Private day trip · Day trip from Tokyo
From Tokyo: Nobeyama Observatory Customizable Tour
A space-themed day in the Yatsugatake highlands: the 45 m Nobeyama radio telescope, Japan's highest JR station and JAXA's Usuda deep space dishes.
Private · your group only◆11 hours◆Up to 6 guests◆Pickup included
Road-day snapshot
This is your private tour, so the route is flexible: tell us if you want to skip a stop, stay longer somewhere or add a place nearby.
The experience
A private journey, thoughtfully paced
The Nobeyama highlands sit at about 1,350 m on the east side of Mount Yatsugatake. The air is dry and clear, which makes this a good place to study the sky. The Nobeyama Radio Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan has worked here since 1982.
We pick you up at your hotel in central Tokyo and drive west, about 2.5 hours. At the observatory you walk the open visitor area among the big white dishes. The largest is the 45 m radio telescope, one of the biggest of its kind in the world. Signs and a small exhibit room explain how radio waves from space are caught. Entry is free.
Next we stop at JR Nobeyama Station. At about 1,346 m it is the highest station on the JR network, and a small monument marks the spot. Then we have lunch in the highlands.
In the afternoon we drive north to Saku and the Usuda Deep Space Center of JAXA. Here giant antennas talk to space probes far away in the solar system. You see the dishes from the public viewing area, and your guide explains the missions they have supported, such as the Hayabusa asteroid probes.
We drive back to your hotel in Tokyo in the evening. The tour is about 11 hours in total.
Along the way, the drive passes open farmland where much of Japan's summer lettuce grows, with the rocky peaks of Mount Yatsugatake above. Your guide keeps the science simple and answers your questions.
This is a private tour. Only your group. One group per van, for 1 to 6 people.
If the observatory is closed on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed.
Choose with confidence
Is this the right journey for your group?
Excellent fit if
- Walk among the dishes of Nobeyama Radio Observatory
- See the 45 m radio telescope up close
- Visit JR Nobeyama, the highest station on the JR network
- See JAXA's giant deep space antennas in Usuda
- Take in wide views of Mount Yatsugatake from the highlands
Said plainly
The observatory visitor area is open in daytime. You cannot enter the telescopes. This tour runs from April to November If the Nobeyama Radio Observatory visitor area is closed or cancelled on your date, you can take a full refund of your booking, guaranteed. If you prefer, we can instead spend the time at the Kiyosato highlands with a walk and views of Mount Yatsugatake It is cooler in the highlands than in Tokyo. Bring a jacket
Your day
Suggested itinerary
Times are approximate. Your driver-guide adjusts the order for traffic, weather, opening hours and the best light.
Walk among the dishes of Nobeyama Radio Observatory
See the 45 m radio telescope up close
Visit JR Nobeyama, the highest station on the JR network
See JAXA's giant deep space antennas in Usuda
Take in wide views of Mount Yatsugatake from the highlands
What is covered
What you see is what you pay
Ours — included
- Private van and English-speaking driver-guide (also Hindi/Urdu)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Tokyo
- All parking, fuel and road tolls
- Nobeyama Radio Observatory visitor area (free entry)
- Usuda Deep Space Center public viewing area (free entry)
Yours — paid on the day
- Meals and drinks unless listed as included
- Gratuities, which are never expected in Japan
- Optional souvenir purchases
Good to know
Before you book
Languages
English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Pickup
Pickup and drop-off at your Tokyo hotel or accommodation (23 wards).
Group and vehicle
Private for up to 6 guests. Enter adults, children, infants and child seats separately at booking.
Dietary and mobility needs
Halal, vegetarian, allergy, walking or other practical requests go in your booking notes and are planned before the day.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can we change the route on the day?
Yes. It is a private tour in our own van, so your driver-guide can skip, extend or add stops where time allows.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for your whole private group of up to 6 people, including the van, fuel, tolls, parking and your driver-guide.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for an automatic full refund to the original payment method. Within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can help. If a typhoon or official weather warning stops the trip, we offer a new date or a full refund. For a GetYourGuide booking, the terms shown on that booking apply.
Somewhere else in mind?
Any destination in Japan
If this route is not exactly what you need, tell us the destination, dates and group. We confirm the plan and the exact price before any payment is taken.
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From¥94,000
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