Japan's Kozushima island eyes tourism boom after certification as international dark sky park

The 18 square-kilometer Kozushima island in Japan is hoping that recent recognition by Arizona-based International Dark-Sky Association of its efforts to preserve its starry night skies will be a boon for local tourism.

Kozushima was certified in early December as an "international dark sky park" by the International Dark-Sky Association, which was founded by astronomers to prevent light pollution.

The remote island, part of the Izu island chain and some 180 kilometers south of the capital Tokyo, is known as a recreational area for summer where visitors also enjoy stargazing tours.
It a four-hour boat ride from Tokyo or 30 minutes by air.

Norimasa Ogawa, a village official, said they hope to see more visitors at home and abroad coming during winter to see the night skies.

Ruskin Hartley, executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association, said that they are very proud of Kozushima's efforts to reverse the trend of light pollution and protect dark skies in Japan.

Hartley described Kozushima as a great example of how to effectively reduce light pollution and responsibly use outdoor lighting.

Early this year, the village introduced new ordinances limiting the brightness of outdoor lighting to preserve its starry night skies and prevent light pollution.

Ogawa said that lighting fixtures on the road were installed in a manner that the light does not spread upward.

Kozushima is the second Japanese location to gain the "international dark sky park" status after the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park in Okinawa Prefecture earned it in 2018.

To qualify as an international dark sky park, a land should possess an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment. It also needs to be protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage.

The certification aims to encourage the protection of dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education.