Longest and shortest day in Kyoto
In Kyoto, Japan, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 31m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 48m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:01 | 18:08 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:43 | 19:14 | 14h 31m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:44 | 17:54 | 12h 10m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:00 | 16:48 | 9h 48m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:04 | 17:07 | 10h 3m |
| February | 06:43 | 17:38 | 10h 55m |
| March | 06:08 | 18:03 | 11h 55m |
| April | 05:25 | 18:28 | 13h 3m |
| May | 04:53 | 18:53 | 13h 59m |
| June | 04:42 | 19:12 | 14h 30m |
| July | 04:53 | 19:11 | 14h 18m |
| August | 05:16 | 18:45 | 13h 29m |
| September | 05:39 | 18:04 | 12h 25m |
| October | 06:02 | 17:22 | 11h 20m |
| November | 06:30 | 16:51 | 10h 21m |
| December | 06:57 | 16:46 | 9h 49m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Kyoto
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Kyoto leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Kyoto sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Kyoto
When is the longest day in Kyoto?
The longest day in Kyoto falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 31m of daylight, sunrise at 04:43 and sunset at 19:14.
When is the shortest day in Kyoto?
The shortest day in Kyoto falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 48m of daylight, sunrise at 07:00 and sunset at 16:48.
How much does day length change through the year in Kyoto?
Between the longest and shortest day, Kyoto gains and loses about 4h 43m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Kyoto's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.