Konica Minolta Planetaria TOKYO (Yurakucho, Tokyo; operated by Konica Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd.; President: 本由美子), an entertainment planetarium facility, is bringing back its program Stars and Scary Myths: Scary Paintings × Planetarium starting Friday, October 2, 2026. The program uncovers the truly frightening Greek myths behind the constellations through the lens of famous paintings.
First shown in 2022, the program was a major hit that sold out day after day. Enjoy a beautiful starry sky paired with beautiful paintings, all under the full supervision of Kyoko Nakano, author of the best-selling Scary Paintings, who explains the fear hidden within famous artworks.
Stars and Scary Myths: Scary Paintings × Planetarium Official Website
How Cruel
Greek mythology is, in fact, a treasure trove of grim and frightening episodes. Its many stories, frightening yet full of love and hatred, have long fired the imaginations of painters throughout history, giving rise to numerous masterpieces.
This program introduces the stories hidden within the figures depicted in these famous paintings and the beautiful constellations overhead.
Learning the truly frightening stories behind the constellations, most of which originate in Greek mythology, may change the way the night sky you always look up at appears to you.
It's a planetarium program that immerses you in the world of stars and paintings, stirring your intellectual curiosity.
A Collaboration Between the Best-Selling Scary Paintings and the Planetarium
Supervision and commentary for the program are handled by Kyoko Nakano, author of the best-selling Scary Paintings series. Her Scary Paintings exhibition drew more than 680,000 visitors, with lines forming day after day, and became a social phenomenon.
In the program, she unravels the mysteries behind a hand-picked selection of paintings tied to "scary myths" together with MC Mitz Mangrove.
And reading Nakano's own frightening yet elegant narration is the accomplished voice actress Mami Koyama.
Don't miss this unusual collaboration, staged against a backdrop of a beautiful starry sky.
The Frightening Stories Hidden in Beautiful Paintings
Masterpiece after masterpiece appears on a screen that wraps entirely around the walls, turning the dome into something like an art museum.
Inside this museum, the program carefully unravels the frightening stories hidden within beautiful paintings.
The stories told span from ancient times to the present, featuring the all-powerful god Zeus and the hero Heracles, whose tales have long influenced later culture in fields from astronomy to literature and film. They also feature renowned paintings such as Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, a defining work of the Renaissance; figures that nearly everyone has heard of at least once; and the frightening episodes hidden within these famous paintings that everyone knows. Inside this museum, many visitors will likely find themselves unable to resist the pull of wanting to see something scary.
Enjoy this planetarium's own blend of beauty and fear, woven together from scary myths and scary paintings.
Stars and Scary Myths: Scary Paintings × Planetarium — Overview
Screening period: From Friday, October 2, 2026
Screening location: Konica Minolta Planetaria TOKYO (Yurakucho), DOME1
Running time: Approx. 40 minutes
Official website: https://planetarium.konicaminolta.jp/program/kowai_shinwa/?hall=planetariatokyo&rl=260904_ptok_hoshikowa
Please check the official website for the latest running time and information.
Ticket Sales
Online ticket sales
Starting at 12:00 PM (noon) on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, tickets for screenings from October 2 (Fri) through October 31 (Sat) will go on sale all at once on the official website. After that, tickets for the following month will go on sale all at once from the 15th of each month.
Tickets go on sale simultaneously for both Starry Members (Konica Minolta Planetarium's membership service) and non-members.
Tickets can be purchased up until 15 minutes before each screening begins.
Same-day tickets at the box office
Same-day tickets go on sale from 10:00 AM on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, and from 10:30 AM on weekdays.
If a screening sells out online, no same-day tickets will be sold at the box office.
Sales end at the screening's start time. During busy periods, tickets may sell out even for those who are already in line.
Profiles
Supervision and commentary: Kyoko Nakano
Author and scholar of German literature. Special supervisor of the 2017 "Scary Paintings" exhibition. Supervised Shueisha's art collection Art Gallery. Drawing on extensive knowledge of Western history and art, she has published numerous painting essays and books on Western history. Her works include the Scary Paintings series (Kadokawa Bunko), 「名画の謎 ギリシャ神話篇」(Bunshun Bunko), the 「名画で読み解く 王家12の物語」series (Kobunsha Shinsho), 「美貌のひと１・２」(PHP Shinsho), and 「旅から生まれた名画」(Shueisha), among others.
Author's blog: 花つむひとの部屋
https://ameblo.jp/hanatumi2006/
MC: Mitz Mangrove
Debuted as a drag queen in 2000 and has since been active across a wide range of entertainment work.
As a singer and TV personality, active in numerous fields including writing columns and hosting TV programs.
With the vocal group Hoshikuzu Scat (星屑スキャット), formed in 2005 by three cross-dressing singers, tours nationwide and holds a Christmas dinner show every winter.
Narration: Mami Koyama
Born January 17. From Aichi Prefecture.
In 1974, she was cast in the lead role of the NHK Radio Arts Festival participating work 「16歳のかくれんぼ」(screenplay by 山田正弘), and the same year made her full debut as an actress with a regular role in the NHK youth drama 「キヨコは泣くもんか！」
She has appeared in numerous popular titles including Dr. Slump: Arale-chan and Detective Conan, and is also active as a narrator for programs such as TBS's Hodo Tokushu and TV Asahi's Potsun to Ikkenya.
Konica Minolta Planetaria TOKYO (Yurakucho)
Name: Konica Minolta Planetaria TOKYO
Address: Yurakucho Mullion, 9th floor, 2-5-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Open: Year-round (closed only during program changeover periods)
Hours: Weekdays 10:30 AM to 9:15 PM / Weekends and holidays 10:00 AM to 9:45 PM
