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Rule Golden Hour

Biei - Golden Hour - Japan

Biei, Hokkaido, Japan

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover67%
Mid Cloud Cover0%
High Cloud Cover0%
Sun Elevation35.7° (Daylight)

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Asia/Tokyo
golden-hour weather icon
Next opportunity
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunset
Biei
Wed, Feb 25 · 17:00–17:31 · 1h window
Medium confidence
69%
🌇Golden Hour Potential100%
Low Cloud Cover: 32%
Mid Cloud Cover: 2%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: 1.8° (Golden hour)

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast tracks the atmospheric conditions that create Japan's most iconic photography—from Mount Fuji's morning light to Kyoto's misty bamboo groves. We combine fog probability, visibility, and weather data to predict optimal conditions.

Japan offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, where ancient temples, bamboo forests, and the perfect symmetry of Mount Fuji create compositions steeped in meaning. The country's changing seasons each bring distinct photography opportunities.

What makes Japan special for photography:

  • Mount Fuji - Japan's iconic peak is best photographed at dawn with clear skies and lake reflections
  • Temple landscapes - Kyoto's gardens and pagodas offer contemplative compositions
  • Seasonal drama - Cherry blossoms (March-April) and autumn colors (November) transform the landscape
  • Atmospheric depth - Fog and mist add mystery to bamboo groves and mountain scenes

Mount Fuji clarity is best in autumn and winter when air is clearest. Spring brings cherry blossoms but also more clouds. Lake Kawaguchiko offers classic reflections, while Chureito Pagoda provides the iconic framed view. Arrive well before dawn for the best light—popular spots fill quickly.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
1matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
Asia/Tokyo
Golden Hour
Any
Golden Hour Potential
≥ 80.0%
Precipitation Chance
≤ 5.0%
Visibility
≥ 1000.0m
Sun, Feb 22
10:003.2%0%55m
11:003.2%0%30m
12:003.2%0%27m
13:003.2%0%35m
14:003.2%0%40m
15:003.2%0%79m
16:0030%0%4620m
17:0050%0%24134m
18:0028%0%24135m
19:008.6%13%24135m
20:008.5%26%24135m
21:007.9%39%24134m
22:007.7%59%24135m
23:0014%80%20249m
Mon, Feb 23
24:0015%100%20029m
01:006%100%887m
02:009%100%16667m
03:004.4%100%240m
04:009.5%94%706m
05:0042%88%7498m
06:0011%82%95m
07:0047%85%24134m
08:006.8%89%3799m
09:0016%93%20289m
10:006.4%74%3079m
11:008.1%56%3289m
12:007.1%38%4290m
13:0011%48%14207m
14:0011%58%11721m
15:009.1%69%8802m
16:0053%77%7364m
17:0031%85%245m
18:0027%93%1239m
19:0011%95%8707m
20:0016%97%24135m
21:0017%99%24135m
22:0017%93%24134m
23:0017%87%24128m
Tue, Feb 24
24:006.8%82%1922m
01:0011%85%20305m
02:0011%88%5141m
03:0012%92%21368m
04:007%82%2478m
05:0088%73%21196m
06:0060%64%21200m
07:0033%66%24124m
08:0010%69%24128m
09:0011%72%24125m
10:009.8%61%22360m
11:008.8%50%23236m
12:008.8%39%23263m
13:008.8%33%24135m
14:008.9%28%24135m
15:0011%22%24135m
16:0057%31%24135m
17:0056%41%24135m
18:0030%50%24135m
19:008.8%67%24134m
20:008.8%83%24135m
21:008.8%100%24135m
22:008.7%80%24135m
23:009.7%59%24135m
Wed, Feb 25
24:009.6%39%24134m
01:009.7%31%24134m
02:0011%24%24134m
03:0011%17%24134m
04:0013%24%24135m
05:00100%32%24135m
06:0094%39%24134m
07:0051%33%24134m
08:0017%28%24135m
09:0017%22%24134m
10:0017%15%24135m
11:0016%7.4%24135m
12:0016%0%24134m
13:0018%0%24135m
14:0012%0%24134m
15:0011%0%24135m
16:0080%0%24135m
17:00100%0%24135m
18:0051%0%24135m
19:0016%0%24135m
20:0016%0%24135m
21:0016%0%24135m
22:0016%0%24135m
23:0011%0%24135m
Thu, Feb 26
24:008.7%0%24135m
01:008.8%0%24135m
02:009%0%24135m
03:008.7%0%24135m
04:008.5%0%24135m
05:0050%0%24135m
06:0048%0%24135m
07:0027%0%24135m
08:008.3%0%24135m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

What does Golden Hour Potential mean?

Inputs that drive the score

This derived score summarizes multiple raw weather signals. The table below shows the supporting inputs hour by hour, so you can see what's pushing the score up or down.

