The only observatory where general tourists are allowed to use a tripod to take photos of the lit-up world heritage, Shirakawa-Go. This light-up event is held every January and February, several times during the weekend.

This is a night view spot where you can feel a sense of Japanese tradition, but since it was declared a word heritage, many foreigners now visit here, and the observatory and its surroundings are extremely crowded.

This is a data from the coverage of the observatory in 2016, but because the regulations change just about every year, please read these for sample reference.

1.Unless you are going on a special bus tour, spaces where you can set up tripods are limited, only in the space near the Ogimachi Shiroato Tenbodai. The capacity is about 10 people at the most.
2.If you are planning to set up a tripod, you will need to secure a place from the morning.
3.Parking is a satellite parking lot (there is a “P” mark pinned on the map). It is about a 10-minute shuttle bus ride, but after the light-up event, the queue to get on the shuttle bus may be more than 200 meters long. You need to be ready for a 30 to 40 minutes wait.
4.7 light-up events took place in 2016, but there are places where the view is difficult to see because of a blizzard. Therefore, the chance of being able to see a night view from the observatory is 60-70% because of weather conditions.
The moonlight lighting held from 7PM did not take place in 2016. However, the satellite parking lot lights up the Shirakawa-Go, so a special light source is not needed.
5.Unless you are going on a special bus tour, spaces where you can set up tripods are limited, only in the space near the Ogimachi Shiroato Tenbodai. The capacity is about 10 people at the most.
6.If you are planning to set up a tripod, you will need to secure a place from the morning.
7.Parking is a satellite parking lot (there is a “P” mark pinned on the map). It is about a 10-minute shuttle bus ride, but after the light-up event, the queue to get on the shuttle bus may be more than 200 meters long. You need to be ready for a 30 to 40 minutes wait.
8.7 light-up events took place in 2016, but there are places where the view is difficult to see because of a blizzard. Therefore, the chance of being able to see a night view from the observatory is 60-70% because of weather conditions.
9.The moonlight lighting held from 7PM did not take place in 2016. However, the satellite parking lot lights up the Shirakawa-Go, so a special light source is not needed.