What time does the sun rise and set in Japan across the seasons?

See typical sunrise and sunset times for Tokyo, Hokkaido and Kyushu through the year, and learn how to plan sightseeing and photography around daylight.

Published October 21, 2026 at 8:39 AM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: In Tokyo, sunrise is around 4:25 am in late June and about 6:50 am in late December and early January, while sunset runs from roughly 4:30 pm in winter to about 7:00 pm in summer. Eastern Japan sees earlier sunrises than the south and west, and Japan does not use daylight saving time.

The short answer for Tokyo

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) publishes a yearly sunrise and sunset table for Tokyo. Its 2026 table lists sunrise at 6:51 am and sunset at 4:38 pm on January 1. By June 21 the sun rises at 4:25 am and sets at 7:00 pm. On December 21, sunrise is at 6:46 am and sunset at 4:31 pm, so winter days are short and summer days start very early.

These times mark the moment the upper edge of the sun meets the horizon, in Japan Standard Time. Times for the same date usually differ by only a minute or so from year to year, so the 2026 figures are a useful guide, but check the official table for the exact day of your trip.

The late-June sunrise surprises many first-time visitors. A day that begins before 4:30 am can feel strange, yet it means quiet streets and soft light for early walks. At the other end of the year, the sun sets before 4:40 pm, so the lights of the city come on well before dinner.

How the times change through the year

In Tokyo the NAOJ table shows sunrise around 6:42 am by the end of January, 6:11 am on March 1 and 5:30 am by March 31. Sunset on those dates is about 5:07 pm, 5:36 pm and 6:02 pm. Around the spring equinox on March 20 and 21, the sun rises at about 5:45 am and sets near 5:52 pm.

From June to July, the days are longest, with sunrise at about 4:27 am on June 1 and 4:28 am on June 30, and sunset around 6:51 pm on June 1 and 7:01 pm at the end of the month. Sunrise then gets later each week through autumn and winter, with sunset reaching its earliest around 4:28 pm in early December.

A simple way to remember the pattern for Tokyo is: winter sunrise near 6:50 am and sunset near 4:30 pm, spring and autumn sunrise near 5:30 to 6:00 am, and summer sunrise near 4:30 am with sunset near 7:00 pm. Treat these as approximate and check the exact table for your dates.

Differences across the country

Japan stretches far from northeast to southwest, and the sun rises earlier in the east. NAOJ's table for Nemuro, on the eastern tip of Hokkaido, shows sunrise at 3:40 am on June 1 and 3:37 am on June 21, with sunset around 6:51 to 7:02 pm. That is roughly 45 minutes earlier than Tokyo in June.

In Kagoshima in southern Kyushu, June sunrise is around 5:14 am and sunset around 7:18 to 7:27 pm, and in December sunrise is about 6:59 to 7:17 am with sunset around 5:14 to 5:24 pm. The south has later sunrises and later sunsets than Tokyo, and the winter days are slightly longer. Check the table for your exact city.

Because the clock covers the whole country with one time zone, places in the far east see the sun rise earlier by the clock and set earlier too. Travelers moving from Hokkaido to Kyushu in one trip may notice that the day feels shifted, even though the clocks are identical.

Planning sightseeing around daylight

Early summer mornings are bright by 4:30 am in the Tokyo area, which suits sunrise photography, early temple visits and hikes, but many attractions open later. Opening hours are set by each site, so check the official page for current details. In winter, sunset near 4:30 pm means outdoor sightseeing, gardens and viewpoints are best planned for the morning and early afternoon.

For hiking, the shorter winter days are the main issue. Starting early and aiming to be off the trail well before sunset is a sensible habit, and a headlamp is a useful backup. Mountain areas lose light earlier than open flat land because ridgelines block the sun.

Evening activities such as night views, illuminations and festivals depend on darkness. In summer, the sky does not turn dark until after 7 pm, so these events start later in the evening, and in winter the lights may be on before 5 pm. Check the event or venue page for the schedule.

Who should think about this most

Photographers will want to look up sunrise and sunset times for the specific location and plan "golden hour," the time just after sunrise or before sunset, around them. Families with young children may find the early summer light disrupts sleep, so blackout curtains or an eye mask can help. Older travelers may prefer to schedule longer walks in the late morning.

Travelers coming from places that use daylight saving time should know that Japan does not, and the NAOJ tables say they do not take daylight saving time into account. Clocks stay on Japan Standard Time all year, which makes the numbers consistent across seasons.

Common mistakes

A frequent mistake is assuming that evenings stay light until 9 pm in summer. In Tokyo, sunset peaks near 7:00 pm, and twilight follows for a short while. Another is planning a late afternoon outdoor activity in December without checking that the sun sets around 4:30 pm.

Some visitors also expect the same times in Hokkaido and Okinawa as in Tokyo. The difference between east and west is large enough that sunrise in eastern Hokkaido is much earlier than in Kyushu. Cloud and mountains can also make it darker than the table suggests, so allow a margin.

One more point: sunrise and sunset times are for a flat horizon. In valleys, near tall buildings or beneath mountains, the sun may appear later or disappear sooner, so photographers and hikers should add a margin for the local terrain.

Practical next steps

Look up the table for your destination on the NAOJ website, note sunrise and sunset for the days you will be there, and schedule outdoor highlights for daylight hours. Add a margin of 30 minutes before sunset for travel back from viewpoints.

Confirm current opening hours and last-entry times on each venue's official page. This guide shares general information, not professional advice; for health concerns, talk with a doctor or local clinic. Tables are published each year, so use the one for your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Japan use daylight saving time?

No. The NAOJ tables are given in Japan Standard Time without daylight saving adjustment, and clocks stay the same throughout the year. Visitors from countries with seasonal clock changes should expect the early summer sunrise and not an hour shift.

When is sunset earliest in Tokyo?

According to NAOJ's 2026 table, sunset is around 4:28 pm in early December, including December 1 and 7. Winter days are short, so plan outdoor sightseeing for earlier in the day.

Where can travelers find exact sunrise times for a city?

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan publishes monthly tables by prefecture on its calendar computation site. The pages are in Japanese, but the numbers are easy to read, with sunrise and sunset in 24-hour time.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book 99 Things Japan Does Better Than Anyone Else is available on Amazon.

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More guides from Tokyo Paul: When is the rainy season in Japan?, Do I Need to Book Tokyo Observation Deck Tickets in Advance? and Japan Standard Time: One Time Zone, No Daylight Saving and the Akashi Meridian.