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Rule Golden Hour

Hakone - Golden Hour - Japan

Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover2%
Mid Cloud Cover0%
High Cloud Cover48%
Sun Elevation53.3° (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 Sunrise
Hakone
Sat, Apr 11 · 05:01–05:50 · 1h window
Medium confidence
58%
🌇Golden Hour Potential90.3%
Low Cloud Cover: 50%
Mid Cloud Cover: 2%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: -4.3° (Civil twilight)
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunset
Hakone
Sat, Apr 11 · 17:39–18:00
🌇Golden Hour Potential:87.6%
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
5matching hours in the next 92 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
13:0018%0%24134m
14:0018%0%24134m
15:0018%0%24135m
16:0017%0%24135m
17:0097%0%24134m
18:0099%0%24135m
19:0016%0%24134m
20:0016%0%24135m
21:0016%0%24134m
22:0016%0%24135m
23:0017%0%24134m
Thu, Apr 9
24:0011%0%24135m
01:0016%0%24135m
02:0016%0%24134m
03:0016%0%24135m
04:0016%0%24135m
05:0097%0%24134m
06:0053%0%24134m
07:0017%0%24135m
08:0017%0%24135m
09:0017%0%24135m
10:0016%1.2%24134m
11:0011%2.3%24135m
12:0011%3.5%24135m
13:009%25%24135m
14:007.9%47%24134m
15:007.8%69%24134m
16:008.2%76%24134m
17:0048%84%24135m
18:0050%92%24134m
19:008%94%24135m
20:007.4%96%10607m
21:007.4%98%20297m
22:004.6%98%2989m
23:004.4%98%1762m
Fri, Apr 10
24:003.6%98%303m
01:003.6%99%175m
02:003.6%99%151m
03:003.6%100%216m
04:003.6%100%233m
05:0022%100%243m
06:0012%100%325m
07:003.6%100%496m
08:003.6%100%490m
09:003.6%100%200m
10:003.6%100%138m
11:003.2%100%207m
12:003.2%100%478m
13:003.2%100%350m
14:003.6%100%244m
15:003.2%100%715m
16:003.2%100%921m
17:0026%100%1718m
18:0029%100%1553m
19:004.6%100%308m
20:005.6%100%132m
21:004.6%100%76m
22:005.6%67%88m
23:007%33%3433m
Sat, Apr 11
24:005.2%0%215m
01:007.3%0%1551m
02:009.9%0%12266m
03:0012%0%24135m
04:0015%0%11908m
05:0090%0%24134m
06:0050%0%24135m
07:0015%0%24134m
08:0017%0%24135m
09:0018%0%24134m
10:0017%0%24134m
11:0017%0%24134m
12:0016%0%24135m
13:0016%0%24135m
14:0016%0%24135m
15:0016%0%24135m
16:0019%0%24135m
17:0088%0%24135m
18:0065%0%24135m
19:0010%0%18052m
20:009.6%0%11968m
21:007.2%0%5885m
22:008.2%1.6%6014m
23:008.2%3.3%6142m
Sun, Apr 12
24:008.2%4.9%6271m
01:008.2%3.3%12226m
02:009.1%1.6%18180m
03:008.9%0%24135m
04:0010%0%24135m
05:0069%0%24135m
06:0013%0%24135m
07:0017%0%24135m
08:0019%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
Thu, Apr 9 Sunrise 05:19 Sunset 18:11
10:00
- 48% 2% 0% 56% 48% 5.9m/s
11:00
- 100% 3% 0% 52% 100% 5.8m/s
12:00
- 100% 1% 12% 52% 100% 6.4m/s
13:00
- 50% 2% 95% 54% 95% 6.9m/s
