Star Festival on a Southern Island

*Please note that we will not be accepting applications from the public for food and beverage vendors (including food trucks) for the "Southern Island Star Festival 2024" evening live performance and stargazing event to be held on August 10th.

Regarding access to the venue for the evening concert and stargazing event on August 19th.

There is no parking available at the venue. (Bicycle parking is available.) Please cooperate by dropping off and picking up passengers.
Please also use the temporary parking lot.

The event will proceed even in light rain. Please bring rain gear in case of sudden downpours.
Bringing your own water bottle or other hydration supplies is permitted. Please also feel free to use the stalls and vendors at the venue.
The emergency contact number for August 19th is:070-1271-3164This is the situation. Please contact us in case of emergency. We kindly ask that you refrain from making unnecessary or non-urgent calls.

Why not dim the lights and gaze up at the starry sky?

[The starry sky on August 19th]

On this day, close to the traditional Tanabata festival (August 22nd), Saturn shines low in the eastern sky, while the "Summer Triangle," formed by the first-magnitude stars Vega (Lyra), Altair (Aquila), and Deneb (Cygnus), shines high in the sky.
Vega and Altair are the stars of the Tanabata legend, Orihime and Hikoboshi, with the Milky Way stretching across the southern sky between them.
In the southern sky, you should be able to see the bright first-magnitude star Antares (in the constellation Scorpius) near the Milky Way.
In the western sky, the first-magnitude stars Arcturus (in the constellation Boötes) and Spica (in the constellation Virgo) shine brightly, along with a thin crescent moon that is three days past the new moon.
At the venue, you can enjoy the starry sky at your leisure with an easy-to-understand stargazing guide provided by the NPO Yaeyama Star Association. We look forward to your visit.

Also, why not dim the lights at home or work and look up at the starry sky!

The Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory website also has a monitor site available. Please feel free to check it out.

View the starry sky of a southern island using the "Milky Way Monitor" at the Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory.

*The image shows the starry sky of Ishigaki City at 8 PM on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

Evening Cool-Down Live Performance & Stargazing Event

Saturday, August 23rd
Doors open at 4:00 PM (scheduled), show starts at 6:30 PM
Stargazing session: 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Minami-no-Hamacho Green Park (beyond Southern Gate Bridge)

Performing artist: BEGIN

Opening act: RYOEI

Admission is free (however, only those with numbered tickets will be admitted).

Admission method: Numbered tickets (electronic ticket system)

◇First 2,000 people
◇One or two people can apply per account.
◇Only those who applied using an account are allowed entry with up to 3 accompanying guests.
(However, accompanying persons must be 70 years of age or older or children of elementary school age or younger.)

*Please bring identification that can verify the age of your companion, as we may ask to see them at the venue.

■Application period for numbered tickets (electronic tickets) begins.
→ Monday, July 7, 2025, 10:00 AM onwards (ends once 2,000 participants are reached)

◇Click here to apply for a numbered ticket (electronic ticket)
→ https://southernislandstarfestival.peatix.com/view

◇If you are unsure about the application procedure for numbered tickets (electronic tickets), please refer to the information below.
→ Application procedure for numbered tickets (electronic tickets) (PDF file: 1.2MB)

Q&A

▶︎ Why are there numbered tickets for entry this time?
→ We have set a capacity limit for venue management and safety.

▶︎ Is it necessary to download an app?
→ Yes, you don't need to download the app to apply or arrange your tickets, but you will need to download it before the day of the event as you will be checked using the app for entry.
Also, if you encounter an error when logging in directly via the URL, please copy and paste the URL into your Safari or Chrome browser and access the site from there.

▶︎ Will I not be able to enter if I don't have a smartphone?
→ Yes, you cannot enter without the app, but one account allows two people plus up to three people who are 70 years or older or up to elementary school age. Please cooperate with family members who have smartphones (maximum of 5 people).

▶︎ Is it possible to apply multiple times?
→ While this is possible within the app's system, if duplicate entries are detected, the administrative office will invalidate (delete) them.

▶︎ Are there any tickets available on the day of the event?
→ Only advance tickets are available.

▶︎ Can I be put on a waiting list for cancellations?
→ We are not prepared.

▶︎ Regarding bringing in food and drinks
→ Bringing in cooler boxes, insulated bags, etc., is prohibited in principle.
→ There will be food and drink vendors at the venue, so please feel free to use them.

▶︎ Regarding bringing in chairs
→ Reserving seats or using chairs is not permitted in the area in front of the stage.
Chairs are available for use in the back.

▶︎ Regarding the weather on the day
→ The event will proceed in light rain, but will be canceled in case of severe weather.

*Please check back for further details as they become available.

Star Festival Lecture

August 24th (Sunday)
Doors open at 13:30

Ishigaki City Hall, 1st Floor, Community Room

[Part 1]

Speaker: Jun-ichi Watanabe, Senior Professor, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / Director, Astronomical Information Center, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Theme: The allure of comets – their mysterious nature makes them fascinating.

Start time: 14:00 (approximately 45 minutes) Close: 15:00

[Part 2]

Speaker: Mr. Noriyoshi Suzuki, Senior Nature Conservation Officer, Ishigaki Nature Conservation Office, Ministry of the Environment
Theme: Yaeyama "Night Creatures" Museum

Start time: 15:15 (approximately 45 minutes) Close: 16:15

VERA Ishigaki Island Special Opening

August 24th (Sunday), 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

VERA Ishigaki Island Observatory

Free admission, no capacity limit, no registration required.

We will offer hands-on experience with the VERA20m antenna and research presentations such as mini-lectures.

Astronomical observation event

August 24th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st
8:00 PM - 8:45 PM

Ishigakijima Observatory

Admission fees: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students, free for preschool children.

Reservation requiredPlease make your reservation by phone. (Reservations open from 10:00 AM on July 9th)
To apply: Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory 0980-88-0013
Open from 10:00 to 17:00, except on closed days (Monday and Tuesday).
Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory Homepage

Space Theater Experience

August 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th, 15:30-16:15

Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory (Ishigaki City Stargazing Learning Room)

Admission fee: 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students, not applicable to preschool children.

*The Space Theater is for elementary school students and older. (Viewing the 3D universe with 3D glasses puts excessive strain on the eyes, so we do not allow preschool children to use the theater.)
Reservation requiredTherefore, please be sure to make a reservation by phone. (Reservations begin July 3rd)
Application/Inquiries: Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory 0980-88-0013 Ishigaki Island Astronomical Observatory Homepage

Observatory facility tour

August 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Last entry 4:00 PM)

Ishigakijima Observatory

Admission fee: 100 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students, free for preschool children.

JTA Presents Southern Island Star Festival 2024 "Starry Sky Photo Contest"

[Theme for submissions]

Starry sky of Ishigaki Island and Yaeyama Islands
(Photos taken of the starry sky visible from Ishigaki Island or Yaeyama, or with the starry sky as a background)

*JTA routes to and from Ishigaki (excluding connecting flights)

Please see the detailed PDF for application procedures and regulations.

Special planetarium screening

August 23rd (Sat) 16:00~
August 24th (Sunday), 1:30 PM

Ishigaki Island Starry Sea Planetarium

"Let's become pushers ~Summer~"
*Price: 500 yen (general admission) / 200 yen (high school students and younger)

*For further details, please contact us at the address below.
Ishigaki Island Starry Sea Planetarium (located inside Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal)
Phone number: 0980-87-9945
Homepage

August 24th (Sunday), 11:00 AM