Fujimidai Highlands, Stargazing highland in Achi and Nakatsugawa, Japan.
Fujimidai Highlands is a table land in the Kiso Mountains, sitting at roughly 1,400 meters (about 4,600 feet) above sea level, spread across the area between Nakatsugawa and Achi. The elevation and low light pollution make the night sky here unusually clear and open.
In 2006, Japan's Ministry of the Environment officially recognized this area as one of the country's top spots for stargazing. That recognition led to the creation of Star Village Achi and the development of dedicated observation facilities on the plateau.
The area is known as Star Village Achi, a name that points directly to the clear nights and the facilities built around watching the sky. Visitors can join guided tours of the night sky where laser pointers trace the shapes of constellations overhead.
Some of the observation areas on the plateau are reached by a ropeway, so booking ahead is recommended. Bring warm layers regardless of the season, as temperatures at this elevation drop noticeably after dark.
The restaurant on the site dims its lights at 8 PM every evening for a thirty-minute astronomy show, using laser demonstrations to point out visible stars above the building. This means visitors can combine dinner with a first look at the night sky without stepping outside.
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