KURASHIKI, Japan - In November, the Kurashiki Observatory will mark 100 years as Japan's first astronomical observatory open to the public and one that has inspired some 300 similar facilities used by professionals and lay stargazers alike.
The observatory in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, has served as a vehicle for "people's longing for the starry sky and the universe," an official in the western city said.
Prior to its establishment on Nov. 21, 1926, observatories were state-run and open only to professionals. Responding to public interest in the heavens, the facility was built with capital contributed by Sumiji Hara, a local businessman.
It was equipped with a British-made reflecting telescope with a diameter of 32 centimeters, one of the largest in Japan at that time.
The observatory drew around 6,000 visitors in 1927, only a year after it opened, underscoring the strong public interest in astronomy at a time when opportunities for ordinary people to access scientific facilities were limited.
Kazuhisa Mishima, a curator at the Life Park Kurashiki Science Center who is familiar with the history of the facility, said the observatory was "extremely forward-looking in light of the city's population of around 20,000 at that time."
Kurashiki, located in the Seto Inland Sea region, was considered an ideal location for the country's first public observatory because of its clear skies, the presence of enthusiastic amateur astronomers and business ties centered on Kurashiki Spinning Works Co., now Kurabo Industries Ltd., which helped ease the import of a telescope from Britain.
The observatory has continued operating at the same site where it was founded nearly a century ago, maintaining its role as a place where visitors can observe the night sky and learn about astronomy.
The grounds now include a museum dedicated to Minoru Honda, an amateur astronomer from neighboring Tottori Prefecture renowned for discovering numerous comets and stars. The facility also features a cafe where visitors can read Honda's writings and research materials while enjoying beverages and snacks.
Recognition of the observatory's historical significance has grown in recent years. The Astronomical Society of Japan designated the observatory as a Japan Astronomical Heritage site in 2024 and awarded the ASJ Award for Education and Public Outreach to its operator in March.
"We must make the observatory a place that will continue to connect people with the stars for the next 100 years," said Hiroyuki Hara, Sumiji's great-grandson and head of the operating body.
The observatory paved the way for many public observatories, especially in western Japan. According to the Japan Public Observatory Society, or JAPOS, their number continued to increase gradually in the postwar era and rose sharply in the 1980s and 1990s amid Japan's economic boom.
While some facilities have closed in recent years, public observatories continue to attract visitors driven by what JAPOS secretary general Takeshi Yasuda described as "simple curiosity about outer space."
To mark the Kurashiki Observatory's 100th anniversary, JAPOS is planning programs aimed at increasing public interest in observatories and astronomy, including an event allowing people to vote on their favorite celestial objects.
"We hope that observing real stars will inspire more people to love astronomy," said JAPOS head Mikimasa Takeuchi.
