Sunrise & Sunset Times in Fukuoka

Munakata City's official tourism route schedules stargazing in this park at 20:00. The city's facility page lists 54 parking spaces and a Big Dipper viewing spot. According to the city, the toilets and showers are available only from 9:00 to 17:00, so do not count on a toilet at night. Whether the car park is gated at night has not been confirmed.

Sky: rural (satellite night-light estimate)

The VIIRS nighttime-light estimate puts this area darker than central Fukuoka. Lighting from the harbour, nearby homes and the park itself has not been confirmed on site.

Facilities: parking

Open horizon: North. The Fukuoka tourism site says the Big Dipper can be seen here over the sea to the north. The view in other directions has not been confirmed.

bright constellations, wide-field astrophotography

The park lies at the mouth of the Tsuri River on the Genkai Sea coast. High tide, waves and strong wind all affect safety, and there is a risk of falling into the water at night. Stay on the viewing platform and the formal paths, and do not go down onto the shore flats. Light sources from the harbour, houses and street lamps are unconfirmed, and no rules were found on long parking, idling or noise.

• 宗像市 公式観光ルート · 宗像市
• 北斗の水くみ海浜公園（宗像市 観光施設） · 宗像市
• 北斗の水くみ海浜公園（宗像市 施設情報） · 宗像市
• 星空スポット（クロスロードふくおか） · 福岡県観光連盟
• 国土地理院 住所検索（宗像市神湊1278-1） · 国土地理院
• VIIRS Nighttime Light (Annual VNL) · Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute

Reviewed 2026-10-12 · reviewed against official sources

In its FAQ, Hoshi no Furusato, the operator of Hoshi no Bunkakan, says that the Bunkakan grounds are closed from 22:00 and that after that time visitors should use Heiwa-no-Hiroba, a public park. The public parking spot that can be used at night has not been confirmed, so navigation is off. The pin is a reference position for the plaza.

Sky: rural (satellite night-light estimate)

The VIIRS nighttime-light estimate puts this area much darker than central Fukuoka. Lighting around the plaza has not been confirmed on site. The operator's stargazing guide recommends the plaza for viewing the Milky Way.

Facilities: parking

Open horizon: overhead. Which directions are open from the plaza has not been confirmed, so only overhead is listed.

Milky Way, bright constellations, meteor showers, wide-field astrophotography

The Bunkakan's first car park and the Hoshi-furu Hiroba are locked at 22:00, so never park there for late viewing. The plaza sits next to a memorial tower and monument, so keep quiet and stay off private land. Open fires are banned in most of the park. No written rules on night stays, idling or noise were found; the operator's guide advises switching off car lights and not looking at phone screens.

• 星の文化館 よくあるご質問（星のふるさと） · 一般財団法人 星のふるさと
• 星野村で星空を楽しむ（星のふるさと） · 一般財団法人 星のふるさと
• 平和の広場（八女フィルムコミッション） · 八女フィルムコミッション
• 平和の塔（八女市星野村）（クロスロードふくおか） · 福岡県観光連盟
• VIIRS Nighttime Light (Annual VNL) · Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute

Reviewed 2026-10-12 · reviewed against official sources

Night telescope sessions run from 18:30 to 21:50 from September to May and from 19:30 to 21:50 from June to August, with last entry at 21:30. Closed on Tuesdays (open on public holidays and school holidays). The first car park beside the hall and Hoshi-furu Hiroba are locked at 22:00. The large telescope has been out of service since a lightning strike on 21 August 2026 and no repair date has been announced; the small telescopes are still used, so check the operator's notice. The pin is the position marked on the operator's access page, not the coordinate of the hall's building itself, and may be off by a hundred metres or so.

Sky: rural (satellite night-light estimate)

The VIIRS nighttime-light estimate puts this area much darker than central Fukuoka. Lighting on the hall's grounds has not been confirmed on site.

Facilities: parking, toilets

Open horizon: overhead. Observing takes place at the rooftop observatory and viewing deck. Which directions are open has not been confirmed, so only overhead is listed.

Moon, planets, telescope observing

After the hall closes at 22:00 the car park and Hoshi-furu Hiroba cannot be entered, so arrive before the 21:30 last entry and do not leave a car on the grounds after closing. Observing may be impossible in poor weather. Take extra care on the mountain road in rain or fog.

• 星の文化館（星のふるさと） · 一般財団法人 星のふるさと
• 星の文化館 よくあるご質問（星のふるさと） · 一般財団法人 星のふるさと
• 落雷の影響による緊急のお知らせ（星のふるさと） · 一般財団法人 星のふるさと
• 交通アクセス（星のふるさと） · 一般財団法人 星のふるさと
• VIIRS Nighttime Light (Annual VNL) · Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute

Reviewed 2026-10-12 · reviewed against official sources