Kurima Resort Seawood Hotel, operated by Iida Sangyo Co., Ltd. on Kurima Island at the southern tip of Miyako Island, Okinawa, is hosting "88 Constellations Illumination 2026," recreating all 88 constellations of the night sky as lanterns above the hotel's water terrace. The inaugural session runs from September 19 (Saturday) to 27 (Sunday), beginning each evening at sunset. From 7:30 PM, star navigators from "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" give a constellation talk.
Kurima Island, at Miyako Island's southern tip, earned the top rating in the Ministry of the Environment's 2024 star-sky survey. This year, Seawood Hotel again lights all 88 constellations recognized worldwide by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) since 1930, rendered as lanterns. The display sits on the water terrace beyond the arched entrance that serves as the hotel's symbol: two water basins framed by a canal stand in for the sky, with the celestial equator running through the center. Large lanterns mark the 12 zodiac constellations along the ecliptic, the sun's apparent path, while all 88 constellations are placed in the same positions they occupy in the real sky. As the sun sets into the sea straight ahead, the lanterns' warm light gradually fills the water basins.
Nightly Constellation Talk and the Route of Night on the Galactic Railroad
From 7:30 PM, staff from "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" lead a short constellation talk using the lanterns. Using lanterns throughout, they trace the Summer Triangle formed by Lyra, Aquila, and Cygnus; the Winter Triangle formed by Canis Major, Canis Minor, and Orion; and the route from Cygnus through Aquila, Scorpius, and Centaurus to Crux — the very course followed in Kenji Miyazawa's classic Night on the Galactic Railroad. By the time the talk ends, the Milky Way may be visible overhead.
September's period also coincides with the mid-autumn harvest moon, falling on September 25 this year, with the full moon following two days later on the 27th. Visitors can view the year's most beautiful moon alongside the 88 Constellations Illumination from the water terrace. For a longer, more in-depth session, "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" also runs a Stargazing Tour starting at 8:30 PM.
"88 Constellations Illumination 2026" First Session — Event Details
- Dates: September 19 (Saturday) to 27 (Sunday), 2026
- Time: Sunset to 9:30 PM
- Location: Water terrace area, Kurima Resort Seawood Hotel, Miyako Island
- Theme: The mid-autumn harvest moon and the 88 Constellations Illumination
- Open to: Hotel guests and outside visitors
- Notes: The event may be canceled or modified due to weather. Cancellations are announced on Seawood Hotel's official Instagram Stories: https://www.instagram.com/seawoodhotel/
Four More Sessions Through December
"88 Constellations Illumination 2026" continues with five sessions in total from September through December 2026, each timed to a seasonal astronomical event or long weekend. Every session highlights a different night-sky feature, letting visitors see Kurima Island's night change with the seasons.
Second session: Orionid meteor shower and the 88 Constellations Illumination
October 21 (Wednesday) and 22 (Thursday), 2026. Timed to the Orionid meteor shower's peak, this two-day session also features Saturn at its best viewing.
Third session: An autumn night of the 88 Constellations Illumination
November 21 (Saturday) to 23 (Monday, holiday), 2026. Held over the three-day weekend, this session showcases the autumn-to-winter constellations and star clusters such as the Pleiades in a clear night sky.
Fourth session: Geminid meteor shower and the 88 Constellations Illumination
December 12 (Saturday) to 14 (Monday), 2026. Timed to the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, one of the year's most anticipated meteor showers, this session focuses on winter constellations and shooting stars.
Fifth session: Christmas night supermoon and the 88 Constellations Illumination
December 23 (Wednesday) to 25 (Friday), 2026. A special Christmas session lit by lanterns; since December 24's full moon is the closest supermoon of 2026, MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME plans a special talk for it.
Session details may change due to weather and other conditions; check Seawood Hotel's official website and Instagram for the latest updates.
The "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" Star Navigators
From 7:30 PM, "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" star navigators lead a constellation talk exclusive to "88 Constellations Illumination 2026," introducing the positions and connections of the lantern constellations along with the night's sky highlights.
Deputy General Manager Noboru Ikeda ("Hoshi no Ojisama")
Head of MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME. Guides guests through the night sky with deep astronomical knowledge.
