Moon Phases Visible from Tokyo

From Tokyo at latitude 35.7°, the moon's appearance follows the same 29.53-day synodic cycle visible worldwide — all 8 phases from New Moon through Full Moon and back. However, Tokyo's mid-latitude latitude affects the moon's maximum altitude in the sky. The moon can reach up to 82.9° altitude when crossing the meridian near summer solstice, and only 25.7° near winter solstice. This seasonal variation determines how high the moon appears above Tokyo's horizon and affects lunar photography planning.

Just 60 km west of Tokyo's skyline, the Okutama region offers Bortle 3-4 skies where the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye on clear nights. This proximity to genuine dark skies in one of the world's largest metropolitan areas is vanishingly rare — actively promoted by NAOJ's Mitaka Campus through public stargazing programs.

Moonrise & Moonset Times at Tokyo

The moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day as seen from Tokyo. This daily delay occurs because the moon orbits Earth eastward at about 1 km/s, moving roughly 13° per day against the background stars. At Tokyo's latitude (35.7°), the moon's rise and set positions along the horizon shift seasonally — rising further north in summer and further south in winter. MoonSync calculates exact moonrise and moonset times for Tokyo using real-time ephemeris data.

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Mitaka, Tokyo, has been tracking celestial objects since 1878, making it one of Asia's oldest continuous astronomical institutions. Its 20-cm refractor discovered the asteroid 'Tokyo' in 1918, and its solar tower telescope still monitors sunspot activity daily from the heart of the metropolis.

Moon Illumination & Tokyo's Dark-Sky Planning

For stargazing and astrophotography in Tokyo, moon illumination percentage is the critical number. A Full Moon (100% illuminated) washes out all but the brightest stars and makes deep-sky observation nearly impossible. The 7 days around New Moon (0-15% illumination) provide the best dark-sky window. At 35.7° latitude, combine moon phase with the Twilight Calculator to find nights when both astronomical darkness and minimal moonlight coincide — these 'astrophotographer's golden hours' occur roughly once per month at Tokyo.

Lunar Data Accuracy for Tokyo

MoonSync computes moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and lunar age for Tokyo using real-time ephemeris data. Phase illumination is accurate to ±1%. Moonrise and moonset times are calculated from Tokyo's precise coordinates (35.7°, 139.7°) and corrected for atmospheric refraction. The Keplerian orbital model used achieves timing accuracy of approximately ±30 minutes over a synodic month. For sub-minute lunar event timing, consult the USNO Phases of the Moon data service.