Stargazing guide
Stargazing in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan has an estimated Bortle 7–9 sky (large metropolitan area). The Milky Way core is highest after dark in June, at about 26°.
How dark the sky is around Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, the nearest certified dark-sky places, when the Milky Way core is visible, and the next dark New Moon. Calculated for 35.18°, 136.91°.
Estimated sky glow
Milky Way core
Next New Moon
Dark-sky rating for Nagoya
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan is a large metropolitan area (population about 2,332,176). A place this size typically has a bright inner-city sky: only the Moon, planets and the brightest stars show from inside the urban core. That is an estimate of Bortle class 7–9 from population, not a measurement: the real value depends on the exact spot you observe from.
For a measured reading at any point, open the live Dark Sky map.
Nearest dark-sky places and observatories
No certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry lies within 150 km of Nagoya. Our list only includes genuine, publicly documented sites, so none is shown rather than guessed.
Milky Way season in Nagoya
The bright core of the Milky Way stays low, so you need a clear southern or northern horizon. It climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in March, April, May, June, July, August, September, peaking in June at about 26°.
- The north celestial pole stands 35.2° above the horizon, so stars within 35° of it never set from here.
- About 78.8% of the whole sky rises above the horizon at some point in the year from this latitude.
- The Milky Way's core in Sagittarius culminates about 25.8° up, staying low, so a clear southern horizon matters.
- At 23 m elevation, roughly 0% of the atmosphere's mass is already below you, which measurably reduces extinction near the horizon.
Tonight and aurora
As of October 13, 2026 (UTC) the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 11% illumination. Aurora at 35.2° latitude generally needs about Kp 9.0.
Nearby places
Stargazing in Nagoya: common questions
Is Nagoya a good place for stargazing?
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan is a large metropolitan area, so its typical sky is bright inner-city sky: only the Moon, planets and the brightest stars show from inside the urban core (an estimate of Bortle 7–9 from population, not a measurement). No certified dark-sky place or observatory in our registry lies within 150 km, so a dark site means driving away from the city's glow toward the darkest horizon you can reach.
When can you see the Milky Way from Nagoya?
From Nagoya, Aichi, Japan (35.18°, 136.91°) the Milky Way's bright core climbs at least 20° above the horizon during astronomical darkness in March, April, May, June, July, August, September. It peaks in June, reaching about 26°. Moonlight, cloud and city lights still decide what you actually see.
What is the best night this month for stargazing near Nagoya?
The darkest nights fall around the New Moon. As of 2026-10-13 the Moon is a Waxing Crescent at 11% illumination, and the next New Moon is November 9, 2026 (UTC). Pair it with a clear forecast and a site away from town lights.