Shosanbetsu observatory

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Shosanbetu observatory (jp: しょさんべつ天文台, or Shosanbetsu temmondai) is an astronomical observatory in Japan. It is located on a cape facing to Sea of Japan which is in a tiny fishermen’s village of Shosanbetsu in the northern-most island of Hokkaidō (141°47′08″E, 44°34′08″N, h=47m above sea level).

It is held by the municipal government in purpose of scientific education beside regular observations and open daily bases to the public (except Tuesdays and winter). It is equipped with a 650mm diameter cassegrain reflector and a few small portable telescopes.

Its surrounding is a seaside park that has a public-run inn with hot spring, field for sports, bathing spot and camp site, and crowded with tourists on holidays. It is easy to access there from Sapporo, the capital city of Hokkaido, by inter-city buses.