Village Rural Culture and Information Exchange Center (Vegitable With) is also available during the center’s opening hours.