Sunrise & Sunset — Daily Reference (JST, UTC+9)
Osaka (Apr 8–14)
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden Hour (PM) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8 (Tue) | 5:52 AM | 6:24 PM | ~5:24–6:24 PM | Arrival day; first full evening |
| Apr 9 (Wed) | 5:51 AM | 6:25 PM | ~5:25–6:25 PM | |
| Apr 10 (Thu) | 5:49 AM | 6:26 PM | ~5:26–6:26 PM | |
| Apr 11 (Fri) | 5:48 AM | 6:27 PM | ~5:27–6:27 PM | |
| Apr 12 (Sat) | 5:47 AM | 6:27 PM | ~5:27–6:27 PM | |
| Apr 13 (Sun) | 5:45 AM | 6:28 PM | ~5:28–6:28 PM | USJ day |
| Apr 14 (Mon) | 5:44 AM | 6:29 PM | ~5:29–6:29 PM | Shinkansen to Tokyo at 13:06 |
Kyoto note: Nearly identical to Osaka (~1 min earlier sunset). Use Osaka figures for all Kyoto planning — the difference is negligible.
Tokyo (Apr 15–19)
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden Hour (PM) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15 (Wed) | 5:13 AM | 6:22 PM | ~5:43–6:22 PM | Arrival day in Tokyo |
| Apr 16 (Thu) | 5:12 AM | 6:23 PM | ~5:53–6:23 PM | |
| Apr 17 (Fri) | 5:11 AM | 6:24 PM | ~5:54–6:24 PM | |
| Apr 18 (Sat) | 5:10 AM | 6:24 PM | ~5:54–6:24 PM | |
| Apr 19 (Sun) | 5:09 AM | 6:25 PM | ~5:55–6:25 PM | Last full day in Tokyo |
Golden hour window: Approximately 40 minutes before sunset. Quality light fades fast after sunset in April.
Photography Timing Notes
Morning light:
- Best shooting window is before 8:00 AM, ideally within 30 minutes of sunrise
- Pre-sunrise (30 min before) is often the clearest light of the day — less haze, no harsh shadows
- Sites to prioritize for early morning: Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Dotonbori, Senso-ji, Shibuya Crossing
Afternoon golden hour:
- Starts ~40–60 min before sunset; quality degrades quickly after sun drops
- In Osaka/Kyoto: ~5:20–6:30 PM window; in Tokyo: ~5:40–6:25 PM window
- Sites to target at golden hour: Odaiba waterfront, Shibuya Crossing, Yasaka Shrine west gate, Dotonbori canal
Overcast days:
- Flat, diffused light is ideal for: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, temple interiors (where allowed), market alleys (Nishiki, Kuromon), forested shrine paths
- Harsh sun is worst for: moss gardens (reflective glare), dark temple wood, bamboo (contrast blows out)
Shinkansen Fuji window:
- Apr 8 (Nozomi 55, Shinagawa → Shin-Osaka): Look right (north) side, ~17:44 around Shin-Fuji
- Apr 14 (Nozomi 22, Shin-Osaka → Tokyo): Look left (south) side, ~14:50 around Shin-Fuji; afternoon sun angle favorable from this direction
Key Uses
- Dotonbori at dawn — pre-sunrise neon still lit, canal reflections, empty streets (~5:30 AM start)
- Kyoto early temple visits — Fushimi Inari before 7 AM; Arashiyama before 7:30 AM; Ginkaku-ji at opening (8:30 AM)
- Golden hour city scenes — Odaiba waterfront at 5:40 PM, Shibuya at 5:30–6:00 PM
- Fuji visibility on Shinkansen — best in morning and early afternoon; clouds build by mid-afternoon
- Nijo Castle illumination — festival runs 6:00–10:00 PM; moat reflections best in first hour (6–7 PM)
- TeamLab Planets — evening sessions (after 8 PM) less crowded; 9 AM opening also works
Notes
- Morning light in April is often cleaner and less hazy than afternoon
- Clouds tend to build later in the day — Fuji visibility peaks morning and mid-morning
- Early starts consistently deliver better photography and fewer crowds
- In cherry blossom season, overcast light often renders petals more accurately than harsh sunlight