Aiko Shimabukuro
Holds a Level 3 Astronomy and Space Certification. Guides visitors through the night sky's charms with care.
Akiko Kameyama
A former science teacher known for easy-to-follow explanations of the night sky.
Tadashi Sakata
In charge of the observatory's telescopes. Has placed in astrophotography contests.
How "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" Came to Be
Kurima Island, at Miyako Island's southernmost point, has minimal light pollution and offers some of Japan's best conditions for observing fine detail in the Milky Way. Alongside the clear "Miyako blue" sea, the night sky over Kurima Island is treated as one of its treasures. Seawood Hotel, a resort linking sea and sky, opened "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" so guests can enjoy this night sky regardless of weather. Celestial objects captured by the large telescope installed inside the dome are projected onto a high-definition LED dome planetarium — one of only three such systems currently in Japan. After previewing the stars and constellations in the planetarium, visitors then step outside to look up at the real night sky, guided by staff commentary that brings the stories behind the stars to life.
Three Highlights of "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME"
Japan operates roughly 300 planetariums nationwide, making it one of the world's leading planetarium countries. Among them, "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" combines cutting-edge technology with the warmth of its star navigators' live commentary, as Japan's first facility to pair an observatory with an LED dome planetarium. Here are three features that make it a destination in its own right, turning Miyako Island's "stars" into a new kind of travel goal.
1. Japan's first combined observatory and LED dome planetarium
As Japan's third LED dome planetarium, it delivers ultra-high-definition 6K visuals — the highest standard in the country for a 7.5-meter tilted dome. Celestial objects captured by the telescope are projected directly onto the dome, letting visitors experience the far side of the moon or the rings of Saturn in a space journey even astronauts haven't seen.
2. Overwhelming immersion from a next-generation high-definition LED dome system
The latest planetarium engine recreates the night sky, while dynamic footage of Miyako Island's sea and sunsets is projected across the dome for an immersive sense of really being there. The reclining seats are also adjustable, designed to suit everything from film screenings to a range of other events.
3. A rare sky at Hawaii's latitude, narrated by distinctive star navigators
Because Miyako Island shares its latitude with the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, it offers views of southern constellations otherwise hard to see in Japan, along with a night sky certified by the Ministry of the Environment as free of light pollution. In this special setting, a team of distinctive star navigators — including "Hoshi no Ojisama," a certified nature guide on Hawaii Island, and a telescope specialist with astrophotography contest wins — bring the stars to life with detailed commentary.
Two Domes for Getting Closer to Miyako Island's Night Sky
DOME 1 — Observatory Dome
An observatory dome for viewing the universe
Multiple large telescopes are set up inside the observatory dome, letting visitors observe whatever celestial objects are visible from Kurima Island that night. Objects captured through the telescopes are also projected onto the adjoining LED dome planetarium, for a sense of immersion as if stepping out into space.
DOME 2 — Planetarium Dome
A planetarium dome that projects the universe
Vivid LED imagery brings the mysteries of the universe to life. In an otherworldly space set apart from everyday life, the high-definition LED dome system renders colorful footage and a beautiful starry sky, offering an entertainment planetarium where visitors can experience the beauty, fun, and wonder of the cosmos.
Tour Types at "MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME"
"MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" offers three types of tours. The DOME TOUR lets visitors enjoy space-travel footage in the LED dome planetarium, followed by a look at the large telescopes in motion and celestial objects photographed on Miyako Island inside the observatory dome. The daytime PLANETARIUM TOUR and nighttime STARGAZING TOUR are both narrated live by a team of four guides, including a guide certified as a nature guide on Hawaii Island, known as "Hoshi no Ojisama." These guides introduce the stars, constellations, clusters, and nebulae visible that night, mixing humor and moments of wonder into their commentary.
Kurima Island's appeal isn't limited to its "Miyako blue" sea — the hope is that after experiencing its beautiful night sky, visitors will want to return in a different season for more.
