Special thanks for pictures from: Yatsugatake Shashin Club round and round

Joshinetsu Expressway To Niigata Nagano Saku I.C minamimaki Takasaki Nagano Expressway Sakudaira Koumi Line Shinshu Minamimakimura Tourist Information Fujioka J.C.T Matsumoto Nagano Shinkansen

Nobeyama Kanetsu Expressway

Shiojiri Okaya J.C.T Kobuchizawa I.C. Sutama I.C. Kobuchizawa Chuo Expressway

Chuo Line

Komaki J.C.T Tomei Expressway

Osaka Nagoya Tokyo

On the train Tokyo - Sakudaira (about 1 hour and 15 minutes by Nagano Shinkansen) Sakudaira - Nobeyama (about 1 hour and 30 minutes on the Koumi Line) Komoro - Nobeyama (about 1 hour and 40 minutes on the Koumi Line) Shinjuku - Kobuchizawa (about 2 hours by the Chuo Line express) Kobuchizawa - Nobeyama (about 30 minutes on the Koumi Line) Osaka - Nagoya (about 1 hour by Shinkansen) Nagoya - Shiojiri (about 2 hours by the Chuo Line express) Shiojiri - Kobuchizawa (about 50 minutes by the Chuo Line express) Kobuchizawa - Nobeyama (about 30 minutes on the Koumi Line)

By car Tokyo - Saku Exit (about 2 hours on the Joshinetsu Expressway) Saku Exit - Nobeyama (about 1 hour on Route 141) Shinjuku - Sutama Exit (about 2 hours on the Chuo Expressway) Sutama Exit - Nobeyama (about 40 minutes on Route 141) Osaka - Kobuchizawa (about 6 hours on the Meishin and Chuo Expressways) Kobuchizawa - Nobeyama (about 40 minutes on Yatsugatake traverse road)

