How a Village of 5,800 Draws 130,000 Visitors Annually
Tucked away in the southernmost tip of Nagano Prefecture, Achi Village is home to just 5,800 residents. Yet this quiet mountain community has become a magnet for stargazers seeking what has been officially recognized as Japan's finest starry sky. Even in winter temperatures dropping to minus 3°C (27°F), lines of nearly 100 people form at the gondola station, eager to witness the celestial spectacle above.
The village's rise to fame began in 2006 when Japan's Ministry of the Environment conducted a nationwide star-watching survey and ranked Achi Village first among locations most suitable for stellar observation. This recognition gave the village its now-famous branding: "Japan's No.1 Starry Sky."
The Heavenly Night Tour Experience
The flagship tourism product is the "Tengoku no Rakuen" (Heavenly Paradise) Night Tour, which launched in 2012. By March 2025, the tour had welcomed over 1.2 million cumulative visitors, establishing itself as one of Japan's most popular stargazing experiences.
The tour takes place at Heavens Sonohara, a highland resort featuring a 2,500-meter gondola ride with a 600-meter elevation gain. Over approximately 15 minutes, visitors ascend to an observation area at 1,400 meters above sea level, far from any urban light pollution. At this altitude, the stars appear so close that you could almost reach out and touch them.
The tour's highlight is the "light-down time," when all venue lights are simultaneously extinguished, revealing a 360-degree canopy of stars. Expert guides provide astronomical commentary, and original visual content is projected, transforming simple stargazing into an immersive entertainment experience.
Braving the Cold for Beauty
In January 2026, visitors from Tokyo, Gifu, and beyond were spotted making the pilgrimage despite harsh winter conditions. One couple traveled three hours from Gifu via Nagoya by express bus. Another couple returned for a "revenge visit" after clouds had obscured their view the previous year.
Mountaintop temperatures regularly drop below minus 3°C, yet visitors eagerly spread out leisure sheets on the snowy ground, lying back to take in the stellar panorama. Many borrow insulated long coats and thermal mats from their accommodations. One romantic visitor came to gift his partner "Japan's most beautiful starry sky" for her birthday.
A Model for Rural Revitalization
Achi Village's success offers valuable lessons for rural communities worldwide facing population decline and economic stagnation. The village demonstrates how natural assets can be transformed into sustainable tourism without massive infrastructure investments.
In 2012, the village established the "Star Village Achi Promotion Council," bringing together diverse stakeholders including tourism operators, restaurants, farmers, and NPOs. A key insight drove the project: utilizing the ski resort's gondola during the off-season, combined with the realization that "the starry sky costs nothing."
By 2015, Achi Village had signed a tourism partnership agreement with JTB, Japan's largest travel agency. By 2018, annual visitors reached 130,000, fostering cross-industry collaboration and creating new employment opportunities in the region.
Hot Springs: The Perfect Complement
Achi Village also boasts Hirugami Onsen, a popular hot spring resort. The alkaline sulfur springs (pH 9.7) are renowned as "beauty baths" for their silky, skin-smoothing properties.
Package deals combining the night tour with hot spring accommodation have proven particularly attractive. Visitors can warm their chilled bodies in the therapeutic waters while basking in the afterglow of their stargazing experience. Guests at partner hotels can also secure tour tickets earlier than the standard two-week advance booking period, a significant advantage for planners.
Astrotourism: A Global Phenomenon
Achi Village's success aligns with the global rise of astrotourism. According to DarkSky International, over 220 sites worldwide have been designated as International Dark Sky Places as of 2024. The northern lights tourism market alone was valued at approximately $834 million in 2023.
Destinations like Jasper National Park in Canada, Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve in Portugal, and Galloway Forest Park in Scotland have demonstrated significant economic benefits from dark sky tourism. Galloway reportedly generated £500,000 annually in its first decade after certification, while Chile's Antofagasta region saw 327% year-on-year growth through astrotourism initiatives.
Saudi Arabia has pledged $35 billion to develop its astrotourism sector as part of Vision 2030, while the newly designated Red Sea Project aims to become the region's largest Dark Sky Reserve. These developments underscore astrotourism's emergence as a multi-billion dollar industry with substantial potential for economic diversification.
Challenges and Solutions
Stargazing tourism naturally faces weather-related challenges. Cloudy or rainy conditions can disappoint visitors who've traveled specifically to see stars. Achi Village addresses this by offering indoor planetarium-style programs during inclement weather, ensuring guests can enjoy their visit regardless of conditions.
Growing popularity has also led to gondola congestion, particularly during peak evening hours. Visitors are advised to plan ample time and dress warmly, as the 1,400-meter summit is significantly colder than lower elevations.
Share Your Stargazing Stories
Light pollution has made it increasingly difficult to see beautiful starry skies from urban areas in Japan and around the world. Initiatives like Achi Village's demonstrate how communities can rediscover the beauty of dark skies while boosting local economies.
As astrotourism continues to gain momentum globally, we'd love to hear from you: Does your country or region have places known for beautiful starry skies? Are there astrotourism initiatives or memorable stargazing experiences you've had? Share your stories with us!
