The geographical and topographical conditions of Nayoro, which is situated in a basin and surrounded by abundant nature, make it one of the best places in Japan for astronomical observation.
The history of astronomy in Nayoro dates back to 1951, when Hideo Kihara observed an annular solar eclipse. The Kihara Observatory, named in his honor, was established privately in 1976. Then in 2011, under an agreement reached with Hokkaido University, the Kitasubaru Observatory was opened.
The telescope is 160 centimeters in diameter, making it one of the largest in Japan. It is used primarily for planetary observation, a field in which the observatory ranks among the top in the world.
Equipped with the latest digital planetarium and an observation room with a sliding roof, the facility is used not only for stargazing but also for concerts.