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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 Cover0%
Mid Cloud Cover1%
High Cloud Cover6%
Sun Elevation48.7° (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 (calm) at Sunset
Biei
Tue, Apr 14 · 18:00–18:30 · 1h window
Medium confidence
62%
🌇Golden Hour Potential99.9%
Low Cloud Cover: 0%
Mid Cloud Cover: 0%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: 1.6° (Golden hour)
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunrise
Biei
Wed, Apr 15 · 04:29–05:26
🌇Golden Hour Potential:98.5-98.8%
Medium

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
2matching hours in the next 91 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
Wed, Apr 8
14:0016%0%24134m
15:0015%0%24135m
16:0016%0%24135m
17:0093%0%24134m
18:0097%0%24135m
19:0016%0%24134m
20:0017%0%24135m
21:0017%0%24134m
22:0017%0%24134m
23:0018%0%24134m
Thu, Apr 9
24:0017%0%24135m
01:0017%0%24135m
02:0016%0%24134m
03:009.7%0%24135m
04:0068%0%24135m
05:0046%0%24134m
06:0015%0%24134m
07:0016%0%24135m
08:0016%0%24135m
09:0016%0%24135m
10:0016%0%24134m
11:0011%0%24135m
12:009.5%0%24135m
13:008.5%0%24135m
14:008.5%0%24134m
15:008.4%0%24134m
16:008.4%13%24134m
17:0052%26%24135m
18:0052%39%24134m
19:008.5%45%24135m
20:008.4%50%24135m
21:007.9%56%24135m
22:008.8%56%24135m
23:0017%56%24134m
Fri, Apr 10
24:0017%56%24135m
01:0014%59%24134m
02:008.8%61%24134m
03:0010%64%24135m
04:0053%43%24135m
05:0047%21%24134m
06:007.9%0%24134m
07:008.4%24%24135m
08:008.5%48%24134m
09:009.9%72%24135m
10:0011%81%24134m
11:009.3%90%24134m
12:009.3%100%24135m
13:009.3%100%24134m
14:008.9%100%24134m
15:008.7%100%24135m
16:008.6%94%24134m
17:0050%89%24134m
18:0045%84%10830m
19:0025%86%15131m
20:005.9%88%6373m
21:006.4%90%5443m
22:0014%79%24134m
23:009%67%24134m
Sat, Apr 11
24:0012%56%24134m
01:009.9%58%24134m
02:0010%60%24135m
03:009.2%62%19942m
04:0053%69%19881m
05:0055%76%24134m
06:008.4%84%19931m
07:009%88%20048m
08:004.4%93%639m
09:008.4%97%19893m
10:004.8%96%808m
11:009.3%94%19929m
12:009.4%92%19944m
13:007.4%94%14213m
14:003.2%96%372m
15:002.8%98%100m
16:002.4%98%82m
17:0014%98%63m
18:0011%98%45m
19:005.9%98%42m
20:001.8%99%39m
21:001.8%99%36m
22:001.8%99%163m
23:001.8%98%290m
Sun, Apr 12
24:002.8%98%417m
01:004%98%1176m
02:004.4%99%1936m
03:005.7%100%2695m
04:0044%98%7874m
05:0051%96%13053m
06:008.9%94%18232m
07:009.2%95%19304m
08:009.3%95%20376m
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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 04:57 Sunset 18:05
10:00
- 6% 0% 1% 62% 6% 6.3m/s
11:00
- 80% 22% 1% 60% 80% 6.6m/s
12:00
- 84% 77% 16% 60% 84% 6.8m/s
13:00
- 96% 53% 44% 61% 96% 6.4m/s
14:00
- 100% 52% 100% 60% 100% 6.2m/s
15:00
- 100% 38% 100% 61% 100% 6.3m/s
16:00
- 100% 40% 100% 64% 100% 5.7m/s
17:00
