Japan's first sunrise of 2026 lit up the country on Thursday morning. Clear skies in Tokyo offered views of Mt. Fuji bathed in sunlight from Taito Ward. In Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, devastated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake's tsunami and nuclear accident, the sun rose around 7 a.m.
On January 1, 2026, Thursday morning brought Japan's first sunrise of the year across the nation. In Tokyo, clear skies allowed residents in Taito Ward to witness Mt. Fuji glowing in the early sunlight, a classic New Year's sight that delighted onlookers.
In Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, the sun emerged around 7 a.m. This town was ravaged by the tsunami and nuclear disaster from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and the sunrise marked a fresh start amid ongoing recovery efforts. For locals, it symbolized renewal in a place still healing from profound loss.
Such scenes amplified the festive mood of the New Year celebrations throughout Japan. The first sunrise has long been viewed as a harbinger of good fortune and rebirth, drawing crowds to shrines and temples nationwide.
