Mt. Inasayama Observatory — Attraction in Nagasaki

For guests of all ages, Mount Insamayam Observatory provides a genuinely immersive and remarkable experience. This observatory, perched atop the breathtaking Mount Insamayam, offers a portal to a world of wonder and discovery in addition to unmatched views of the night sky.Long before one arrives to the observatory, one can enjoy a scenic drive through verdant woodlands that create the mood for the adventure that lies ahead. Excitement grows as guests climb the mountain, and every bend offers a glimpse of the amazing view that lies ahead.The observatory's warm, contemporary amenities welcome visitors and are intended to improve their astronomy experience. Experienced tour leaders are available to greet guests and share their knowledge of the universe's treasures. Every contact they have is interesting and educational because of their contagious enthusiasm for astronomy and their eagerness to share their knowledge.The technological wonders of the observatory's telescopes provide pristine vistas of far-off galaxies, glistening star clusters, and other celestial phenomena. The chance to gaze far into space allows visitors to take in the magnificence and vastness of the cosmos.But stargazing is just the beginning of the experience. Perched atop Mount Insamayam, the observatory offers unmatched views of the surrounding countryside, allowing visitors to enjoy the area's natural splendour. The views from the observatory are absolutely breathtaking, whether they are of the far-off mountain peaks, rolling hills, or magnificent forests.Suitable for all skill levels, the observatory offers educational programmes and courses for individuals who want to learn more about the night sky. There's something for everyone to enjoy, ranging from basic astronomy introductory lectures to advanced talks on astronomical phenomena.You will gain a fresh perspective on the grandeur of the cosmos with a visit to Mount Insamayam Observatory, regardless of your level of knowledge with astronomy. Come explore the enchantment of Mount Insamayam Observatory by travelling...

my favourite part of my visit to nagasaki! the views were stunning! be sure to come ~30 minutes before sunset to enjoy the sunset views AND night view after sticking around. and don’t forget to bring a jacket/windbreaker as it can get cold up there. personally i was more impressed by the daytime view than the night view, but the latter was gorgeous all the same.

food: there is a (fancy) restaurant and a small cafe on the ground floor of the observatory but the latter stops serving certain snacks at 5:30pm or so (which was weird given that this was a popular NIGHT destination). there’s a small dessert shop outside that sells delicious desserts. other than that though, there’s barely any food options so i recommend bringing your own snacks.

transport: my main complaint would be the shuttle bus system. you can ONLY get on if you’ve made a reservation first on their website (https://reserve.nagasaki-ropeway.jp/en/) but the reservation is for a round trip, so if you decide that you want to book the 9:30pm return trip, you’d have to reserve before the outward trip at 8:17pm. and if i remember correctly, you can ONLY make reservations at least 30 minutes before the outward trip time.

my sister and i had not made a reservation so we went to the nearest bus stop and had to wait over 20 minutes for the last bus at 9:47pm (ropeway stop bus no.40; last bus no.80 at inasabashi stop is at 10:16pm), so if you’re using public transport PLAN YOUR NIGHT VISIT CAREFULLY. we saw the ropeway shuttle bus pass by and it had empty seats! but we were only able to get on by reservation?! why not allow people to queue on the spot in case there were empty seats?? it just didn’t make...

At 333m, Mt Inasa offers wonderful 360 degree view of Nagasaki. The night view here is voted to be one of the world's top 3 night views together with Hong Kong and Monaco. The lower cable car station is a 15 min walk from Takaramachi station, but the road bewteen Uragami River and the cable car station is unlit at night, so be careful. From the bus stop / main road, I had to walk up a slope and through a shrine compound before I reached the cable car station. The cable car runs every 15 minutes, so it can be crowded during peak hours. (For my uphill ride, it was so packed that I was unable to see the views.) My hotel gave me a Nagasaki discount card so my cable car fee only costed half of the full fare. From the upper cable car station, it is a 5 minute walk through a cool illuminated corridor to the observatory. Beside the observatory there are 2 transmission antennas, which are illuminated in different colours in different seasons, and are part of a synchronised light show between sunset and 10pm. The roof of the observatory offers an impressive 360 degree view of Nagasaki, but it can be windy and chilly at night. There is a restaurant in the observatory but it was fully booked during my visit. The best-kept secret is probably the basement ramp (outside the toilets), where I could get a similar view as the rooftop but without the crowds and the chilly strong wind. The basement ramp is also lighted, so I could take bright face selfies with the Nagasaki night view. (The rooftop is very dark so any selfies taken there will have dark faces. If you use flash, you can only see your face but not the city...