Under the stars · JAPAN STARGAZING
The 4 best japan stargazing tours you can book, with what each costs, how late it runs and how dark the sky gets. Number one leads for a reason; start there.
Visit Tokyo City View on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower for broad indoor views across Tokyo. Your $12 ticket is valid for one day, but you must exchange a printed voucher at the 3F ticket office. Night visits are especially rewarding for city lights and Tokyo Tower views. Exhibition construction may limit some sightlines.
Head to Tennoji for a one-day admission to Abeno Harukas 300. Ride the glass-roof elevator to the 60th-floor viewing deck, enjoy Osaka views by day or night, visit the 58th-floor outdoor plaza, and explore the building’s shops and 16th-floor Art Museum.
“Definitiv ein Besuch wert. Unvergleichliche Aussicht selbst am Tag. Nachts natürlich jedoch am Besten. Teils sehr voll,da viele Leute Fotos machen und damit bestimmte Bereiche blockieren. Manche Aussichtspunkte waren abgesperrt,wegen Aktionen und dergleichen. Sitzgelegenheiten gab es,diese waren aber schnell alle besetzt. Sehr gut organisiert und selbst Stamps gibt es vor Ort. Würde jederzeit wieder dort hin.”
Meet at Euglena Ishigaki Ferry Terminal, then ride to a west-coast jungle site for a guided night walk. Look for coconut crabs, snakes, frogs, bats, crabs, and insects before stargazing if skies are clear. Guides such as Yuki, Akari, Sebastian, and Jiro explain local wildlife and constellations in English or Japanese.
“It was really fun to see the animals in the jungle. We have been able to see several coconut crabs, an owl, a lot of hermit crabs and others. Yuki was funny and taught us a lot of things about the jungles and the animals. It was really nice!”
Meet your Japanese or English-speaking guide at Kurimajima Center Zen Parking Lot for a 90-minute walk through Miyakojima’s subtropical jungle after dark. Look for coconut crabs, spiders, and other nocturnal creatures, then pause for stargazing far from mainland city lights. The tour suits ages 3 to 65, ends where it begins, and runs in light rain when conditions are safe.
“If you are aracnophobic this tour is probably not for you as you will see some massive spiders. However if you like the jungle vibe, spotting wildlife and are looking for something a bit different this tour is great. Just be aware that you should have didi installed and setup as there are no busses running at night in the area so taxi is the only option.”
Pick a sky: desert, volcano, dome or reserve.