14:00
- 100% 1% 89% 57% 100% 7.3m/s
15:00
- 100% 3% 100% 62% 100% 7.1m/s
16:00
- 100% 0% 100% 68% 100% 6m/s
17:00
- 100% 0% 96% 73% 100% 5.7m/s
18:00
- 100% 4% 100% 76% 100% 5m/s
19:00
- 100% 99% 100% 79% 100% 4.7m/s
20:00
- 100% 100% 100% 86% 100% 3.9m/s
21:00
- 100% 97% 100% 92% 100% 3.7m/s
22:00
- 100% 100% 100% 94% 100% 3.1m/s
23:00
- 61% 100% 100% 96% 100% 2.9m/s
Fri, Apr 10 Sunrise 05:19 Sunset 18:11
24:00
- 100% 99% 97% 97% 100% 2.7m/s
01:00
- 100% 100% 100% 98% 100% 2.7m/s
02:00
- 100% 98% 100% 98% 100% 2.4m/s
03:00
- 100% 97% 98% 98% 100% 2.6m/s
04:00
- 100% 99% 99% 98% 100% 2.4m/s
05:00
- 100% 100% 92% 98% 100% 1.7m/s
06:00
- 100% 100% 20% 99% 100% 1.7m/s
07:00
- 100% 100% 40% 98% 100% 1.6m/s
08:00
- 100% 100% 71% 99% 100% 1.7m/s
09:00
- 100% 100% 24% 99% 100% 1.7m/s
10:00
- 100% 100% 27% 99% 100% 2.3m/s
11:00
- 100% 100% 98% 98% 100% 2.9m/s
12:00
- 100% 100% 100% 98% 100% 2.9m/s
13:00
- 99% 100% 78% 98% 100% 2.8m/s
14:00
- 100% 100% 76% 99% 100% 2.4m/s
15:00
- 100% 100% 100% 98% 100% 3.6m/s
16:00
- 100% 99% 100% 97% 100% 3.5m/s
17:00
- 100% 100% 100% 98% 100% 3m/s
18:00
- 100% 100% 88% 98% 100% 2.5m/s
19:00
- 22% 100% 7% 98% 100% 2m/s
20:00
- 0% 100% 5% 99% 100% 2.4m/s
21:00
- 0% 100% 29% 98% 100% 2.7m/s
22:00
- 1% 80% 0% 98% 80% 2.8m/s
23:00
- 15% 81% 0% 96% 81% 3.6m/s
Sat, Apr 11 Sunrise 05:17 Sunset 18:11
24:00
- 5% 92% 0% 98% 92% 3.4m/s
01:00
- 5% 79% 0% 97% 79% 3.3m/s
02:00
- 5% 76% 0% 96% 76% 3.2m/s
03:00
- 1% 68% 4% 94% 68% 2.6m/s
04:00
- 0% 45% 0% 91% 45% 2.8m/s
05:00
- 0% 50% 2% 92% 50% 2.6m/s
06:00
- 2% 51% 4% 89% 51% 2.8m/s
07:00
- 2% 53% 0% 87% 53% 2.6m/s
08:00
- 4% 42% 0% 83% 42% 2.4m/s
09:00
- 5% 9% 0% 77% 9% 1.6m/s
10:00
- 0% 0% 0% 67% 0% 1.6m/s
11:00
- 0% 0% 0% 58% 0% 2.1m/s
12:00
- 0% 0% 0% 50% 0% 2.9m/s
13:00
- 0% 0% 0% 47% 0% 2.9m/s
14:00
- 0% 0% 0% 42% 0% 2.7m/s
15:00
- 0% 0% 0% 39% 0% 2.1m/s
16:00
- 2% 28% 0% 52% 28% 2.3m/s
17:00
- 5% 56% 0% 65% 56% 2.4m/s
18:00
- 7% 84% 0% 79% 84% 2.6m/s
19:00
- 13% 89% 0% 84% 89% 2.5m/s
20:00
- 19% 95% 0% 89% 95% 2.4m/s
21:00
- 24% 100% 0% 95% 100% 2.2m/s
22:00
- 20% 100% 0% 94% 100% 2.1m/s
23:00
- 16% 100% 0% 94% 100% 2.1m/s
Sun, Apr 12 Sunrise 05:16 Sunset 18:12
24:00
- 12% 100% 0% 93% 100% 2m/s
01:00
- 41% 95% 0% 90% 100% 1.7m/s
02:00
- 71% 90% 0% 88% 100% 1.5m/s
03:00
- 100% 85% 0% 85% 100% 1.2m/s
04:00
- 69% 82% 0% 80% 92% 1.1m/s
05:00
- 38% 79% 0% 75% 84% 0.91m/s
06:00
- 7% 76% 0% 70% 76% 0.75m/s
07:00
- 5% 51% 0% 67% 51% 0.8m/s
08:00
- 2% 27% 0% 63% 27% 0.86m/s
09:00
- 0% 3% 0% 59% 3% 0.91m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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