Sapporo Astronomical Observatory

Inside Nakajima Park in the heart of Sapporo, Japan, the Sapporo Astronomical Observatory has introduced generations of visitors to the night sky since the late 1950s, from one of the smallest public observatory buildings in the country.

About Sapporo Astronomical Observatory

Also known as the Sapporo City Observatory, the facility was completed in 1958 as part of that year's Hokkaido Expo, held in Chuo Ward's Nakajima Park. It's often described as the smallest public observatory in Japan, a compact building that has nonetheless run public astronomy programmes for well over sixty years.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is a 20-centimetre refracting telescope, used for both daytime solar observation and seasonal night-time stargazing sessions. The observatory holds free public stargazing events six days a month, alongside its solar viewing programme.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits inside Nakajima Park, a well-known green space in Sapporo's central Chuo Ward on the island of Hokkaido, easily reached from anywhere in the city.

Visiting Sapporo Astronomical Observatory

Night-time observation sessions require advance application, while daytime solar viewing and the free monthly stargazing events are more casual. The observatory is closed Monday afternoons, all day Tuesday, and on national holidays. It also appeared as a filming location in the 2022 Japanese television drama First Love.

See your named star from here

The same small refractor that has shown Sapporo's visitors the sun and stars for over sixty years works on the same principle as any telescope used to find a star named through Star Register. Explore the star catalogue to see what's visible from Hokkaido's skies.