Top 6 Stargazing Spots in Kansai
Dreaming of a starlit drive or a cosy cottage stay beneath the night sky? We’ve curated the best stargazing spots in Kansai—from well-loved favourites to lesser-known gems. Use this guide for date nights or family trips.
In the first half, you’ll find places where you can stay overnight; in the second, scenic drive and date-friendly viewpoints perfect for stargazing.
Top 3 Cottages & Hotels for Stargazing
If you’re going stargazing, you’ll want a place to stay so you can linger—without worrying about when you have to head home. Talk under the stars, fire up a barbecue, and take your time. Here are stargazing-friendly cottages and hotels where you can truly soak up the night sky.
Accommodation with an On-site Observatory｜Oto Cosmic Park Hoshi-no-kuni (Gojo, Nara)
Oto Cosmic Park Hoshi-no-kuni (Gojo, Nara)
Set on a highland plateau, this park offers lodges and bungalows for overnight stays. The signature domed bungalows come with a private rooftop observatory, perfect for stargazing in your own space. The lodges also have a barbecue house, so families and friends can enjoy a relaxed BBQ together.
The highlight is the on-site observatory with a large telescope, revealing planetary detail and lunar features you can’t see with the naked eye. Staff sessions let you learn about constellations, making it great for beginners and families.
Recommended for: Families / Friends
Address: 249 Sakamoto, Oto-cho, Gojo, Nara 637-0417
Official website
https://www.city.gojo.lg.jp/soshiki/kankoshinko/2_2/1/3454.html
Kumano Kodo Hiking & Stargazing Retreat | SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA (Tanabe, Wakayama)
SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA (Tanabe, Wakayama)
Set right on the Kumano Kodo, this exclusive-use, whole-house guesthouse opened in 2019. In the small hamlet of Takahara (elev. 300 m, pop. ~70), the dark skies make it ideal for stargazing. You’ll have complete privacy, plus a private sauna, BBQ facilities, and a fire pit.
After a sauna and cold plunge, fire up the BBQ, gather around the fire, and watch the stars—an ideal setting for a true retreat. Stays are all-inclusive, with plenty of local ingredients for the BBQ and drinks included, so there’s no need to worry about add-on charges.
The property sits on the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Kumano Kodo. Pair your night under the stars with a hike, and consider visiting Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of the three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan).
Recommended for: Families / Friends
Address: 1966 Takahara, Nakahechi-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama 646-1416（〒646-1416 和歌山県田辺市中辺路町高原1966）
Official website.
Glamping under Starry Skies | Nature Live Rokko (Kobe, Hyogo)
Nature Live Rokko (Kobe, Hyogo) — Glamping under starry skies
Set amid nature with 360° views on Mt. Rokko, Nature Live Rokko offers a host-assisted glamping experience. Choose from 4- and 6-person cottages; the Sky Cottages overlook Kobe and are perfect for stargazing. You’ll have a private, relaxed stay with a fire pit and BBQ area, and staff on hand to help even first-time glampers.
Dinner features seasonal local ingredients such as Kobe beef and Rokko champignons. In the morning, grind your own beans for fresh coffee to enjoy with bread, fruit and an omelette—then breathe in the crisp air where you were gazing at the stars the night before.
Recommended for: Families / Friends
Address: 1034-140 Minami-Rokko, Rokkosan-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0101
Official website
Top 3 Stargazing Spots for Drives & Dates
Next up, here are date- and drive-friendly stargazing spots. We’ve also included parking info for drivers, so you can plan with ease.
Star-filled skies from a lookout at the tip of the Kii Peninsula｜Kashinozaki Lighthouse (Kushimoto, Wakayama)
Kashinozaki Lighthouse (Oshima, Wakayama)
First up is Kashinozaki Lighthouse, at the eastern tip of Oshima. It’s a spectacular viewpoint where you can take in the star-filled sky, the lighthouse, and the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first president of Turkey, in a single view. Kashinozaki is said to be the first lighthouse in Japan designed by Richard Henry Brunton, the British engineer known as the “father of Japanese lighthouses.” The statue was presented by Turkey as a token of friendship.
