Stargazing on Mt. Norikura

Osaka City University chose Mt. Norikura's alpine plateau, Tatamidaira, in 1949 for cosmic ray research because of its high elevation and exceptional sky clarity. The resulting Norikura Observatory opened in 1953 and made the mountain a draw for both professional and hobbyist astronomers. The surrounding mountain ridges naturally shield the plateau from city light pollution, and the site sits at 2,702 meters, accessible by bus from both Matsumoto and Takayama. Since buses leave before dark, stargazers need to overnight at one of three mountain lodges, where some have telescopes and star charts for guest use. New moon nights offer the best visibility and photography conditions.