Opened in Showa 1964, this rotating observatory was subsequently remodeled in 1988. A single rotation takes 13 minutes, during which time you can enjoy a 360°panoramic view without ever leaving your seat. From the observatory, you can see Ogata Village, Japan’s largest manmade landmass, which was created by reclaiming land (draining the water) from Hachirogata Lagoon, formerly one of the largest lakes in Japan and second only to Lake Biwa. The reclamation began in 1957 and was completed in 1977.