Gotoh Planetarium and Astronomical Museum, Astronomical museum and planetarium in Shibuya, Japan
The Gotoh Planetarium and Astronomical Museum was a facility in Shibuya that combined a projection dome with exhibition spaces about astronomy. The dome, which measured 20 meters across, seated around 450 visitors who could watch shows about the stars and planets while displays around the building explained what was happening in the night sky.
Keita Goto founded and opened this facility in 1957 on the eighth floor of a Shibuya building. It served the city as a place for learning about astronomy and observing the sky for many decades after its establishment.
The exhibitions displayed information about celestial bodies and shared scientific knowledge about space with visitors of all backgrounds. These programs brought together people who simply wanted to look up and learn something new about the night sky.
The facility was located inside an office building in central Shibuya, making it easy to reach by train or bus. Shows took place in a darkened dome, so it helped to give your eyes time to adjust when you first entered.
The domed roof extended above the eighth floor where it sat, making it a visible architectural feature of the Shibuya skyline. This elevated position on top of an office building gave it an unusual setup compared to ground-level planetariums found in other cities.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
