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Nucleic acids that change their properties upon photo-irradiation could be powerful materials for molecular sensing with high spatiotemporal resolution. Recently, we reported a photo-isomeric nucleoside bearing azobenzene at the C5 position of 2'-deoxyuridine (dUAz), whose hybridization ability could be reversibly controlled by the appropriate wavelength of light. In this paper, we synthesized and evaluated dUAz analogues that have various para-substitutions on the azobenzene moiety. Spectroscopic measurements and HPLC analyses revealed that the para-substitutions of the azobenzene moiety strongly affect the photo-isomerization ability and thermal stability of the cis-form. The results suggest that proper substitution of the azobenzene moiety can improve the properties of dUAz as a light-responsive nucleic acid probe.