Minamimakimura Village Office, Tourism guide Uminokuchi, Minamimakimura, Minamisaku-County, Nagano 384-1302 Phone: 0267-96-2211 (main) URL http://www.minamimakimura.jp/ Minamimakimura Tourism Association URL http://www.kanko-nobeyama.jp/ Nobeyama Tourist Information Nobeyama-ekimae, Minamimakimura, Minamisaku, Nagano 384-1305 Phone: 0267-98-2091 URL http://www.ytg.janis.or.jp/~nobeyama/ To Komoro minamimaki sky map To Saku I.C. [Hot Springs] round and round Enlarged map N To Mugikusa-toge Uminokuchi-Umijiri-Onsen Village 1 Matsubara-ko To Komoro Matsubarako Lake Known as a quiet hot spring located Spring Matsubara-ko between mountains. Around Uminokuchi Sta. Cassiopeia minamimaki Known as a quiet hot spring located Deneb Arisaka Motors Chikuma River Cepheus between mountains. Since you can Perseus Polaris Nobeyama Plateau is full of green nurtured by the rich and plentiful nature of the grand Yatsugatake JR Koumi Line Cygnus take a day trip there, you can go Capella mountain range. Enjoy great views of majestic mountains such as Mt. Fuji, the Minami Alps, Camelopardalis and relax after outdoor activities or Vega Auriga Oku-Chichibu and go climbing Mt. Meshimoriyama where there are abundant colorful alpine plants, Lyra Ursa Minor sports. Draco Lynx deep primeval forests and Yatsugatake where there are rocky ridges and full of variety. Spend time Pollux with animals and go cycling to experience the refreshing air of the plateau. There is no way you First battle field of Shinkai Pharmacy Big Dipper North Orion Umijiri Castle Harunobu Takeda (Shingen) Uminokuchi Hercules Ursa Major can’t enjoy the nature of Nobeyama Plateau. Umijiri Elementary School Gemini Uminokuchi Castle Spring triangle Betelgeuse La Musica Catalana of Cancer JR County boundaries Viewpoint Pasture Yama Cafeteria Coronae Borealis Canes Venatici Leo Minor Yatsugatake Plateau E Canis Minor W Legend National highway Climbing and Umijiri Castle Bootes Comae Highland vegetable garden Sa Serpens Berenices Various heart-warming concerts are la rse Café Asunaro Procyon hiking route d ou H c Arcturus Leo Municipal boundaries given at 'La Musica Catalana of ig Ophiuchus h g Saku-Uminokuchi Regulus Monoceros Koumi-machi n w i Minamimakimura Yatsugatake Plateau' located at foot of a Hik y S Village Office Sextans Trailhead Minamimaki a Virgo Yatsugatake. Your heart will be healed la Libra Hydra Hotel Izumi-kan Clinic d Umijiri-onsen H To by the world of fantasy woven by i Antares Inagoyu g Crater Puppis h Minamiaiki- Spica nature and music. w Shirabiso Hut a mura Pyxis y Corvus Scorpius Midoriike Pond Enlarged map Antlia 1 Restaurant Straw Hat Mt.Tengu reflected on the pond Bollard gate GOLF Uminokuchi-onsen Uminokuchi To Minamiaikimura is overwhelming North Elementary Village School Minamimakimura Village Office Centaurus Vela Tengudake Honzawa gate Minamimakimura Central Community Center 1.15→ Saku-uminokuchi Forestry road 南牧村中央公民館 2645 ←1.30 湯川 Minamimaki Junior Highschool Minamimaki Clinic Minamimaki Junior Highschool S on the left bank 南牧中 of Yukawa river Uminokuchi-onsen Village Neishidake Shikanoyu Ryokan To Nobeyama N Yukawa Valley Chikuma River 鹿の湯旅館 Camelopardalis 2603 0.10→ To the icefall, 1-hour walk Summer from Umijiri-onsen Yamame Perseus Honzawa-onsen trout and 0.40→ charr Polaris Ursa Major ←1.00 Japan’s highest open-air bath live here. Cassiopeia Yamabiko-sou Ursa Minor Hutte Natsusawa e rs Cepheus Bollard gate u Natsusawa co g in Big Dipper Ushikubi River ik Sakuhirose -toge H Pegasus Lacerta Canes Venatici Iodake Yatsugatake-Chūshin Kōgen Deneb Draco Quasi-National Park Ichiba Restaurant 141 Leo Minsyuku Rindou Cygnus Vega Habitat of o 2742 id Bootes r Yamame a Lyra e trout K Otokoyama Vulpecula La Musica Catalana of iv u E W Iodake Sanso Uminokuchi Pasture R sh Hercules Virgo Minami Yatsugatake Yatsugatake Plateau oe o Sagitta az K 1851 Coronae Borealis Arcturus Golden rhododendron forest road crossing Yokodake u Summer Triangle Kokakusa natural habitat rid trailhead om k (Dicentra peregrina) oe ge a Serpens in Yatsugatake z S Equuleus Delphinus colony a Uminokuchi villa ground S Nobeyama Rental Villa Altair m o 0.20→ Model course Sengataki Falls shows S the dynamic falling of pure water Aquila START point Soba restaurant Araragi Chino-shi ←0.25 ● Aquarius Libra Spica Yatsugatake Kogen Hutte Signboard of Blue Bird Okuara-toge Ophiuchus Yokodake 2.00→ Min Sengataki am Capricomus Scutum Hydra ←3.00 Yatsugatake Plateau Lodge (Somazoegawa) Yatsugatake i Y a 2829 Mitsumata-mine t Fureai Park s y Milk Dipper u a g ● Antares a w Lupus t Yatsugatake h g a outdoor experience classroom i Sagittarius k Itabashi Pasture H e of Fujisawa-shi f d Scorpius o la r a Amidadake Akadake Tenbo-sou e Bollard gate S s S t The areas surrounding around Shinanokawakami r Timely Akadake summit hut o the pioneer monument are the 2805 Akadake 1.10→ a best spots for astronomical 2899 d Pioneer monument ● N ←1.40 Otengu Drive-in Kikumoto observation! Japan’s highest elementary school Autumn 0.50→ Trailhead iver Bollard gate Itabashi R Bunkyo-ku Yatsugatake Kogen School South Elementary School Sankaku-Jougi Kawakami-mura Big Dipper 1.20 Guest house Kogen Yasai Ursa Major ← ● SY-Nak Cabin 0.50 Kotengu → Spend time with animals and Mori-no-Family Kandankei Ursa Minor Pref. boundary ridge Boukasen experience events Enlarged Minami Yatsugatake Drive-Kibun Around Nobeyama Sta. Pollux Lynx ←1.20 -no-Atama forest road crossing Takizawa map 2 Camelopardalis Draco Pasture Polaris 0.20→ Yatsugatake Pasture Teisan lodge Auriga Cepheus Gemini FISHING ←0.30 Direct sales shop Lodge Highest Point Capella Nobeyama Cassiopeia [Hot Springs] Perseus The real pleasures of stream fishing Municipal JRaa Koumi Line Vega 権現岳 ● Shiki-shi Sounen Sizen no Ie ground are to be one with nature and to Cygnus Honzawa-onsen Hercules Bollard gate Minamimakimura Art Folk Museum To Komoro Deneb Lyra 2715 Japan’s highest open-air bath feel the excitement. Betelgeuse Andromeda Nobeyama Nobeyama Aldebaran Lacerta Triangulum Nobeyama SL Land Nobeyama Vulpecula at an altitude of 2,150m. gymnasium Sagitta (You must climb the mountain Try to ride the mini-SL (Steam Locomotive) EE Taurus W y Delphinus Enlarged map a to reach the bath.) JR Railway Highest Point Soba restaurant 2 w Orion Altair h Aries Autumn Pegasus Furusato g Sun Meadows Highest JR station located at 1,375m Izakaya Nobeyama Tourist Information i Nobeyama Motors Quadrilateral H Kiyosato Ski Resort above sea level. Classic spot for d Rigel Hanahubuki a Aquila commemorative photographing l Pisces Nobeyama Clinic a Nobeyama Radio Observatory S Equuleus Horn Minamimakimura Happoen Utukushino-Mori Minamimakimura Rural Culture Art Folk Museum Cetus Municipal Nobeyama Eridanus Aquarius Information Museum ground Tennis court Industry Enlarged map 3 Sakasakashiwa Vegetaball With Café Picnic Capricomus Yatsugatake Piscis Austrinus Putting golf White Microscopium Rabbit Dental Fornax Fomalhaut Around Highest Point Minsyuku Kottuanchi Chateraise CC Enlarged ン Kiyosato Early Bird GC Nobeyama Direct sales shop 15 Galaxy Park Nobeyama イ To JR Highest Point ラ Tourist Information Sculptor Grus map原 3 ● Nobeyama To Nobeyama 美しの森 高 Nobeyama P 岳 Ota-ku P Kikumoto 至 八ヶ Nobeyama Yadegawa Park To Komoro Shishiiwa Gakuen Konashi (Malus sieboldii) forest S y Society gymnasium 小淵沢 平沢峠 Highest JR station a P

