Japan's First 'Museum Bathing®' Demonstration Experiment at a Public Observatory! 'Museum Bathing® at Public Observatories is Considered to Have Had an Effect on Relaxation'

Japan boasts one of the world's highest numbers of observatories! Public observatories, long recognized for providing social learning opportunities and improving scientific literacy, are now socially positioned as a type of 'museum.' Alongside scientific experiences, their relaxing effects are also gaining attention. What effects do observatory viewing experiences at public observatories have on the mind and body? A 'Museum Bathing®' demonstration experiment was conducted by Professor Izumi Ogata, a leading researcher from Kyushu Sangyo University, at Minamiaso Luna Observatory (Kumamoto Prefecture) on September 9, 2025. The results led to the conclusion: 'Based on a comprehensive judgment from psychological and physiological measurements, this 'Museum Bathing®' at a public observatory is considered to have had an effect on relaxation.'

*Museums refer to a general term for social education facilities defined by the Museum Act, such as history, art, archaeology, folklore, and natural history museums.

Museum Bathing® Logo Mark

(Table of Contents)

'Museum Bathing' Research Advancing in Europe and the US

Experiment Overview

Experiment Details and Viewing Session Content

Results

Discussion

Future Research Prospects

Towards the Establishment and Development of 'Observatory Bathing' Expected to Restore Well-being

Expert Comments

Overview of Minamiaso Luna Observatory

Contact Information for this Matter

References

*Museum Bathing® is a registered trademark of Kyushu Sangyo University (February 2025).

1. 'Museum Bathing®' Research Advancing in Europe and the US

Museum Bathing® is an initiative, similar to 'forest bathing,' to feel healing through museum visits and connect it to promoting mental and physical health, with research progressing in Europe and elsewhere. For example, King's College London is undertaking a large-scale national research project 'SHAPER,' funded by the Wellcome Trust, aimed at exploring the effectiveness and scalability of arts-based interventions for mental health in the South/East London area. This project is implemented by a team of clinicians, researchers, charities, artists, and university health professionals, with three arts intervention programs focusing on perinatal mental health, Parkinson's disease, and stroke, expecting 800 citizen participants. Furthermore, this project aims to expand the scope of 'social prescriptions' for National Health Service organizations and clinical leaders, enabling them to regularly 'prescribe' evidence-based arts interventions, making it a national-level initiative.

In Japan, specially appointed Professor Izumi Ogata of Kyushu Sangyo University, as the proposer of 'Museum Bathing®,' is conducting demonstration experiments nationwide. Physiological measurements (blood pressure and heart rate) and psychological measurements (POMS) are taken before and after museum visits to investigate changes in mental and physical states. To date, 111 locations nationwide have hosted experiments, collecting data from 1,850 people (as of March 2026).

Verification of Relaxation Effects by Museum Bathing. Izumi Ogata. 2021. Journal of Regional Co-creation Vol. 6 https://kyusan-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2001346 (Accessed April 17, 2026).

2. Experiment Overview

As part of the 'Museum Bathing®' research, which utilizes the relaxing effects of museums through museum visits for people's health promotion and disease prevention, a demonstration experiment was conducted jointly with Minamiaso Luna Observatory under the supervision of Kyushu Sangyo University (Fukuoka Prefecture, Specially Appointed Professor Izumi Ogata).

3. Experiment Details and Viewing Session Content

① Theme: Do public observatory viewing sessions have relaxing effects?

② Research Representative: Izumi Ogata (Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Regional Co-creation, Kyushu Sangyo University)

③ Date and Time: September 9, 2025 (Tuesday) 17:00-21:30

④ Location: Genkimura / Minamiaso Luna Observatory

⑤ Participants: 7 people (all female, 50s to 70s)

⑥ Measurement Method: Psychological measurement (POMS), Physiological measurement (blood pressure, pulse). Conducted twice, before and after the viewing session.

⑦ Before viewing session: Measurements taken after an explanation of 'Museum Bathing®' at Genkimura.

After viewing session: Measurements taken after experiencing a 30-minute viewing session with explanations by a 'Star Concierge®' at the observatory.

⑧ Viewing Session Overview

・Commentator: Yasumitsu Miyashita (Astrophysicist, Star Concierge®)

・Observation Theme: Experience the cosmic distance scale

・Explanation Technique: 2.5th generation explanation technique (discovery learning type, as defined by the Public Observatory Association of Japan's Public Program WG)

・Target Celestial Bodies: Vega, Albireo, M13

・Location: Minamiaso Luna Observatory First Observation Room

・Duration: 30 minutes

・Observation Session Progress: A typical viewing session in slightly cloudy weather (proceeded with ingenuity, incorporating visual materials such as astronomical photographs, providing multiple observation opportunities according to the weather, and ultimately all participants were able to observe celestial bodies).

*Star Concierge® is a registered trademark of Luna Inc.

Appearance of the demonstration experiment