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Hi, I'm Hiroshi, a blogger in his 50s living in Japan.
A while back, I wrote about the Sagamihara planetarium as my "secret sanctuary for tired adults." This is the sequel.
This time, I finally took the plunge and bought the annual pass. It costs about $14. In this post, I'll share what I learned as someone who actually bought one — the pricing, the fine print, and one embarrassing story.
Who this post is for:
- Anyone curious about the Sagamihara planetarium's annual pass
- Anyone wondering what the "Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium" is
- Anyone looking for a cool, cheap escape from the Japanese summer heat
The short answers (for those in a hurry):
- The annual pass costs about $14 for adults and $5.60 for kids. A single show is $3.50 for adults ($1.40 for kids), so the pass pays for itself in 4 visits. It's valid for one year.
- As of July 16, 2026, the facility has a new nickname under a naming-rights deal: the Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium. It's still the same place — the Sagamihara City Museum, right across the street from JAXA's Sagamihara Campus.
- One caveat: the pass doesn't cover special events like concerts. It's for regular shows only. Know that one thing, and it's an absolute bargain.
Table of contents
- How much is the annual pass, and when does it pay off?
- What's the "Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium"?
- The fine print: events the pass doesn't cover
- The 45-minute Mars show I missed
- A summer sanctuary with 1.03 billion stars in 8K
- Visitor information
- Final thoughts
How much is the annual pass, and when does it pay off?
Let's start with the numbers.
| Adults | Children | |
|---|---|---|
| Single show | $3.50 | $1.40 |
| Annual pass | $14 | $5.60 |
| Break-even point | 4 visits | 4 visits |
| Validity | 1 year | 1 year |
A single show is $3.50, and the annual pass is $14. In other words, go four times in a year and you've broken even.
With inflation these days, even a guy in his 50s hesitates over a convenience-store rice ball. So this pricing genuinely makes me happy. Go once a month, and each visit works out to about a dollar. A trip to space for the price of a rice ball.
I'm planning to hold this pass tight and get through the whole year with it — especially this brutal summer.
What's the "Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium"?
On July 16, 2026, the planetarium at the Sagamihara City Museum got a new nickname under a naming-rights agreement: the Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium. The naming period runs for five years, from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031.
The place itself hasn't changed. It's still the Sagamihara City Museum in Chuo Ward, Sagamihara — directly across from JAXA's Sagamihara Campus, which is a dream location for any space fan.
Whether you search for "Sagamihara planetarium" or "Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium," you'll end up at the same dome. Though I have to admit, having "Galaxy" in the name makes me want to go even more.
The fine print: events the pass doesn't cover
Before you buy, here's what you should know, based on the museum's published information:
- The pass covers regular shows only. Special events — concerts, hands-on programs and the like — are often marked "annual passports not valid."
- It's valid for one year. I couldn't confirm from public sources exactly how the start date is counted, so ask at the counter when you buy.
- The pass isn't issued to visitors who already qualify for free admission, or to groups.
So it's not an "everything included" pass — but the regular lineup changes with the seasons, and honestly, that's more than enough for me.
For reference, in late July 2026 there are five daily shows: 10:30, 11:45, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00. The summer lineup includes a full-dome film about typhoons and a live-narrated show called "Starry Sky Terrace."
Programs and show times rotate with the seasons, so check the Sagamihara City Museum's official site for the current schedule before you go. Popular slots do sell out.
The 45-minute Mars show I missed
Now for my confession.
On my last visit, the 30-minute Mars exploration show felt so good that I kept wishing there were a longer version.
And then I found out: they had added a 45-minute Mars program. I got excited, looked up the schedule — and it had already ended its run. Heartbreaking.
It's been ridiculously hot lately, so a cool dome for a solid 45 minutes sounded like the perfect nap — I mean, the perfect chance to watch closely. Oh well.
Allow me one little fantasy, though: maybe someone at the planetarium read my old blog post and made the 45-minute version because of it. I have no evidence whatsoever. But I've decided to believe it anyway.
A summer sanctuary with 1.03 billion stars in 8K
Let me say it again: the hardware here is absurd for the price.
- The optical projector "CHIRON III SAGAMIHARA" renders about 1.03 billion stars
- Combined with four 8K projectors, it's billed as the world's first hybrid system of its kind
- A 23-meter dome, 180 seats, widened to 55 cm each
All of that for $3.50 a show. It genuinely feels like floating in space.
And then there's summer. Outside, the heat tops body temperature. Inside the dome, it's cool, quiet and dark. As a sanctuary for worn-out adults, it's hard to beat.
For the record: I did NOT buy the annual pass for napping purposes. I'll be going so often that sooner or later there will be a day when I stay awake for the whole show. Planetarium staff, please be patient with me.
As far as visual experiences go, this dome has stayed with me longer than the big-screen blockbuster I saw last winter. A live-narrated starry sky has a warmth that movies can't quite match.
Visitor information
| Name | Sagamihara City Museum Planetarium (nickname: Kiraboshi Galaxy Planetarium) |
| Address | 3-1-15 Takane, Chuo Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Getting there | About a 20-minute walk from Fuchinobe Station (JR Yokohama Line, north exit), or a short bus ride to the "Shiritsu Hakubutsukan-mae" stop. Directly across from JAXA's Sagamihara Campus |
| Phone | +81-42-750-8030 |
| Hours | 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (museum) |
| Admission | Adults $3.50, children $1.40 / Annual pass: adults $14, children $5.60 |
| Show times | Varies by season (late July 2026: 10:30 / 11:45 / 13:00 / 14:30 / 16:00) |
| Parking | Available (check the official site for the latest details) |
| Dogs | Not allowed inside |
| Official site | Sagamihara City Museum (sagamiharacitymuseum.jp) |
Final thoughts
Fourteen dollars a year. Break even in four visits. And for one whole year, outer space is just down the road.
Missing the 45-minute Mars show stung, but with the pass in my wallet, there's no rush. The next show will come, and the one after that, and I'll be waiting in that cool, dark dome. Maybe that's the real value of an annual pass.
To the good people at the planetarium: please bring back the longer shows. This request comes from the bottom of my heart — and NOT from my need for a nap.
On those summer days when it's too hot to want to go anywhere, look up your nearest planetarium. For a few dollars, you might just make it to space.