w To Nobeyama School dormitory Majestic panorama of located at h 山梨県 entrance Donguri-No-Mori Clinic g Yatsugatake mountains i 1,375m above N H can be viewed from Shishiiwa, 清里の森入口 Nobeyama Pharmacy d sea level a l Draco a IC A-COOP S Winter 清里の森入口 Hirasawa-toge Meshimoriyama Chateraise Plateau Inn Harukiya Ski Resort Yatsugatake Cepheus Cosmos trailhead Nobeyamasou Big Dipper JR Koumi Line Hiraga Genshin Haka Ursa Minor 1643 Lacerta 清泉寮 Gujinotaki Waterfall Altitude 1,375m! Canes Venatici Polaris Cassiopeia JR Railway Sengataki Minsyuku Bokka Meshimoriyama Resort Inn Kuroiwasou Camelopardalis (Daimon River) Highest Point Kiyosato Many colonies of alpine plants can be Souvenir seen at Meshimoriyama from Spring Andromeda Watanabe Kiyosato Minsyuku through Autumn. Comae Berenices Ursa Major After taking photographs at Shintaku Minsyuku Auriga Lodge To Chateraise (ski, golf) Pegasus Restaurant Sansou Leo Minor Capella Triangulum the highest point of Japan Shop of Meshimoriyama Highest Point Mother and Child Board Lynx Railways, you can visit Perseus Leo Pisces 至 小淵沢 Pollux Japan’s highest shrine near To Kobuchizawa E Aries W Bell of Happiness To Astronomical Observatory Regulus Gemini there. Cancer Taurus 至 長坂YatsugatakeIC Aldebaran Grace Hotel八ヶ岳 Canis Minor Orion To Kobuchizawa 高原大橋 Vegetaball With Procyon Betelgeuse Cetus Railway Highest Point Shrine All constellations you are able to see from Hydra To Early Bird GC Winter Triangle Nobeyama can be seen with powerful multimedia. 1st magnitude stars Monoceros Rigel Eridanus The views of the Yatsugatake mountains from the Canis Major Sirius 2nd magnitude stars To Sutama I.C. Lepus rooftop observation deck are great! Fornax 3rd magnitude stars Pyxis Puppis Columba 4th magnitude stars Caelum Yamanashi Prefecture or lower S round and round minamimaki experience High plain train Enjoy the nature of Yatsugatake agriculture Nobeyama Plateau offers many areas to experience nature in. Touch the blessings of Yatsugatake Feel nature and refresh your mind and body. The Koumi Line is a railway extending 78.9 Vegetables grow while receiving the km from Kobuchizawa Station on the Chuo Main Line in Yamanashi Prefecture to blessings of nature of Nobeyama Plateau. Komoro Station, passing through the Try them and savor the flavor eastern side of Yatsugatake and going along the Chikuma River while going up to TREKKING the north. The train runs through the plateau zone of Walk while feeling fresh air the Yatsugatake mountains from the highest point of Japan Railways to Nobeyama To enjoy the nature of Nobeyama Plateau, trekking is the best. Station. You can enjoy great views of Stamp your feet on the earth, feel the breeze and inhale as Yatsugatake from the train window. much clear air as you can. (Yatsugatake Plateau Line) Wonderful views, flowers on the plateau and birds singing will heal you. Snowshoeing Highland vegetables Wear the snowshoes and enjoy winter in Highland vegetables at the foot of Yatsugatake, Akadake - Yokodake - Honzawa Nobeyama Plateau. Nobeyama Plateau, at an altitude of 1,350m, grow Hot Spring course You’ll discover new charms when you wear up in an ideal environment where the average After going out to the ridgeline from Somazoeone, climb up and down Mt. snowshoes and walk freely in snow-covered temperature in August is 18°C and fertile land, sun Akadake, which is the main peak of the mountains, pass through Mt. Yokodake Nobeyama Plateau. light, morning-dew and clear air make them special. while enjoying precious alpine plant colonies, and then stay at Loudake Sansou. The next day, after seeing the sunrise at the peak of Mt. Loudake, go through Natsusawa pass and arrive at Honzawa Hot Spring. After healing your fatigue in an open-air bath, climb down the mountains. This is one course for an overnight trip. Kiyosato - Meshimoriyama - Nobeyama course From Kiyosato Station, climb Mt. Meshimoriyama via Hirasawa-Shuraku and descend to Nobeyama via Shishiiwa. This is a 6-hour hiking course.