References
- https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7937a556ed770febd0dc6bc311272152b7b889ca
- https://sva.jp/
- https://travel.rakuten.co.jp/mytrip/howto/starvillage-achi
- https://www.jtbbwt.com/government/case-study/solution/area-marketing/detail/id=1381
- https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000291.000018496.html
- https://darksky.org/about/success-stories/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrotourism
Reactions in Japan
Just went to Achi Village's starry sky night tour! It was my first time clearly seeing the Milky Way with my naked eyes, and I almost cried. An experience you can never have in the city. Cold weather gear is essential, but totally worth the trip!
Visited Achi Village with my family. My child was thrilled, saying 'I got to make a wish on a shooting star!' The star guide's explanation was easy for kids to understand, making it a great educational experience. The hot springs were amazing too ♨️
Honestly, the night tour might not be ideal for astrophotography. Too many people and hard to set up a tripod. But if you just want to enjoy the stars, it's truly wonderful. For serious star photography, Namiai Park might be better.
Achi Village is a model case for rural revitalization. The mindset shift of 'the starry sky costs nothing' and utilizing ski lifts unused in summer. A great example of rediscovering local resources and public-private partnership.
Couldn't see any stars because it was cloudy... 😭 Can't control the weather, but I was shocked after traveling 3 hours. The indoor planetarium-style program was good though, and the hot springs were nice, so I'll try again for revenge.
Surprised my girlfriend at Achi Village for her birthday! When the lights went down and stars suddenly appeared, we were both speechless. It became a memory for life 🌟 The hotel's coat lending service was really helpful.
Honestly, don't raise your expectations too high. They say 'Japan's No.1,' but there are other places with beautiful skies. That said, considering accessibility and facilities, it's ideal for beginners.
As a local, it's amazing and heartwarming to see so many people visiting this remote place. I'm proud of it as a success story in rural revitalization. Perhaps because there was nothing else, they could discover the treasure of the starry sky.
The gondola wait times are brutal. Especially going down, I waited over an hour. Waiting in the cold was honestly tough. I recommend aiming for weekdays or earlier time slots.
I went solo and was relieved to see other people alone too. The star guide's talk (Hoshi-nii-san) was entertaining, so I enjoyed myself without getting bored. Perfect for a self-reward trip ✨
From a serious astronomy enthusiast's perspective, there are places with more stars. But the production of 'the stargazing experience' is excellent. It has the power to engage people who aren't into stars. Perfect as an introduction.
Achi Village's marketing strategy is really impressive. They maximized the 'Japan's No.1' certification, combined it with hot springs, collaborated with music events - their efforts to keep things fresh are remarkable.
Great that it's about 2 hours by car from Nagoya. Perfect distance for a weekend getaway. You can create the perfect itinerary: stay overnight at the hot springs, see the peach blossom village during the day, and stars at night.
Achi Village's initiative is meaningful in raising awareness about light pollution. Protecting starry skies also contributes to ecosystem preservation. It's an internationally relevant example of balancing tourism promotion with environmental conservation.
Went with 4 friends as a graduation trip! Lying down together watching stars while talking about our futures was so emotional. It was cold but became an unforgettable memory. Total youth vibes 🌌
Japan has such wonderful stargazing spots! In the US, we have dark sky parks in Utah and Arizona too, but combining it with hot springs is such a uniquely Japanese and appealing concept.
As a German astronomy enthusiast, I'm impressed by Achi Village's efforts. Light pollution is a global challenge. We're also promoting dark sky reserves in our country, and their approach to combining conservation with tourism is instructive.
Galloway Forest Park in the UK has similarly succeeded with dark sky tourism. I'm envious that Achi Village in Japan has hot springs as an added attraction. Would love to visit someday!
Interest in astrotourism is growing in China too. From Shenzhen, we often go to dark spots around Hong Kong, but I think Achi Village's comprehensive tour system is wonderful.
Provence in France also has beautiful starry skies, but we don't have such an organized tourism program. This is very interesting as a model for rural revitalization.
Chile's Atacama Desert is one of the world's premier astronomical observation sites, but Japan's approach to stargazing as 'experiential entertainment' is refreshing. Could be a hint for increasing tourism.
Light pollution is severe in Korea too, making it difficult to see beautiful starry skies. I'd like to study whether we could develop similar initiatives like Japan's Achi Village in Korea.
You can see amazing starry skies in the Australian Outback, but there are hardly any facilities. Japan's sophisticated tour system like this would be attractive to tourists seeking comfort.
Ladakh in India was also certified as a Dark Sky Reserve in 2022. Like Achi Village in Japan, we want to develop it as a sustainable tourism model led by local communities.
I've attended the Jasper Dark Sky Festival in Canada, but I'd love to visit Japan's Achi Village too. The combination of hot springs and starry skies sounds perfect!
Astrotourism is still developing in Poland. I think there's a lot we can learn from Achi Village's success story. Especially the mechanism for encouraging local residents' participation is wonderful.
Taiwan also has mountainous areas with beautiful starry skies, but no place has succeeded in branding like Achi Village. I'd like to learn from their marketing strategy.
This is similar to Italy's Astronomitaly project. Balancing dark sky protection with tourism promotion is becoming an important theme worldwide.
However, I'm concerned that excessive crowding might diminish the appeal of stargazing. For sustainable tourism, they might need to consider limiting visitor numbers.
In Vietnam, light pollution is rapidly increasing with economic development. Initiatives like Achi Village will likely become important reference cases for our future.