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 planetarium presents educational shows that weave together literary works with celestial phenomena using Japanese storytelling traditions. Visitors experience how science and narrative come together in these presentations.
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 has a machine that produces artificial snow and another that recreates the aurora borealis, both natural phenomena closely tied to Hokkaido's northern climate. These installations let visitors experience what people in the region encounter outdoors, but from inside a building.
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