PASTURE & CAMP CYCLING Enjoy a refreshing breeze blowing through the plateau at an altitude of 1,350m and feel Mother Nature. From flat area touring to hill-climbing, enjoy cycling with Mother Nature while being surrounded by the great Yatsugatake mountains. To Saku Dairy products Rental bicycles are available at the Nobeyama Tourist Information. Cold and high Nobeyama Plateau is the optimum environment for dairy cattle. Sengataki Experience the pasture; camp with Mother Nature, milk cows, ride horses and harvest National road Cold and high Nobeyama Plateau is the optimum Be careful vegetables. Spend time with horses and small animals. environment for dairy cattle. Milk obtained from free NOBEYAMA in crossing the road range dairy cows and yogurt and cheese made from GS the milk are masterpieces of village production and Takizawa processing. Pasture EVENT Race in the hometown of

Try milking the stars: Course Yatsugatake Nobeyama Plateau Minamimakimura Teisan Skating Center Direct sales shop A Art Folk Museum 100 km ultra-marathon race You can buy fresh highland vegetables, dairy Short course 100 km ultra-marathon race has been held every year Field trip is available products and local specialty products of Nobeyama Tourist Information - (2.5km) - since 1995 with 2,500 runners or more from all over JR Highest Point - (3.0km) - Shishiiwa - (1.7km) - Poppo Milk EVENT Minamimaki village. Astronomical Observatory/Rural Culture Galaxy Park Nobeyama Cyclocross Race Japan running through Yatsugatake. This race is noted Information Museum - (1.7km) - Nobeyama Tourist Dream race for all cyclocrossers in Japan as Japan’ s toughest course with unpaved forest roads Information Tourist information Nobeyama Sta. The dream race for all cyclocrossers in the Japan Battle and an up-and-down course. Japanese say that the Nobeyama SL Land Course Classic spot for taking photos at the plateau at an altitude of 1,350m, the Nobeyama runner who wins the Nobeyama 100 km is the runner Cyclocross Race has courses specified by the UCI who wins ultra-marathons. B JR Highest Point Tourist information (Union Cycliste Internationale) including muddy courses

