Mount Fuji at dawn (Red Fuji): what time does it glow at sunrise?
Short answer: 7 Nov 2026: First light on Mount Fuji at 06:05; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:33. Be at Lake Kawaguchi or Lake Yamanaka by 05:35.
At dawn the first sun turns Fuji's summit pink and red ("Akafuji"), most strongly in late summer and autumn when there is little snow. It is the scene of Hokusai's famous print.
Sat 7 November 2026
First light 06:05
First light on Mount Fuji at 06:05; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:33. Be at Lake Kawaguchi or Lake Yamanaka by 05:35.
| 05:35 | Arrive at Lake Kawaguchi or Lake Yamanaka |
| 06:05 | First light: the very top turns red |
| 06:14 | Sunrise on a flat horizon here (the valley stays in shade longer) |
| 06:33 | Glow fades to gold, then white |
Plan it
The north shore of Lake Kawaguchi gives the reflection on calm mornings. Fuji is hidden by cloud on most summer mornings; see the clear-view odds. The glow needs a clear sky towards the east as well as over the peak.
Through the year
| 15th of | First light | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| January | 06:46 | 06:46–07:16 |
| February | 06:25 | 06:25–06:53 |
| March | 05:50 | 05:50–06:17 |
| April | 05:07 | 05:07–05:34 |
| May | 04:34 | 04:34–05:03 |
| June | 04:22 | 04:22–04:52 |
| July | 04:33 | 04:33–05:03 |
| August | 04:57 | 04:57–05:25 |
| September | 05:21 | 05:21–05:47 |
| October | 05:44 | 05:44–06:11 |
| November | 06:13 | 06:13–06:41 |
| December | 06:39 | 06:39–07:09 |
Mount Fuji at dawn by month
Questions
What time is the sunrise glow on Mount Fuji?
7 Nov 2026: First light on Mount Fuji at 06:05; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 06:33. Be at Lake Kawaguchi or Lake Yamanaka by 05:35. The time moves through the year; pick your date above.
How much earlier does Mount Fuji catch the sun than the valley?
About 9 minutes before a sunrise on a flat horizon at Lake Kawaguchi or Lake Yamanaka, and the valley itself stays in the mountains' shadow for longer.
Which month has the earliest and latest first light?
January 06:46, February 06:25, March 05:50, April 05:07, May 04:34, June 04:22, July 04:33, August 04:57, September 05:21, October 05:44, November 06:13, December 06:39 (15th of each month).
How is this calculated?
A summit high above its surroundings looks down on its own horizon, so it sees the sun before anything below it. For each date we find the moment the sun's upper edge clears the skyline as seen from the summit (allowing for the dip of the horizon, refraction and higher ridges nearby). The red, then orange, then gold glow lasts until the sun is about 5° higher. Expect the real moment within about 5 minutes.
Summit 3,776 m. Times are local (Asia/Tokyo).