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Jododaira Astronomical Observatory is a public observatory located in Jododaira, approximately 1,600 meters above sea level, halfway along the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, a highland highway in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. It is the highest publicly accessible observatory in Japan
The Jododaira Observatory is open from early April to early November (when the Bandai-Azuma Skyline is open), and from mid-May to the end of October it is open every Wednesday and Saturday at night (cancelled in case of bad weather). Admission is free
I was impressed by the number of stars that I can't normally see in the city
During the day, Jododaira has many attractions, such as Azuma Kofuji, Jododaira Marsh, Issaikyozan, Goshikinuma (also known as the Witch's Eye), and Kamanuma, but at night, you can't miss the countless stars that fill the sky. In particular, the sight of the Milky Way flowing gracefully across the sky is overwhelming
The large telescope installed at Jododaira Observatory allows you to see things that are invisible to the naked eye. The main telescope at Jododaira Observatory is a large telescope that combines a 40cm diameter reflecting telescope and a 15cm diameter refracting telescope, and can observe faint stars up to a maximum magnitude of 14.8. There are also several small telescopes and binoculars installed, including a 25cm diameter reflecting telescope and a 15cm diameter binocular telescope, which allow you to clearly see the craters on the moon, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's stripes and moons, and more. The director and staff will adjust the telescope to suit the position of the stars you want to see depending on the season, so you won't miss them
Shooting stars are almost impossible to see in the bright city skies, but the staff will tell you the locations where they often appear, so you have a good chance of seeing them. Be sure to make lots of wishes before you go
Learn about space in the exhibition room on the first floor
The first floor of Jododaira Observatory is an exhibition room. In addition to 3D models of the planets in the solar system and celestial globes, the museum also displays photographs of stars, constellations, nebulae, and meteorites taken at the observatory. You can also view images of solar activity, such as sunspots and flame-like prominences, taken with a dedicated solar telescope on a television monitor
"Jododaira" is a highland area that stretches across the Azuma mountain range in western Fukushima Prefecture at an altitude of about 1,600m, and shows off different faces with each season. It is about 70 minutes from Fukushima City, the capital of Fukushima Prefecture, on the Bandai-Azuma Skyline, and in the center you will find the Jododaira Visitor Center, Jododaira Rest House, Jododaira Astronomical Observatory, and a large parking lot, making it a base for exploring the surrounding area and visiting viewpoints
The surrounding area is part of Bandai Asahi National Park, and is home to a diverse range of scenery, including the beautiful Azuma Kofuji, the rugged mountainside of Mount Issaikyo, the Jododaira Marshland where alpine plants bloom with delicate flowers, and the crater lake Goshikinuma, also known as the Witch's Eye, with its beautiful waters. There are walking trails from the Jododaira Visitor Center, and in the green season it is a paradise in the sky where you can easily enjoy plateau exploration and trekking. However, in winter the area is closed off due to snow
Azuma Kofuji, with a large crater spreading out from the center
Azuma Kofuji is a 1,707m high mountain shaped like Mount Fuji, with a large, gaping crater at its summit. It stands right next to the Jododaira parking lot and is a symbol of Jododaira. The difference in elevation from Jododaira to the summit is about 100m, and it takes about 10 minutes to climb the stairs from the side of the parking lot to reach the summit. The crater is about 500m in diameter and 70m deep, and there is a walking path that can be used to go around it, which takes about an hour
Active volcanoes "Issaikyozan" and "Witch's Eye"
Issaikyozan, which emits smoke near Jododaira
Mount Issaikyo is an active volcano rising 1,949 meters above sea level and billowing smoke northwest of Jododaira Parking Lot. Its desolate mountainside gives off an eerie feeling. Eruptive activity at Mount Issaikyo began approximately 300,000 years ago, with an explosion occurring between 4,900 and 7,000 years ago that created Mount Azuma-Kofuji and the surrounding swamps
The hiking course to Mt. Issaikyo is a trekking course that takes about 40 minutes from the Jododaira Visitor Center to Sugadaira at the base, and another 40 minutes from Sugadaira to the summit, with an elevation difference of about 370m. There are many dangerous areas on the way to the summit, including areas where sulfur dioxide gas is emitted, so proper clothing and trekking shoes, similar to those for mountain climbing, are required. It is recommended to wear light clothing and refrain from strenuous hiking in bad weather
The heart-shaped "Goshikinuma" pond, also known as the "Witch's Eye"
The magnificent panorama from the summit and the sparkling view of Goshikinuma Lake, also known as the "Witch's Eye," below will make you forget your fatigue
Jododaira Marsh, a treasure trove of alpine plants
Jododaira Marsh is a marshland that spreads out in front of the Jododaira Visitor Center. A boardwalk has been constructed within the marsh, making it easy to stroll around. From rock jasmine in May to Siberian gentian in September, numerous alpine plants such as sea azalea, white rhododendron, and Japanese anemone bloom one after another, delighting the eye. A walk around the marsh is about 1km long and takes about 20 minutes
"Kamanuma" nature walk course, just under an hour round trip
Kamanuma is a small lake at the western foot of Mount Horai (1,801m above sea level), which rises west from Jododaira. It is a crater lake formed when water collected in a depression around the crater. It is named after its shape, which resembles a sickle. The elevation difference from Jododaira is about 190m, and it is a nature walking course of about 5.1km round trip from the visitor center, taking just under two hours. The surrounding area is a marshland, offering refreshing scenery
Jododaira Campground is equipped with a management building and toilets
Jododaira Campsite is located in Usagidara, about a 10-minute walk from the Jododaira Visitor Center. There is an administration building, toilets, and a parking lot (Usagidara Parking Lot), but it is not an auto campsite, so you cannot drive there. Also, camping equipment such as tents, food, and fuel are not available for rent, so be sure to prepare these in advance. Fireworks and campfires are prohibited, and it is good manners to take your trash with you. Nighttime temperatures are more than 10 degrees lower than on the plains, so you will need to take precautions against the cold
Jododaira Campground <Information>
Name: Jododaira Campground (Jododaira Campground)
Address: Washikurayama, Tsuchiyu Onsen-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-2157
Phone number: 024-591-3600
Google Maps
Jododaira Visitor Center <Information>
Name: Jododaira Visitor Center/Jododaira Rest House
Address: 1 Washikurayama, Tsuchiyu Onsen-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-2157
My love of travel grew, and I used to write a travel magazine, and now I'm a travel writer for the web. During my research, I visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, mainly in the Tohoku region, but my fun part is soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture such as old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts.
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