One thing you should really try at the start of the New Year is watching the first sunrise.
When you see the first sunrise, you naturally feel thankful, without needing any reasons.
Because Kyoto City is inland, you can usually see the first sunrise from a mountain top or a mountain slope.
Among those places, we will introduce three first-sunrise spots in Kyoto that are relatively easy to reach.

The first sunrise seen from Kyoto

Why is the first sunrise considered lucky?

The sunrise on January 1, the day the New Year begins, is specially called the “first sunrise.”
In Japan, watching the first sunrise is seen as a happy and lucky thing, and it has been done for a long time, not only in Kyoto.
It is said that this custom became more popular especially after the Meiji era.

In fact, a culture that treats the first sunrise as something special is not common worldwide.
Of course, it is not a culture unique only to Japan, but countries where expensive flight tours to see the first sunrise are popular, like in Japan, are rare.

There are many ideas about why people in Japan value the first sunrise.
Japan’s flag is the “sun disc,” the name “Japan” can mean “the origin of the sun,” and in Japanese myths, Amaterasu Omikami, a central deity, is a sun goddess. Because of this, sun worship has been strong in Japan since long ago.
So, valuing the first sunrise is likely closely related to sun worship.
Seeing the first sunrise of the new year can be understood, without complicated reasons, as a simple expression of that sun worship.

Conditions for a first-sunrise viewing spot

Places where you can see the first sunrise need the right land shape.
Because the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, you can watch the first sunrise from a place with an open view to the east.
In Kyoto, Kyoto Nishiyama, which opens to the Kyoto Basin on the east side, and Higashiyama, which opens to the Yamashina Basin on the east side, are first-sunrise spots. Also, Mount Hiei, where Lake Biwa spreads out to the east, is another spot.

Three first-sunrise spots in Kyoto

① The first sunrise seen from “Nishiyama Gosho” — Yoshimine-dera Temple

A first-sunrise report from Yoshimine-dera Temple

Below is a report from when I went to Yoshimine-dera Temple to see the first sunrise on January 1, 2013.

Waiting for the first sunrise

Yoshimine-dera Temple has a large temple grounds, and the most popular viewing point is in front of the Shaka Hall, where you can enjoy a grand view of the Kyoto Basin.
Many people gather there to watch the first sunrise.
A bit higher up, the Yakushi Hall is also a popular spot with a good view of the first sunrise.

There are no clouds in the way, so we can expect a beautiful first sunrise.
The weather this year is great, so it looks like you can see the first sunrise in many places around Kyoto.

The first sunrise of 2013

After waiting for a while.
There it is! The first sunrise!
The year 2013 has begun.

By the way, “sunrise” means the moment when the sun becomes visible from the horizon, even just a little.
This is exactly the moment of the first sunrise.

Take your time and watch as the sun gradually illuminates the Kyoto Basin moment by moment.
At Yoshimine-dera Temple, which sits at a higher elevation, you can enjoy the year’s first sunrise a little earlier than in the Kyoto Basin.

②The first sunrise at “Higashiyama Summit Park,” which you can reach by car

The direction of the first sunrise seen from Higashiyama Summit Park

Higashiyama Sanjo Park, located right above Maruyama Park, is a popular first-sunrise spot that you can also access by car.

At Higashiyama Summit Park, the open viewpoint on the Yamashina side is the first-sunrise spot.
Because it is popular, many people gather there, so you can find it easily.
We wait for the first sunrise here.

As the first sunrise gets closer, it is gradually getting brighter.
Below the viewing spot, the Yamashina Basin spreads out.
The embankment in the front is the JR Biwako Line, and in the middle, the buildings of the Yamashina housing complex stand out.

After waiting 9 more minutes,
we saw the sun! It was the first sunrise of 2019!

Fourteen minutes after the official sunrise time, we finally reached the sunrise.

The sun quickly grows larger and shines like a jewel.

At Higashiyama Summit Park, many people have gathered to watch the first sunrise.
Just like I didn’t meet anyone on the shortest hiking path, most people came by car to see the first sunrise.
Also, quite a few tough people rode up by bicycle to watch it.
The parking lot at Higashiyama Summit Park is full, and cars are even parked spilling out onto the driveway.

When I look north, I can see Mount Hiei (848 m).
Near the top is covered in white, and it looks very cold.
The lowest temperature in Kyoto City is 0.6°C, a bit low. Even so, at Higashiyama Summit Park it is probably only around 0°C, maybe not below zero, but Mount Hiei is likely extremely cold, around -5°C.

We move to the Shogunzuka viewpoint, where you can see the west side.
The Kyoto Basin is quickly colored by the first sunrise.
The moment of sunrise is great, but the scene of the town slowly lighting up like this is also the best.
Many people leave right after the sunrise moment, but I recommend enduring the cold for about 30 more minutes to enjoy the view.

③The first sunrise seen from “Funaokayama (Kenkun Shrine)” in Kyoto City

A first-sunrise report from Funaokayama (Kenkun Shrine)

From Kuramaguchi Subway Station to Funaokayama

The eastern sky is getting more and more colorful. Unfortunately, the eastern sky is covered with clouds, so the first sunrise of 2023 is not in the best conditions.
The mountain on the left in front is Mount Daimonji (465 m). It is not very clear yet, but you can see the “Daimonji” fire bed for the bonfire event a little down to the left of the summit.

After waiting a bit longer, sunlight came through gaps in the clouds.
We probably reached the first sunrise of 2023. However, unfortunately, the clouds blocked it, so we could not see a perfect sunrise.

And finally, the sun showed itself. It was the first sunrise of 2023.
Even though we saw it from behind the clouds, it was still moving.

The sun that appeared from behind the clouds quickly grew larger.
Even though there are quite a few clouds, it is still a beautiful first sunrise, just as good as ever.

In no time, we could see the whole sun.

It lit up the streets of Kyoto, one after another, as the New Year began.

Conclusion

The first sunrise you want to see at the start of the year.

Climbing up on your own is nice, but in the end, a first-sunrise spot you can reach by car is easier.
In that case, a taxi is very convenient.
In the mountains, the road may be frozen, and if you are not confident about driving, a taxi feels safer.

Let’s start 2026 with the first sunrise!

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