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About the stars of Ishigaki Island, and what a shoot day is like.
Ishigaki Night Sky by Month: What You Can See, January to December
Which month, what time, and what will you see? Sunset, full darkness, Milky Way and Southern Cross hours, and how often the sky is clear, month by month.
Read moreWhat Time Does an Ishigaki Stargazing Tour Start? Why Late Night Can Be Best
The sky is fully dark about 1 hour 20 minutes after sunset (around 9 pm in summer, 7 pm-ish in winter). The best time on any night depends on when the moon sets.
Read moreWhat Happens to the Tour on Rainy, Cloudy or Full-Moon Days?
If rain or clouds hide the stars we cancel, with no fee. We close on and around the full moon. On Ishigaki, July and August are the clearest months and January the cloudiest.
Read moreWhen and What Time Can You See the Milky Way on Ishigaki Island?
The bright core of the Milky Way is visible from Ishigaki from February to October — right after dark in July and August, late at night to dawn in spring. Not visible November to January.
Read moreTips for Joining a Stargazing Photo Tour with Kids
Children are welcome. Ages 4–12 are ¥3,000 and ages 3 and under are free. One group only, about 30 minutes. If late nights worry you, pick the 19:00–21:00 slot.
Read moreHow to Get to a Stargazing Photo Tour with No Transfer
The star photo and SUP tours have no pickup; you meet us on site. The star photo spot is within a 30-minute drive from Ishigaki town and we tell you where by LINE on the day. SUP tours meet at the Sokoji Beach parking lot. Only the firefly tour picks you up at your hotel.
Read moreHow to Choose an Ishigaki Stargazing Tour: Photo Tour or Viewing Tour
Choose a viewing tour to watch the stars, a photo tour to be photographed with them. Compare photo tours on five points: compositing, private or shared, number of photos and delivery time, pickup, and full-moon and rain policies.
Read moreThe Best Time and Season for Stargazing on Ishigaki Island
You can see the stars all year. The Milky Way peaks July–September, the Southern Cross January–May (best April–May), and the clearest months are July and August. The moon matters more than the season: nights near the new moon have the most stars.
Read moreHow to See the Southern Cross on Ishigaki Island
The whole Southern Cross is visible from Ishigaki from January to May — early evening in April and May, before dawn in January and February. Its lowest star only reaches about 2.6°, so you need an open southern horizon.
Read moreFor star photos, choose a night without the moon
We close on and around the full moon, because moonlight brightens the sky and hides most of the stars. The best hours change with the moon's phase, which is why we work from 18:00 to 6:00.
Read moreWhat to wear and bring for your star photo night
Bring cash (paid after the shoot, exact change helps) and a light jacket, and arrange your own transport. On winter nights the average low is about 17°C, and it can be windy by the sea.
Read moreThe secret to a great shot: stay still for 5 seconds
To capture the stars the shutter stays open for a few seconds, so please hold still for about 5 seconds. Because we never composite, those 5 seconds become the photo.
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Let's pick a beautiful starry night together.
Fill in the form and send it, and your booking details go into our official LINE. We keep in touch on the day through LINE too.