2026 Full-Day Starry Sky Course at the Yamagata Observatory (やまがた天文台)

The Yamagata Observatory (やまがた天文台), nicknamed Nikuni Dome Yamagata (ニクニドームやまがた), is located on the Kojirakawa Campus of Yamagata University at 1-4-12 Kojirakawa, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. It is jointly run by the Faculty of Science of Yamagata University and the NPO 'Association of Little Astronomers' (小さな天文学者の会), and has been open to the public since 2003. It is held, in principle, every Saturday: in winter hours (October-March) the doors open at 18:00 with tours departing at 18:15/18:45/19:15, and in summer hours (April-September) the doors open at 19:00 with tours departing at 19:15/19:45/20:15. Admission is 300 yen for elementary school students and up, and free for preschoolers. Telescope observation is only conducted when the sky is clear, and each session operates on a check-in basis (with a capacity guideline of about 10 people per session). It may be temporarily suspended in bad weather, so please check the official website before heading out.