# Kwasan Observatory Museum, Japan: what it is and when to go > Kwasan Observatory Museum is an observatory (花山天文台歴史館) in Japan (Kyoto). Interests: History and Stargazing. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. 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/kwasan-observatory-museum/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Observatory · History, Stargazing - **Local name:** 花山天文台歴史館 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 81 km as the crow flies - **Website:** [kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp](https://www.kwasan.kyoto-u.ac.jp/general/facilities/kwasan/) - **Run by:** 京都大学 - **Coordinates:** 34.99351, 135.7933 ## What it is and where Kwasan Observatory Museum is an observatory (花山天文台歴史館) in Japan (Kyoto). It is in [Kyoto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kioto/), where this site lists 205 more places to see, 5.9 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 34.99351, 135.7933; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 81 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=34.993509%2C135.793301) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.993509%2C135.793301) - **Run by:** 京都大学 It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/) and [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 Kwasan Observatory Museum is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 54 | | February | Best time | 10 h 44 | | March | Best time | 11 h 44 | | April | Best time | 12 h 53 | | May | Best time | 13 h 50 | | June | Possible | 14 h 20 | | July | Possible | 14 h 08 | | August | Possible | 13 h 19 | | September | Possible | 12 h 12 | | October | Best time | 11 h 06 | | November | Best time | 10 h 08 | | December | Possible | 9 h 39 | In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. 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. | What you come for | Best time | Possible | | --- | --- | --- | | History | February to May and October to November | December to January and June to September | | Stargazing | February | November to January and March | It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Kwasan Observatory Museum has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you. 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 - [Kwasan Observatory Annex](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kwasan-observatory-annex/): Observatory · 14 m - [Kwasan Observatory New Building](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kwasan-observatory-new-building/): Observatory · 31 m - [Kwasan Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-university-kwasan-observatory/): Astronomical observatory in Japan · 43 m - [Kwasan Observatory Solar House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kwasan-observatory-solar-house/): Observatory · 95 m - [KYOTO TRAIL HIGASHIYAMA 15-2:21](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-trail-higashiyama-15-2-21/): Hiking · 583 m Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: History - [Mount Fuji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/monte-fuji/): volcano in Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Himeji Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/himeji-2/): Japanese castle complex - [Hiroshima Peace Memorial](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/cupula-de-genbaku/): architectural structure - [Itsukushima Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/santuario-itsukushima/): Shinto shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan Every Japan place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/historia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Kwasan Observatory Museum? It is an observatory (花山天文台歴史館 in the local language) in Japan. ### When is the best time to visit Kwasan Observatory Museum? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 20 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. ### How do you get to Kwasan Observatory Museum? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 81 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.993509%2C135.793301) 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 [Kwasan Observatory Annex](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kwasan-observatory-annex/), [Kwasan Observatory New Building](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kwasan-observatory-new-building/), [Kwasan Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kyoto-university-kwasan-observatory/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1016498495), 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).