# Hirosaki City Observatory, Japan: what it is and when to go > Hirosaki City Observatory is an observatory (弘前市天文台) in Japan (Hirosaki). Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is February. In June there are 14 h 53 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 07. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hirosaki-city-observatory/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Observatory · Stargazing - **Local name:** 弘前市天文台 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February. - **Nearest airport:** CTS Sapporo, 268 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Fr-Su 18:00-22:00; Dec 29 - Jan 03 off - **Website:** [city.hirosaki.aomori.jp](https://www.city.hirosaki.aomori.jp/chuokominkan/tenmondai.html) - **Run by:** 弘前市 - **Coordinates:** 40.57178, 140.39228 ## What it is and where Hirosaki City Observatory is an observatory (弘前市天文台) in Japan (Hirosaki). It is in [Hirosaki](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hirosaki/), where this site lists 18 more places to see, 6.6 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 40.57178, 140.39228; the nearest main airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS, Sapporo), 268 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=40.571776%2C140.392278) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.571776%2C140.392278) - **Run by:** 弘前市 It is one of the [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/estrellas/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Hirosaki City Observatory is **February**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 24 | | February | Best time | 10 h 27 | | March | Possible | 11 h 41 | | April | Better not | 13 h 05 | | May | Better not | 14 h 15 | | June | Better not | 14 h 53 | | July | Better not | 14 h 38 | | August | Better not | 13 h 37 | | September | Better not | 12 h 15 | | October | Better not | 10 h 53 | | November | Possible | 9 h 42 | | December | Possible | 9 h 07 | In June there are 14 h 53 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 07. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Soma Romantopia Ski Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/soma-romantopia-ski-area/): Ski resort · 254 m - [Taigū-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/taiguji-temple/): Temple in Hirosaki, Aomori · 6.8 km - [Iwakiyama Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/iwakiyama-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Aomori Prefecture, Japan · 6.9 km - [Hirosaki City Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hirosaki-city-museum/): Museum in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan · 7.0 km - [Saishō-in Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/saishoin-temple/): Temple in Hirosaki, Aomori prefecture, Japan · 7.0 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: Stargazing - [Gekko Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/gekkou-astronomical-observatory/): Observatory - [Bisei Spaceguard Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/bisei-space-guard-center/): Japanese astronomical observatory - [TAMA 300](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tama-300/): gravitational wave detector - [Kwasan Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-university-kwasan-observatory/): astronomical observatory in Japan - [Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ishigakijima-astronomical-observatory/): Observatory - [Okayama Astrophysical Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/subaru-telescope-okayama-branch-naoj-nins/): Observatory Every Japan place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/estrellas/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Hirosaki City Observatory? It is an observatory (弘前市天文台 in the local language) in Japan. ### When is the best time to visit Hirosaki City Observatory? February. In June there are 14 h 53 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 07. ### How do you get to Hirosaki City Observatory? The nearest main airport is New Chitose Airport (CTS), 268 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.571776%2C140.392278) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Soma Romantopia Ski Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/soma-romantopia-ski-area/), [Taigū-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/taiguji-temple/), [Iwakiyama Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/iwakiyama-shrine/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/710616448), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).