Plan your visit to the Kwasan Observatory on Saturdays and Sundays (open to the public during the day)

Kwasan Observatory is a Kyoto University facility located in Higashiyama, behind Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Since its establishment in 1929, it has achieved worldwide results in observations of Mars and the Sun. It is also called the "Sacred Place of Amateur Astronomy". The buildings completed in 1929 (Main Building, Annex and History Museum) were certified as "The buildings and gardens which make Kyoto attractive" in 2014 as valuable buildings of the early Showa period.The Kwasan Observatory (Main Building, Annex, Meridian) was designated as Japan Astronomical Heritage in 2025.

In clear weather, you can see the real-time solar prominence.
When the Sun is active, there is also a chance to see flares!

Scheduled release date
on Saturdays and Sundays (Updated on: April 14, 2025) Subject to change.

Solar Spectrum Observation Course and Reservation-free tour Course (Saturday)	4D Digital Universe Theater Course (Sunday)
May 17 May 24 June 7 (June 7 will be open to the public in the afternoon) June 14 June 28 July 5 (July 5 will be open to the public in the afternoon) July 19 July 26 August 2 August 9 August 30	May 18 May 25 June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 29 July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 10 August 17 August 24 August 31

* The reservation-free course will be held on the above Saturday open days. Please check this home page as for when the observatory is open to the public.

When you come to visit the observatory, please bring water and other drinks for yourself. There are no vending machines in the observatory campus.
(Updated on September 30, 2024 (partially revised))

Keihan Bus 70 route has been canceled. To get to the observatory, please use your own car (free parking is available) or a taxi.
(Updated on March 18, 2024)

You can apply on the day (until the start time of each course). You can check the status of your application and apply from the link on the above date.
(Updated on December 4, 2023)

Kwasan Observatory is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and can be used by groups. If you are interested, please visit this page.
(Updated on November 13, 2023)

Please click on the date you wish to visit to go to the application page. The application page is a site outside the observatory. If clicking on the date does not move the page, it is before the reception starts.
Depending on the infection situation, the Kwasan Observatory may be closed. Thank you for your understanding.

Solar Spectrum Observation Course (Saturday)

• Participation fee:
  \2,000(JPY) for adults,
  \1,000(JPY) for elementary, junior high, and high school students (elementary and junior high school students must be accompanied by parents or adults)
  * Please refrain from participating in preschoolers.
• Visiting hours
  (1) 10:15-12:05
  (2) 13:00-14:50
  Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time of each session.
• Capacity: 12 people each time
• Contents: Mini-lecture by Professor Emeritus Kazunari Shibata, Kyoto University (former Director of the Astronomical Observatory of Kyoto University) (Recent solar activity introduced in the lecture (YouTube site)), tour of the Solar Laboratory, Main Building, Annex, and History Museum

Reservation-free course (please note Saturdays and open days)

• No pre-registration required
• Participation fee:
  \1,000(JPY) for adults,
  \500(JPY) for elementary, junior high, and high school students (elementary and junior high school students must be accompanied by parents or adults)
  
• Visiting hours:
  10:00-15:30 (Reception closes at 15:00)
• Contents: You can visit the Main Building, Annex, and History Museum.
* You can freely visit each facility. Each facility has commentary by the staff.

4D Digital Universe Theater (4D2U) of Kyoto University Course (Sunday)

• Participation fee:
  \1,500(JPY) for adults,
  \800(JPY) for elementary, junior high, and high school students (elementary and junior high school students must be accompanied by parents or adults)
  *Please refrain from participating in preschoolers.
• Visiting Hours:
  (1) 10:15-11:45
  (2) 13:00-14:30
  Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time of each session.
• Capacity: 12 people each time
• Contents: The film will be screened using "Mitaka" and videos provided by the 4D2U in NAOJ project, and Kyoto University Astronomical Observatory's own 3D video "Kyoto4D". Using state-of-the-art 3D simulation data and observation data, it is possible to intuitively understand the structure and evolution of celestial bodies and the universe in a three-dimensional manner. You will wear 3D glasses during the screening. In addition, you can visit the Main Building, Annex building, and History Museum

* The tour will be guided by a guided tour.
* Some of the contents of the screening vary depending on the course. Please check here for the items of previous projects.

access

<If you are using your own car>
please park in front of New Building in the observatory (10 parking spaces are allowed, free).
Reference road map
Parking location

<If you use a taxi>
You can get in and out of the square in front of New Building in the observatory. If you are using a taxi, there are many drivers who do not know about the "Kwasan Observatory", so please tell the driver that you should enter the entrance of Agonshu temple on the Higashiyama Driveway. It takes about 20 minutes by taxi from the Kyoto station to the Kwasan Observatory, and the taxi-fee is about \3000(JPY).

Motorcycles (including motorized bicycles) are not permitted.
The Higashiyama Driveway (Shibuya Keage Line), which is connected to the observatory, is a section where motorcycles are prohibited. Please be careful.

For more information on how to get to the observatory, please click here.
Please click here for a Google Map of the area near the observatory.

Contact us

E-mail: kengaku-kwasan@kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp Please use the
subject line "Kwasan Observatory Open on Saturdays and Sundays".

Requests when visiting our observatory (precautions)

• If you are not feeling well, please refrain from visiting.
• Thank you for your cooperation in cough etiquette, hand washing, and hand sanitizing.
• The area is not barrier-free. There are steep stairs and steps.
• The site is a gravel road. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• Please be prepared to give change at the reception.
• You will be asked to change into slippers in the building. If you are an elementary school student, please bring your own shoes as much as possible.
• As of 7 a.m. on the day of the opening, if a weather warning (storm, heavy rain, snowstorm, heavy snow, flood, special warning) has been issued for Kyoto City, it will be temporarily closed.

Handling of Personal Information

The registered information will be used only for the procedure for accepting reservations for visits to the Kwasan Observatory, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, and will not be used for any other purpose.

For the above purposes, the information will be shared among the three parties: the Astronomical Observatory of the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, the Kwasan Astro-Culture Foundation, and the KYOTO SKY tour guide association.

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Co-organizers: Astronomical Observatory of Kyoto University and Kwasan Astro-Culture Foundation (Articles of Incorporation)
The Kwasan Astro-Culture Foundation's projects, including this public release, are non-profit projects aimed at supporting the Kwasan Observatory.

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Astronomical Observatory , Kyoto University


Digital Space Theater Project Screening Items (as of September 2024)

• Autumn 2024 "Phases of Venus and Solar Flares"
• Summer 2024 "Saturn's Rings and Solar Flares"
• Spring 2024 "How Solar Flares Work"
• Winter 2023 "Solar Eclipse of Jupiter's Moons Io"
• Summer 2023 "Saturn's Rings"
• Spring 2023 "Phase of Venus"
• Winter 2022 Mars
• Summer 2022 "Saturn"
• Spring 2022 "Super Flare"

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