Sapporo Science Center, Science museum and observatory in Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo, Japan
The Sapporo Science Center is a science museum and public observatory located in the Atsubetsu-ku district of Sapporo. It houses over 200 hands-on exhibits alongside a planetarium that projects astronomical phenomena onto a large dome screen.
The center opened in 1981 and has been serving the Hokkaido region as a science education hub ever since. In 2016, the planetarium received a major upgrade with new projection technology that changed how astronomical shows are presented.
The center's nickname and mascot draw on the name of its Atsubetsu ward. Since 2013 astronaut Naoko Yamazaki has served as honorary director, and a corner on the second floor presents her work. The planetarium dome, 20 m across and shaped like the Earth, anchors the astronomy and earth science area.
The building is clearly laid out and easy to walk through, with separate areas for the museum exhibits and the planetarium shows. It is worth checking the planetarium schedule before arriving, as shows run at fixed times throughout the day.
The center introduced the world's first artificial snowfall machine, and its low-temperature exhibition room lets visitors feel Hokkaido's winter cold indoors. In 2013, former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki became the center's honorary director, and a corner on the third floor presents her career.
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