Like The Photo

Diamond Fuji at Mount Takao

Short answer: Next Diamond Fuji from Mount Takao: Thu 17 December 2026 at 16:12 (sunset). In the next 12 months: 17 December 2026 (16:12), 18 December 2026 (16:13), 19 December 2026 (16:13), 20 December 2026 (16:13), 21 December 2026 (16:14), 22 December 2026 (16:14), 23 December 2026 (16:15), 24 December 2026 (16:16), 25 December 2026 (16:16), 26 December 2026 (16:17).

The summit of Mount Takao, an hour from central Tokyo, looks 55 km south-west to Fuji. Around the winter solstice the sun sets onto the summit.

Sat 7 November 2026 · summit at 238.0° bearing, 3.09° up, 55 km away

No Diamond Fuji

The sun sets 9.6° to the right of the summit at 16:25; not a Diamond Fuji day. Next Diamond Fuji from here: Thu 17 December 2026 at 16:12.

Moonset over Fuji at 14:59, 13.9° to the right of the summit (moon 4% lit).

Diamond Fuji days (next 12 months)

DateTimePosition
Sat 12 Dec 202616:11 sunset0.8° to the right of the summit
Sun 13 Dec 202616:11 sunset0.7° to the right of the summit
Mon 14 Dec 202616:11 sunset0.6° to the right of the summit
Tue 15 Dec 202616:12 sunset0.5° to the right of the summit
Wed 16 Dec 202616:12 sunset0.4° to the right of the summit
Thu 17 Dec 202616:12 sunsetOn the summit
Fri 18 Dec 202616:13 sunsetOn the summit
Sat 19 Dec 202616:13 sunsetOn the summit
Sun 20 Dec 202616:13 sunsetOn the summit
Mon 21 Dec 202616:14 sunsetOn the summit
Tue 22 Dec 202616:14 sunsetOn the summit
Wed 23 Dec 202616:15 sunsetOn the summit
Thu 24 Dec 202616:16 sunsetOn the summit
Fri 25 Dec 202616:16 sunsetOn the summit
Sat 26 Dec 202616:17 sunsetOn the summit
Sun 27 Dec 202616:17 sunset0.4° to the right of the summit
Mon 28 Dec 202616:18 sunset0.5° to the right of the summit
Tue 29 Dec 202616:19 sunset0.6° to the right of the summit
Wed 30 Dec 202616:19 sunset0.7° to the right of the summit
Thu 31 Dec 202616:20 sunset0.8° to the right of the summit

Pearl Fuji: the moon on the summit

DateTimePositionMoon lit
Thu 20 May 202703:34 moonsetOn the summit (Pearl Fuji)99%
Tue 25 May 202707:50 moonsetOn the summit (Pearl Fuji)82%
Mon 9 Aug 202722:05 moonset0.6° to the right of the summit53%
Sun 15 Aug 202702:22 moonsetOn the summit (Pearl Fuji)94%

Plan it

Take the last cable car or chairlift times into account for the walk down after sunset, or bring a torch. The summit is crowded on solstice weekends.

Odds of a clear view of Fuji by month

Tours and tickets

Questions

When is Diamond Fuji at Mount Takao?

Next Diamond Fuji from Mount Takao: Thu 17 December 2026 at 16:12 (sunset). In the next 12 months: 17 December 2026 (16:12), 18 December 2026 (16:13), 19 December 2026 (16:13), 20 December 2026 (16:13), 21 December 2026 (16:14), 22 December 2026 (16:14), 23 December 2026 (16:15), 24 December 2026 (16:16), 25 December 2026 (16:16), 26 December 2026 (16:17). The sun is close to the summit for a day or two either side; see the full table.

What time does Diamond Fuji happen at Mount Takao?

It is a sunset event: the sun sets onto the summit, a little before the official sunset because the mountain is higher than the horizon. On 17 December 2026 it is at 16:12.

When is Pearl Fuji at Mount Takao?

With a moon at least half lit on the summit: 20 May 2027 (03:34, 99% lit), 25 May 2027 (07:50, 82% lit), 15 August 2027 (02:22, 94% lit).

What are the chances of seeing it?

Fuji has to be clear of cloud on the horizon side. Winter mornings and evenings are clearest; from June to August Fuji is hidden more often than not. See our clear-view odds for Mount Fuji.

How do you calculate it?

For each spot we work out the direction of Fuji's summit and how high it appears above the horizon, allowing for the curve of the Earth and normal refraction. Then, for every day, we find the moment the sun (or moon) sinks to, or rises from, that height and measure how far left or right of the summit it is. Within about 0.4° the sun's disc sits on the summit: that is a Diamond Fuji. Pearl Fuji is the same with a moon at least half lit.

Summit bearing 238.0°, apparent height 3.09°, distance 55 km. Times are Japan time. Moving a few hundred metres along the shore shifts the best day by a day or so.