Long course JR Koumi Line and flyovers (grade-separated crossings) so that you can Nobeyama Tourist Information - (1.9km) - Takizawa Pasture - rise to the challenge of cyclocrossing. Salad Highway (4.6km) - Sengataki - (6km) - The smell of French fries and coffee enveloping the Nobeyama Tourist Information venue, loud cheers and competitors’ heavy breathing are National Astronomical Observatory waiting for you. Shishiiwa Yadegawa Park Minamimakimura Rural Culture Most wonderful view Information Museum To Kiyosato Vegetaball round and round minamimaki

message from the universe Event to enjoy stars The fantastic universe

Minamimaki’s gift to astronomy Enjoy Nobeyama, the sacred place for stars Nobeyama’s clear atmospheric environment is the best for astronomy observation. Regular astronomy observation party The Nobeyama Radio Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatory of Nobeyama Plateau is at an elevation of over 1000m, close to the sky, presenting a beautiful Japan is an international research center of radio astronomy and has advanced observation devices such as a 45m radio telescope that has world’s highest level starry sky to enjoy with only fresh clear air between you and the stars. Location: Yatsugatake Fureai Park (Astronomers used this location when they observation ability on millimeter-wave band, which is a radio wave whose This plateau, not that far from the metropolitan area full of bright lights, is the place to visit to selected Minamimaki as one of Japan’s best wavelength is approximately 1 cm – 1 mm, a millimeter-wave interferometer and a three spots for astronomical observation) observe the star-filled sky. radioheliograph for solar observation. Everyone staying at accommodations in Minamimaki village Researchers from Japan and abroad visit here to observe and study night and day During a long winter night, you can enjoy all 79 constellations that can be observed in Japan. is welcome free of charge in order to uncover the true nature of the universe. Take home wonderful memories of astronomical observation in this clear air. In the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, they continue maintenance and performance ●Astronomy observation with telescope improvements on the telescope as well as the development of new observation ●Astronomical explanation by expert staff available technology and devices around the clock. Japan’s best three spots for astronomical observation ●Souvenirs for participants In 2011, astronomers selected Minamimaki village, Ishigaki-shi in Okinawa and Astronomy observation for women Bisei-cho of Ihara-shi in Okayama as Japan’ s three most beautiful starry skies. ‘Come empty-handed’ National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Nobeyama Minamimaki village is educating astronomy guides and working to offer starry sky astronomy observation Nobeyama Radio Observatory events to people who visit the village, regarding this beautiful starry sky as a regional www.kanko-nobeyama.jp/sora_girl Contact: Oaza Nobeyama, Minamimakimura, Minamisaku, Nagano 384-1305 resource. Phone: 0267-98-4300, Fax: 0267-98-2884 Annual event The astronomy guide The astronomy guide is a qualification for guides who teach how to enjoy the starry sky and the universe.

This is an expert qualification for a skilled guide just like a sommelier Enjoy a star-filled sky in the sacred place for stars who selects tasty wine based on knowledge and experience. We hope that many people will enjoy the beautiful Minamimaki village has accommodations with astronomy guides. starry sky above Nobeyama. You can listen to stories of the stars while relaxing in comfort. We really hope that beginners and Sora girls who have become interested in astronomy know that * ‘Astronomy guide’ is a registered trademark of Yamagata University and is the ©National Astronomical Observatory qualification obtained by receiving the ‘Certificate of the Astronomy Guide.’ there is a starry sky if we look up to the sky. We hold the ‘Come empty-handed’ astronomy observation while incorporating these hopes into it.

message from Yatsugatake The Yatsugatake mountains where the spectacle of nature changes quietly and dramatically between seasons

The Yatsugatake mountains show their gentleness slowly with each seasonal change. The remaining snow on the mountains contrasts with the fresh greenery of young leaves; the green become deeper as snow melts and summer approaches. When the winds become colder, the mountains will be decorated with the glorious colors of fall. Soon, the severe and beautiful winter will come and the mountains will be covered with snow again.

In the Summer

In Winter

In Spring In Autumn