PLANETARIUM TOUR (approx. 60 minutes)
In the still-bright afternoon, the planetarium dome uses the latest planetarium system to recreate the sky visible over Miyako Island that night. A guide gives a live commentary on the planets and each month's birth constellations, so visitors can remember the stars' positions and directions before looking for them in the real night sky later. The LED dome planetarium's imagery also covers astronomy-related programs.
STARGAZING TOUR (approx. 75 minutes)
Once the stars and constellations become visible after dark, the observatory dome opens, with telescopes aimed at that night's featured celestial objects and the view projected onto the LED dome planetarium. Guides explain all of the constellations, planets, and other sights visible that night. At the end, visitors step outside to check the positions of the stars and constellations in the real sky.
DOME TOUR
Visitors can explore the dome freely. The LED dome planetarium screens footage of Miyako Island's scenery along with a short space-travel film.
Note: During PLANETARIUM TOUR and STARGAZING TOUR sessions, entry to the planetarium is not available.
Tour Program
The tours are presented in two parts: an original video program themed around Miyako Island's nature, and an interactive live talk from the star navigators exploring the night sky's charms in depth.
"GALAXY ISLAND," an Original Program Narrated by Hikari Mitsushima
The narration for the tour's first-half original program, "GALAXY ISLAND," is by Okinawa's own actress Hikari Mitsushima. The program captures Miyako Island's breathtaking nature — aerial views of the landscape, the "Miyako blue" sea, fish and coral reefs, and a moving sunset. High-definition footage also vividly conveys how the visible constellations change with the shift in latitude from Tokyo. It's a must-see program for discovering Miyako Island's lesser-known charms.
Profile: Hikari Mitsushima
Born November 30, 1985, in Kagoshima Prefecture and raised in Okinawa Prefecture, Mitsushima debuted in 1997 with the music unit Folder. She moved into acting in her twenties, and her recent work includes "First Love," "Last Mile," and "兄を持ち運べるサイズに." In 2026, her film "時には懺悔を" was released. She also voices more than 70 roles in the NHK E-tele anime "アイラブみー," currently on air. Her new song "踊るノアール" (Prod. cero) is out on vinyl through her own music label, Rhapsodies, and available on major streaming platforms.
"MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" Overview
- Location: Inside Kurima Resort Seawood Hotel, Miyako Island
- Opening hours: 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Closed: Tuesdays and Thursdays
"MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" Tour Schedule
| Time | Program | |
|---|---|---|
| – | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM | DOME TOUR |
| ① | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | PLANETARIUM TOUR |
| ② | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | PLANETARIUM TOUR |
| ③ | 8:30 PM – 9:45 PM | STARGAZING TOUR |
"MIYAKO GALAXY-DOME" Tour Pricing (tax included, per person)
PLANETARIUM TOUR / STARGAZING TOUR
| Adult | Child (elementary school) | Infant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel guest | ¥4,400 | ¥3,300 | Free |
| Outside visitor | ¥5,500 | ¥4,400 | Free |
| Miyako Island resident | ¥4,400 | ¥3,300 | Free |
DOME TOUR
| Adult / Child (elementary school) | Infant | |
|---|---|---|
| Outside visitor | ¥1,500 | Free |
| Miyako Island resident | ¥1,000 | Free |
Miyako Island residents are asked to show proof of residence. The DOME TOUR is included with both the PLANETARIUM TOUR and STARGAZING TOUR.
About Kurima Resort Seawood Hotel
Opened in February 2020 on Kurima Island, a small island connected to Miyako Island by the Kurima Ohashi bridge, Seawood Hotel is a resort offering striking views at every time of day. Spread across roughly 130,000 square meters, the property is built like a small town of five "houses": the 107-unit Villa House, where every room has a private pool or jacuzzi; the 62-room hotel building Shuri House; Ryugu House, with the front desk, a Japanese restaurant, a shop, and a gym; Beach House, with the main pool and a Western restaurant; and Spa House, offering all-hands treatments.
Hotel Overview
- Name: Kurima Resort Seawood Hotel
- Address: 484-7 Kurima, Shimoji, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture
- Access: About 20 minutes by car from Miyako Airport, or about 40 minutes by car from Miyako Shimojishima Airport
- Website: https://www.seawoodhotel.com
