In November 1999, the Leonid meteor storm returned, brighter in the night skies than it had been for 33 years, prompting many to turn out to watch the spectacular celestial show.
But you needn't wait for a special astronomical event to enjoy observing the stars: Just visit the National Astronomical Observatory in western Tokyo.
Located some 15 minutes by bus from JR Mitaka or Musashi Sakai stations, the observatory is a center for astronomical researchers from both Japan and abroad. It tracks various astronomical objects and phenomena with its Subaru telescope, ranging from near-Earth objects in the solar system to distant stars and galaxies.