Southern Island Star Festival

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

Access to the venue for the evening live concert and observation event on August 19th

There is no parking lot at the venue (although there is a bicycle parking area). Please cooperate with pick-up and drop-off at the venue.
Please also use the temporary parking lot.

The event will be held even in light rain. Please bring rain gear in case of sudden rain.
You are welcome to bring your own water bottles and other hydration items. Please also make use of the stalls at the venue.
Emergency contact information for August 19th:070-1271-3164Please contact us in case of an emergency. Please refrain from contacting us unless it is absolutely necessary.

Why not turn down the lights and look up at the starry sky?

[Starry sky on August 19th]

On this day, close to Tanabata (August 22nd) on the lunar calendar, Saturn shines low in the eastern sky, and the Summer Triangle, formed by the first-magnitude stars Vega (in the constellation Lyra), Altair (in the constellation Aquila), and Deneb (in the constellation Cygnus), shines high in the sky.
Vega and Altair are the stars Vega and Hikoboshi of Tanabata, and between them lies the Milky Way, which continues into the southern sky.
In the southern sky, the first-magnitude star Antares (in the constellation Scorpio) can be seen brightly near the Milky Way.
In the western sky, the first-magnitude stars Arcturus (Bootes) and Spica (Virgo) and the thin moon, three days after the new moon, shine brightly.
At the venue, you can relax and enjoy the starry sky with an easy-to-understand guide from the NPO Yaeyama Star Association. We look forward to seeing you there.

Also, why not turn down the lights at home or at work and look up at the starry sky?

The Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory website also has a monitoring site. Please take a look if you are interested.

View the starry sky of the southern island from Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory's "Milky Way Monitor"

*The image shows the starry sky of Ishigaki City at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 19, 2023.

Cool evening live show and stargazing party

Saturday, August 23rd
Doors open at 4:00 PM (scheduled) and performance begins at 6:30 PM
Observation event: 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Minamihamacho Green Park (beyond the Southern Gate Bridge)

Performing artist: BEGIN

Opening act: RYOEI

Admission is free (however, only those with numbered tickets are allowed in)

Admission method: Numbered ticket (electronic ticket system)

◇First 2,000 people
◇Up to 1 or 2 people can apply per account
◇Only those who apply via account can bring up to three accompanying persons.
(However, accompanying persons must be 70 years of age or older or children under elementary school age.)

*We may ask for your accompanying person's age to be verified at the venue, so please bring proof of age with you.

■Numbered ticket (electronic ticket) application acceptance begins
→ Monday, July 7, 2025, 10:00 AM (Ends when 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 procedure for applying for a numbered ticket (electronic ticket), please see below.
→ Numbered ticket (electronic ticket) application procedure (PDF file: 1.2MB)

Q&A

▶︎ Why are there numbered tickets this time?
→ A capacity limit has been set to ensure venue organization and safety.

▶Do I need to download an app?
→ Yes, you do not need to download the app until you apply and arrange your tickets, but you will need to download it by the day of the event as the app will be used to check your entry.
Also, if an error occurs when logging in directly to the URL, please copy and paste the URL into your Safari or Chrome browser and access the site.

▶︎ Can I not enter if I don't have a smartphone?
→ Yes, you cannot enter without the app, but one account can contain up to two people plus up to three people over 70 years old or up to elementary school age, so please cooperate with family members who have smartphones (up to a maximum of five people).

▶ Can I apply multiple times?
→ This is possible due to the app's system, but if duplicates are found, the secretariat will invalidate (delete) them.

▶ Are there any tickets available on the day?
Advance tickets only.

▶ Can I wait for a cancellation?
→ There is no preparation.

▶︎ About bringing in food and drinks
→ In principle, bringing in cooler boxes or insulated bags is prohibited.
→ There will be food and drink stalls at the venue, so please use them.

▶︎ About bringing chairs
→ Reserving seats or using chairs is not permitted in the area in front of the stage.
Chairs are available in the rear.

▶︎ Weather on the day
→ The event will proceed in light rain, but will be cancelled in severe weather.

*Please check for other details from time to time.

Star Festival Lecture

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

Ishigaki City Hall 1st floor Community Room

[Part 1]

Speaker: Junichi Watanabe, Senior Professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and Director of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan's Astronomical Data Center
Theme: Coming soon

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

[Part 2]

Speaker: Mr. Kiyoshi Suzuki, Senior Conservation Officer, Ishigaki Nature Conservation Office, Ministry of the Environment
Theme: Coming soon

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

VERA Ishigaki Island Special Opening

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

VERA Ishigaki Island Observatory

Free to the public, no capacity limit, no registration required.

We will have a hands-on experience of operating the VERA 20m antenna, as well as a mini lecture and other research presentations.

Stargazing Party

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

Ishigakijima Observatory

Admission fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary, middle and high school students, free for preschoolers

Advance reservations requiredPlease make sure to make a reservation by phone. (Reservations will begin at 10:00 on July 9th.)
For applications, please contact Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory at 0980-88-0013.
10:00-17:00 (excluding closed days, Mondays and Tuesdays)
Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory Homepage

Space Theater Experience

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

Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory (Ishigaki City Stargazing Learning Room)

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

*The Space Theater is available to elementary school students and older. (Preschool children are not permitted to use the theater as viewing the 3D space with 3D glasses places excessive strain on the eyes.)
Advance reservations requiredPlease make sure to make a reservation by phone. (Reservations will start from July 3rd.)
For inquiries, please contact Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory at 0980-88-0013. Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory Homepage

Observatory facility tour

August 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st: 10:00am - 4:30pm (last entry 4:00pm)

Ishigakijima Observatory

Admission fee: 100 yen for adults, 100 yen for elementary, middle and high school students, free for preschoolers

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

[Call theme]

Starry skies of Ishigaki Island and Yaeyama
(Photos taken with the starry sky as seen from Ishigaki Island or Yaeyama, or with the starry sky as the background)

*JTA routes departing and arriving at Ishigaki (excluding connecting flights)

Please see the detailed PDF for application procedures and regulations.

Planetarium special screening

August 23rd (Sat) 16:00~
August 24th (Sun) 1:30pm

Ishigaki Island Hoshinoumi Planetarium

"Let's become a Pushinchu~Summer~"
*Admission fee: 500 yen (adults) / 200 yen (high school students and younger)

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

August 24th (Sun) 11:00am