This headland is popular with night photographers for its horizon-to-zenith starfields. Even though the lighthouse’s rotating beam sweeps the area, the stars remain clearly visible to the naked eye.
There’s also a car park and toilets, making it an easy stop on a scenic drive or date night.
Recommended for: Dates / Photography
Address: 1006-1 Kashinosaki, Kushimoto, Wakayama
opening hours.
Anytime/any day of the week
Official website
https://kankou-kushimoto.jp/spots/%E6%A8%AB%E9%87%8E%E5%9F%BC%E7%81%AF%E5%8F%B0
BBQ by day, stargazing by night｜Forest Park Konoyama (Yamazoe, Nara)
Konoyama has recently gained attention as a spot for viewing the sea of clouds (unkai) and starry skies. Forest Park Konoyama sits on the mountain and offers plenty to do: a sheep pasture, BBQ area, café-restaurant, farm shop, and a Forest Science Museum—so you can enjoy it from day into night.
Every year on the first Saturday of August, the park hosts the “Starry Sky Gathering”, with screenings and guided stargazing at the Forest Science Museum. In 2023 there were also live performances, woodworking and science workshops, and food trucks—a perfect summer-holiday outing, especially for families with primary-school children.
The No. 2 car park near the Forest Science Museum is open 24 hours, making it convenient for night-sky viewing. As this is a natural, wooded setting, we recommend long sleeves and long trousers even in summer.
Recommended for: Families / Couples
Address (JP): 〒630-2225 奈良県山辺郡山添村伏拝888-1
Address (EN): Yamazoe, Nara 630-2225（facility at “Fukugaeri 888-1”; use JP address for navigation）
opening hours.
Meeme Farm is open 9:30-16:30 (24 hours in the second car park).
Official website
https://yamazoekanko.jp/forestpark/
Where the Sea Meets the Stars｜Kyoto Prefectural Tango Sea and Star View Hill Park (Miyazu, Kyoto)
Kyoto Prefectural Tango Sea and Star View Hill Park (Miyazu, Kyoto) is a popular place to enjoy sea and starry skies in a single view. Overlooking Miyazu Bay—a member of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” club—you can soak up a canopy of stars against a sweeping coastal panorama.
The park is divided into zones; in the “Earth Observatory” zone you’ll find several stargazing spots. Depending on where you stand, you can gaze out over Amanohashidate (one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views) and Miyazu Bay, or climb the octagonal wooden lookout known as the “Ki-rakira House” for a different perspective.
Other facilities include the Umihoshi Restaurant serving home-style local dishes, the Forest Café (open Sundays), the Children’s Forest Centre with hands-on programmes, the Umihoshi Bath with views of the Sea of Japan, the Kurita Peninsula and Kurosaki Lighthouse, plus campsites named after constellations—so there’s plenty to enjoy from day through to the following morning. There’s also free parking for around 200 cars.
Recommended use occasions
With family / With couples / With friends
Access.
Satohami, Miyazu, Kyoto 626-0211
Opening hours.
9:00-17:00.
Open until 20:00 and on Thursdays from July to September.
Closed.
Thursdays, except New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (28 December – 4 January)
Year-end and New Year (28 Dec – 4 Jan)
Winter closure from Jan to end of Feb.
Official website
http://www.eco-future-park.jp/
Summary — Where to See Beautiful Starry Skies in Kansai
We’ve rounded up six great stargazing spots across Kansai. Whether you’re planning a date-night drive, helping your kids learn the constellations, or hunting for lesser-known hidden gems, we hope this guide helps.
Looking for sea-of-clouds (unkai) viewpoints in Kansai? See our companion article—perfect inspiration when you’re not sure how to spend a day off.
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