Miyakojima Kurima Resort Sea Wood Hotel opened “MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME,” Japan’s first facility that combines an observatory equipped with a large astronomical telescope and an LED dome planetarium, on June 1.
There are only three LED dome planetariums in Japan, including those in Nagoya and Yokohama, and this is the first in the country to be combined with an observatory featuring a large astronomical telescope. Inside the 7.5-meter-diameter dome, 1,920 curved LED panels are installed, and speakers behind the panels provide an immersive audio experience. In addition, celestial bodies captured by the telescope can be projected in real time, allowing visitors to experience ultra-high-definition 6K images of the far side of the Moon and even the rings of Saturn. The dome has 40 seats. Associate Professor Hidehiko Kan of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan supervised the facility.
Kurima Island, which is adjacent to Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and connected by the Kurima Bridge, lies at 24 degrees north latitude, the same as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is one of Japan’s premier locations for observing the Milky Way, and the Southern Cross can also be seen. In a starry-sky survey by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, it received the highest rating of magnitude 21, making it one of the country’s leading stargazing spots.
There are three types of tour programs: the daytime “PLANETARIUM TOUR” (about 60 minutes), the nighttime “STARGAZING TOUR” (about 75 minutes), and the “DOME TOUR.” For the PLANETARIUM TOUR and STARGAZING TOUR, live commentary is provided by four star navigators, including Deputy General Manager Noboru Ikeda, who holds a nature guide qualification for Hawaii Island in the State of Hawaii, USA.
The tours feature the original program “GALAXY ISLAND,” narrated by Hikaru Mitsushima, an actress from Okinawa, Japan. The program offers high-resolution images that allow visitors to experience Kurima Island’s great nature, including the Miyako Blue sea, aerial footage, and sunsets. The script was jointly created by the staff and Mitsushima, who has a strong personal attachment to Miyakojima.
Because the number of seats is limited, the facility can offer an intimate, dialogue-based experience with guests. It also provides an immersive experience through the latest video and audio technologies and its integration with the observatory. On rainy days, visitors can enjoy explanations using astrophotography, making it an appealing activity even during the rainy season and other times when outdoor leisure is difficult. In the future, the hotel aims to roll out the program to planetariums across Japan to share the charm of Kurima Island’s starry skies with more people.
On May 31, a grand opening ceremony was held, attended by guests and related parties including Kenichi Mori, General Manager of the International Business Department at Iida Sangyo, Miyakojima City Mayor Noboru Kakazu, General Manager Keisuke Tani, Deputy General Manager Noboru Ikeda, and Associate Professor Hidehiko Kan, to celebrate the opening.
Fees for the PLANETARIUM TOUR and STARGAZING TOUR are 4,400 yen for adult hotel guests and residents of Miyakojima City, and 5,500 yen for adult non-staying visitors (in both cases, elementary school students receive a 1,100-yen discount and preschool children are free). For the DOME TOUR, the fee is 1,500 yen for adult non-staying visitors and 1,000 yen for residents of Miyakojima City (free for elementary school students and younger). Opening hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Miyakojima Kurima Resort Sea Wood Hotel is a resort hotel that opened in February 2020 on Kurima Island, Okinawa, Japan. The property is centered on villas with private pools and also includes Japanese and Western restaurants, a spa, and a gym.
Access: about 20 minutes by car from Miyako Airport and about 40 minutes by car from Shimojishima Airport. (Coverage cooperation: Miyakojima Kurima Resort Sea Wood Hotel)
Notice
This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
