Walking home from the local train station I casually glanced up into the night sky. A few twinkling stars caught my eye, but only a few. I recall seeing many more stars living in the suburbs of San Francisco. I then momentarily relived the summer nights in Akita where the sky was so clear you could see shooting stars every summer night. With over a million people in Sendai, it’s safe to assume that the lights don’t go out after dark. So what’s a casual stargazer with a sense of adventure in Sendai to do? The answer is visit the Sendai Astronomical Observatory.
As you enter the building and pass a large telescope at the entrance, your first consideration of the day is buying an entrance ticket. You may purchase an exhibition hall or planetarium ticket each separately for 600 yen or in combination for 1000 yen. Go ahead and get the combination ticket if you plan to stay over an hour. Also make sure to print the English pdf from the observatory’s website unless your Japanese is fluent as they did not have English brochures when I visited.
First I stopped by the planetarium as a show was just to start at the top of the hour when I arrived. A guide ushers you through a small hallway and through some doors into a huge dome chamber. This is the biggest planetarium I have ever seen. There was about 80 guests scattered about the interior with room for at least another 100. Before long the lights dim and calm music plays. From there you are shown star, moon, and sun movements, constellations are pointed out, and some historical background information is given over a loudspeaker. Since I had already taken an astronomy course in college, there wasn’t anything too new for me. I found myself passing the time by trying to understand scientific Japanese vocabulary, relaxing in the comfy chairs with soft music, and just staring into the ceiling. You get lost in all the beautiful stars. The planetarium shows you all the stars you would be able to see from that point on the globe given perfect weather, conditions, and complete darkness. In hindsight I recommend the planetarium after walking around the facility because you may be too relaxed to move about afterwards.
Next it is on to the exhibition hall. They have some really cool stuff here to look at. A giant display of the planets rotating while they orbit the sun, movies, and explanations of the creation of the Earth, Solar System, and universe. Then you start to see things that connect astronomy with Japanese culture. Many artefacts of old stargazing equipment is around the museum along with old charts or modern artistic recreations of space. As you explore more you learn the observatory has been in the same place over 50 years and is even credited with discovering two asteroids and a minor planet! But Sendai’s astronomical origins go back hundreds of years ago to astronomical advisors to the Date clan, the most powerful samurai clan that built and ruled over Sendai and much of the Tohoku region.
Climb the stairs next to the gift shop and keep heading up. You pass some space pictures and old telescopes then you reach what first looks like some type of death ray. If it was, you would have already been melted. Thankfully it is just a very large telescope surrounded by supporting equipment. On some Saturdays during the month the observatory even lets members of the public stargaze through the telescope for a small 200 yen fee. I am definitely going back to try that!
Other facilities include a gift shop (that sells astronaut ice cream!), conference and event rooms for rent, and an outside area. The outdoors has a scale model of the universe so you realize how far planets and stars are from each other by traveling light years with each step.
Located nearly an hour away from Sendai station by public transportation or driving, the Sendai Astronomical Observatory is not the most easily accessible tourist destination. However, its interactive and very creative exhibits include many things to look at and learn about. I would highly recommend this place for family outings or for a date idea that is a little different. There is nearby shopping at the Hilltop Shopping Center and some great nature hiking nearby.
