Shosambetsu Astronomical Observatory · Cape of Stars

The Shosambetsu Astronomical Observatory in Shosambetsu Village is built on a cape jutting out into the Sea of Japan. With almost no artificial light around it, the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye—making it one of Japan's finest starry sky spots. The sight of Saturn's rings and Jupiter's stripe patterns through the 65cm reflector telescope is breathtaking. If you stay at the adjacent campground, you can enjoy the starry sky exclusively all night long. In summer, the sunset sinking into the Sea of Japan alongside the stars is also spectacular.