- 100% 14% 100% 69% 100% 4.4m/s
18:00
- 100% 0% 100% 75% 100% 3.6m/s
19:00
- 100% 3% 100% 78% 100% 3.4m/s
20:00
- 100% 4% 100% 79% 100% 3.8m/s
21:00
- 100% 5% 100% 82% 100% 4.2m/s
22:00
- 30% 5% 96% 84% 96% 4.4m/s
23:00
- 33% 6% 13% 87% 33% 4.1m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 04:57 Sunset 18:05
24:00
- 1% 24% 5% 90% 24% 3.4m/s
01:00
- 0% 45% 32% 90% 45% 3m/s
02:00
- 5% 64% 83% 90% 83% 3.2m/s
03:00
- 12% 71% 46% 89% 74% 3m/s
04:00
- 5% 100% 15% 88% 100% 2.8m/s
05:00
- 100% 100% 32% 88% 100% 3m/s
06:00
- 100% 100% 5% 89% 100% 3m/s
07:00
- 100% 100% 5% 87% 100% 2.6m/s
08:00
- 100% 100% 5% 85% 100% 2.5m/s
09:00
- 100% 31% 5% 78% 100% 2.5m/s
10:00
- 100% 9% 14% 66% 100% 2.7m/s
11:00
- 100% 73% 100% 59% 100% 3.6m/s
12:00
- 100% 22% 77% 60% 100% 3.5m/s
13:00
- 100% 23% 100% 57% 100% 3.6m/s
14:00
- 100% 22% 100% 59% 100% 4.6m/s
15:00
- 100% 100% 100% 66% 100% 5m/s
16:00
- 100% 100% 100% 77% 100% 3.9m/s
17:00
- 100% 100% 100% 81% 100% 3.4m/s
18:00
- 100% 100% 100% 85% 100% 3.1m/s
19:00
- 100% 100% 100% 86% 100% 3.8m/s
20:00
- 100% 100% 100% 88% 100% 4.3m/s
21:00
- 28% 100% 100% 88% 100% 3.2m/s
22:00
- 2% 52% 42% 88% 52% 2.4m/s
23:00
- 0% 100% 27% 87% 100% 3.2m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 04:55 Sunset 18:06
24:00
- 0% 71% 0% 87% 71% 3.9m/s
01:00
- 0% 100% 0% 88% 100% 3.8m/s
02:00
- 0% 100% 0% 87% 100% 3.7m/s
03:00
- 0% 100% 0% 90% 100% 4.6m/s
04:00
- 0% 92% 0% 93% 92% 5m/s
05:00
- 0% 100% 0% 86% 100% 6.8m/s
06:00
- 0% 100% 0% 91% 100% 6.6m/s
07:00
- 0% 100% 0% 90% 100% 6.3m/s
08:00
- 0% 100% 4% 93% 100% 6.6m/s
09:00
- 0% 100% 0% 91% 100% 5.8m/s
10:00
- 0% 100% 0% 92% 100% 5.3m/s
11:00
- 0% 100% 0% 88% 100% 5.1m/s
12:00
- 0% 100% 0% 87% 100% 4.7m/s
13:00
- 0% 100% 26% 90% 100% 4.3m/s
14:00
- 0% 100% 100% 96% 100% 3m/s
15:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 5.6m/s
16:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 6m/s
17:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 6.5m/s
18:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 7m/s
19:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 7.4m/s
20:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 7.8m/s
21:00
- 0% 100% 100% 98% 100% 8.3m/s
22:00
- 0% 100% 91% 97% 100% 7.9m/s
23:00
- 0% 100% 82% 96% 100% 7.6m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 04:53 Sunset 18:07
24:00
- 0% 100% 73% 94% 100% 7.2m/s
01:00
- 0% 100% 50% 92% 100% 7.2m/s
02:00
- 0% 100% 26% 90% 100% 7.2m/s
03:00
- 0% 100% 2% 88% 100% 7.3m/s
04:00
- 0% 100% 1% 83% 100% 7.7m/s
05:00
- 0% 100% 1% 77% 100% 8.1m/s
06:00
- 0% 100% 0% 72% 100% 8.6m/s
07:00
- 0% 98% 0% 73% 98% 7.9m/s
08:00
- 0% 96% 0% 75% 96% 7.3m/s
09:00
- 0% 94% 0% 76% 94% 6.6m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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