Misato Observatory

Misato Observatory is a public astronomy facility in Kimino, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, built around a large Cassegrain telescope and a planetarium that draw visitors up into the hills above the town.

About Misato Observatory

Operated by Kimino Town, Misato Observatory combines a research-grade telescope with a planetarium, making it one of the more substantial public observatories in the Kansai region.

History

The observatory opened on 7 July 1995, a date chosen for its resonance with Tanabata, Japan's star festival.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is a 105 cm Cassegrain reflecting telescope, housed under a dome with a 9-metre horizontal opening-and-closing roof rather than a conventional rotating shell. A planetarium seating around 30 people runs alongside it for sky shows.

Location & getting there

Misato Observatory sits in Kimino, Kaiso District, in Wakayama Prefecture, on the Kii Peninsula south of Osaka — hill country away from the brightest city lights. Use the map and directions on this page to plan your route.

Visiting Misato Observatory

The observatory is open to the public for telescope viewing and planetarium shows; check the official website for the current schedule, ticket prices, and any closures before travelling.

See your named star from here

With a 105 cm telescope on hand, staff at Misato Observatory have the reach to find faint targets at precise coordinates. Name a star through Star Register and bring its right ascension and declination along, or check the catalogue first to see exactly where it sits.