Yokohama Sunrise and Sunset Times by Month
Yokohama’s span of sunlight swings wide across the year. The longest stretch arrives at the June solstice: 14 hours and 33 minutes. The shortest, at the December solstice, lasts only 9 hours and 46 minutes. The table below fixes those extremes, plus the equinoxes, in JST (UTC+9). Japan does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset never shifts.
| Date | Event | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 March | March equinox | 05:46 | 17:52 | 12 h 6 min |
| 21 June | June solstice | 04:26 | 18:59 | 14 h 33 min |
| 22 September | September equinox | 05:28 | 17:40 | 12 h 12 min |
| 21 December | December solstice | 06:46 | 16:32 | 9 h 46 min |
Neither equinox delivers exactly 12 hours of light. The March equinox clocks 12 h 6 min; September gives 12 h 12 min. The reason is twofold: sunrise is measured from the upper limb of the sun, not its centre, and the atmosphere bends sunlight upward by roughly 0.5 degrees.
Daylight Hours Across the Seasons
The gap between Yokohama’s longest and shortest day is 4 hours and 47 minutes.
- Spring (March, May): Sunlight lengthens from 12 h 6 min to roughly 14 h. The fastest daily gain happens in March and early April, about two minutes per day.
- Summer (June, August): Peak sunlight holds at 14 h 33 min on the June solstice. By late August, the total has slipped to around 13 h.
- Autumn (September, November): Light contracts from 12 h 12 min at the equinox to roughly 10 h by late November.
- Winter (December, February): The floor is 9 h 46 min. By late February, the daily total has climbed back to about 11 h 20 min.
Summer and Winter Solstices in Yokohama
Summer solstice (21 June 2026): Sunrise at 04:26, sunset at 18:59. This is the earliest sunrise of the year.
Winter solstice (21 December 2026): Sunrise at 06:46, sunset at 16:32. This is the latest sunrise of the year.
Golden Hour and Twilight Times
Golden hour runs roughly one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. In June, that means 04:26 to 05:26 in the morning and 17:59 to 18:59 in the evening. In December, morning golden hour is 06:46 to 07:46 and evening is 15:32 to 16:32.
Three grades of twilight matter for photographers and anyone working outdoors.
- Civil twilight: Sun 0 to 6° below the horizon. Enough light to read. In Yokohama, civil twilight starts about 30 minutes before sunrise and lingers about 30 minutes after sunset.
- Nautical twilight: Sun 6 to 12° below the horizon. The horizon stays visible at sea. Useful for deep-blue sky shots.
- Astronomical twilight: Sun 12 to 18° below the horizon. True darkness. Stars appear in full.
How Yokohama’s Eastern Position Affects Solar Time
Yokohama sits at 139.65° east longitude. Japan Standard Time is pegged to the 135° east meridian, which runs near Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture. Because Yokohama is 4.65° east of that line, its solar noon arrives about 18 minutes before clock noon.
Solar noon in Yokohama is roughly 11:42 JST, not 12:00. Two consequences follow.
Sunrise and sunset feel early to anyone arriving from the western edge of a time zone. A visitor from London will find Yokohama’s sun up and down roughly an hour sooner than expected.
The equation of time (the wobble caused by Earth’s elliptical orbit) adds another ±15 minutes of variation across the year. In early November, solar noon can drift as late as 11:48 JST. In mid-February, it can pull as early as 11:36 JST.
Together, these two effects shift sunrise and sunset in ways latitude alone cannot predict.
Best Times for Photography and Sightseeing
Morning golden hour works best from April through September, when the sun rises over Tokyo Bay. Evening golden hour shines from October through March, when the sun sets behind the Minato Mirai skyline.
For the illuminated skyline, aim for civil twilight. In June, that window is 19:00 to 19:30. In December, it is 16:30 to 17:00.
Winter sightseeing runs on a shorter clock. After 16:00, when the light fades, pivot to indoor attractions: museums, Landmark Plaza, or the Red Brick Warehouse.
Seasonal Daylight and Daily Rhythm
Summer: Early light pushes some work starts earlier. Construction sites often begin at 07:00 to 08:00 to beat the afternoon heat. Convenience stores and supermarkets stick to their standard schedules, many of them 24 hours. See Yokohama Business Hours & Lunch Culture 2026 for details.
Winter: Later sunrises and shorter daylight squeeze outdoor work and tourism. The port of Yokohama operates around the clock, but outdoor attractions often trim their hours. The Yokohama Seasonal Guide covers seasonal activities in more depth.