Time
Asia/Tokyo
Golden Hour
High Clouds
%
Low Clouds
%
Mid-Level Clouds
%
Relative Humidity
%
Total Cloud Coverage
%
Wind Speed
m/s
Mon, Feb 23 Sunrise 06:15 Sunset 17:10
11:00
- 0% 67% 0% 80% 67% 8.6m/s
12:00
- 0% 98% 0% 72% 98% 7.7m/s
13:00
- 0% 68% 0% 68% 68% 7.1m/s
14:00
- 0% 66% 0% 72% 66% 6.3m/s
15:00
- 0% 87% 0% 76% 87% 5.3m/s
16:00
- 0% 98% 0% 81% 98% 4.1m/s
17:00
- 0% 99% 0% 90% 99% 3m/s
18:00
- 0% 74% 0% 85% 74% 3.2m/s
19:00
- 0% 71% 0% 80% 71% 3.8m/s
20:00
- 0% 22% 23% 86% 37% 3.9m/s
21:00
- 0% 31% 0% 74% 31% 4.3m/s
22:00
- 0% 29% 0% 76% 29% 4.6m/s
23:00
- 0% 31% 0% 82% 31% 3.6m/s
Tue, Feb 24 Sunrise 06:15 Sunset 17:10
24:00
- 0% 93% 0% 92% 93% 2.5m/s
01:00
- 0% 70% 0% 90% 70% 2.2m/s
02:00
- 0% 62% 0% 92% 62% 2.3m/s
03:00
- 0% 63% 0% 87% 63% 2.9m/s
04:00
- 0% 95% 0% 91% 95% 2.6m/s
05:00
- 0% 54% 5% 85% 54% 3.1m/s
06:00
- 0% 91% 5% 86% 91% 3.1m/s
07:00
- 0% 85% 5% 85% 85% 3.3m/s
08:00
- 0% 92% 4% 80% 92% 4m/s
09:00
- 0% 98% 1% 71% 98% 4.8m/s
10:00
- 76% 100% 1% 64% 100% 4.8m/s
11:00
- 100% 100% 100% 62% 100% 5.1m/s
12:00
- 100% 99% 100% 63% 100% 4.9m/s
13:00
- 100% 98% 100% 61% 100% 4.5m/s
14:00
- 44% 86% 100% 60% 100% 4.2m/s
15:00
- 14% 5% 100% 63% 100% 3.6m/s
16:00
- 100% 1% 100% 70% 100% 2.3m/s
17:00
- 100% 0% 100% 77% 100% 0.39m/s
18:00
- 100% 0% 100% 80% 100% 1.3m/s
19:00
- 100% 0% 100% 80% 100% 1.6m/s
20:00
- 100% 0% 100% 80% 100% 1.7m/s
21:00
- 100% 0% 100% 81% 100% 1.8m/s
22:00
- 100% 4% 94% 82% 100% 1.8m/s
23:00
- 100% 4% 56% 82% 100% 1.8m/s
Wed, Feb 25 Sunrise 06:14 Sunset 17:11
24:00
- 100% 4% 18% 82% 100% 2.1m/s
01:00
- 100% 2% 56% 82% 100% 2m/s
02:00
- 100% 2% 18% 82% 100% 1.8m/s
03:00
- 100% 2% 2% 82% 100% 1.9m/s
04:00
- 65% 2% 0% 82% 65% 1.8m/s
05:00
- 7% 1% 0% 82% 8% 1.9m/s
06:00
- 0% 1% 0% 82% 1% 2.1m/s
07:00
- 2% 1% 0% 81% 4% 1.9m/s
08:00
- 0% 0% 0% 72% 0% 0.79m/s
09:00
- 0% 0% 0% 70% 0% 1.2m/s
10:00
- 0% 0% 0% 69% 0% 1.1m/s
11:00
- 0% 0% 0% 69% 0% 1.6m/s
12:00
- 0% 3% 0% 69% 3% 1.6m/s
13:00
- 0% 10% 0% 68% 10% 1.8m/s
14:00
- 0% 91% 0% 68% 91% 1.9m/s
15:00
- 0% 93% 0% 71% 93% 3m/s
16:00
- 0% 63% 1% 74% 63% 2.6m/s
17:00
- 0% 32% 2% 77% 33% 2.3m/s
18:00
- 0% 1% 3% 80% 3% 2m/s
19:00
- 2% 2% 2% 80% 3% 2.1m/s
20:00
- 3% 2% 1% 80% 4% 2.3m/s
21:00
- 5% 2% 0% 80% 5% 2.4m/s
22:00
- 35% 2% 33% 81% 37% 2.3m/s
23:00
- 65% 2% 67% 82% 68% 2.2m/s
Thu, Feb 26 Sunrise 06:12 Sunset 17:12
24:00
- 96% 2% 100% 82% 100% 2.1m/s
01:00
- 97% 2% 100% 80% 100% 2.4m/s
02:00
- 99% 1% 100% 77% 100% 2.7m/s
03:00
- 100% 0% 100% 75% 100% 3.1m/s
04:00
- 100% 1% 100% 78% 100% 3.5m/s
05:00
- 100% 3% 100% 82% 100% 3.8m/s
06:00
- 100% 4% 100% 86% 100% 4.2m/s
07:00
- 100% 3% 98% 84% 100% 4.1m/s
08:00
- 100% 3% 95% 82% 100% 3.9m/s
09:00
- 100% 2% 93% 80% 100% 3.8m/s
10:00
- 73% 3% 62% 82% 73% 3.5m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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