The beautiful starry sky in Bisei-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture was certified as a "Starry Sky Reserve" by an international organization on the 2nd.
The "Starry Sky Reserve" is certified by the American NPO "International Dark Sky Association" created by astronomers and others to evaluate efforts to protect the dark natural night sky that is not affected by light on a global basis.
In collaboration with the Biseicho Tourism Association, Ibara City officially applied to the association in April, and was informed that it was certified as a "Starry Sky Reserve" on the morning of the 2nd.
According to the city, the Bisei-cho district has replaced the streetlights in the town with ones that are friendly to the starry sky so that the starry sky looks beautiful, and hold lectures on the starry sky every year for residents. It means that the enlightenment activities were highly evaluated.
In Japan, it is the third certification after ▽ Iriomote Ishigaki National Park in Okinawa Prefecture and ▽ Kozushima Village in the Izu Islands, Tokyo.
In addition, this time, Ibara City was certified in the community division, which is accredited by each municipality working on the protection of beautiful starry sky in the "Starry Sky Reserve", and it is the first time in Asia to be accredited. ..
Ibara City says, "I was relieved that I was able to receive the certification. From now on, I would like to promote the development of tour guides for the starry sky and the enhancement of accommodation facilities to attract tourists."