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Rule Golden Hour

Kyoto - Golden Hour - Japan

Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

That magical warm light just after sunrise or before sunset

Currently

Real-time conditions
Low Cloud Cover3%
Mid Cloud Cover98%
High Cloud Cover100%
Sun Elevation-33.6° (Astronomical night)

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
Kyoto
Today · 17:06–17:57 · 1h window
High confidence
76%
🌇Golden Hour Potential96%
Low Cloud Cover: 4%
Mid Cloud Cover: 54%
High Cloud Cover: 0%
Sun Elevation: 7.3° (Daylight)
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Kyoto
Tomorrow · 06:23–07:14
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunrise
Kyoto
Thu, Feb 19 · 06:22–07:13
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour at Sunrise
Kyoto
Fri, Feb 20 · 06:21–07:11
🌇Golden Hour Potential:95.7-100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Kyoto
Fri, Feb 20 · 17:10–18:00
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunrise
Kyoto
Sat, Feb 21 · 06:20–07:10
🌇Golden Hour Potential:100%
Medium
golden-hour weather icon
Exceptional Golden Hour (calm) at Sunset
Kyoto
Sat, Feb 21 · 17:11–18:01
🌇Golden Hour Potential:98.1-99.1%
Medium
+1 more windows in the next 10 days

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 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
Mon, Feb 16
04:0011%0%21811m
05:0011%0%24134m
06:0064%0%21493m
07:0080%0%24134m
08:0011%0%24135m
09:0011%0%24134m
10:0014%0%24135m
11:0017%0%24134m
12:0012%0%24134m
13:009.6%0%24134m
14:008.6%0%24134m
15:009.6%0%24134m
16:008.5%0%23495m
17:0051%0%24134m
18:0053%0%24135m
19:009.9%0%24134m
20:0017%0%24135m
21:0017%0%24134m
22:009.3%0.3%24134m
23:0012%0.61%24135m
Tue, Feb 17
24:0010%0.91%24135m
01:0010%0.61%24135m
02:0010%0.3%24134m
03:009.7%0%24135m
04:009.7%0%24134m
05:0011%0%24134m
06:0070%0%24135m
07:0058%0%24134m
08:0012%0%24134m
09:0017%0%24135m
10:0017%0%24135m
11:0016%0%24134m
12:0017%0%24135m
13:0017%0%24135m
14:0017%0%24134m
15:0018%0%24135m
16:0018%0%24134m
17:0096%0%24135m
18:00100%0%24134m
19:0017%0%24134m
20:0017%0%24135m
21:0017%0%24134m
22:0017%0%24134m
23:0017%0%24135m
Wed, Feb 18
24:0017%0%24134m
01:0017%0%24134m
02:0018%0%24135m
03:0019%0%24135m
04:0017%0%24134m
05:0017%0%24134m
06:00100%0%24135m
07:00100%0%24135m
08:0017%0%24135m
09:0017%0%24135m
10:0017%13%24134m
11:0016%26%24135m
12:0016%39%24135m
13:0016%53%24135m
14:0010%68%24135m
15:0010%82%24135m
16:0017%73%24135m
17:0099%63%20357m
18:00100%54%24135m
19:008.3%54%6084m
20:0013%55%18922m
21:0016%56%18438m
22:0013%37%9463m
23:0016%19%18431m
Thu, Feb 19
24:0017%0%24135m
01:0016%0%24135m
02:0016%0%24134m
03:0016%0%24135m
04:0017%0%24134m
05:0018%0%24135m
06:00100%0%24135m
07:00100%0%24134m
08:0017%0%24135m
09:0016%0%24134m
10:0018%0%24134m
11:0018%0%24135m
12:0017%0%24135m
13:0014%0%24135m
14:0011%0%24135m
15:0011%0%24135m
16:0011%0%24135m
17:0067%0%24135m
18:0067%0%24135m
19:0011%0%24135m
20:0012%0%24135m
21:0012%0%24135m
22:0012%0%24135m
23:0014%0%24135m
Fri, Feb 20
24:0018%0%24135m
01:0019%0%24135m
02:0019%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
Tue, Feb 17 Sunrise 06:41 Sunset 17:39
04:00
- 100% 3% 98% 57% 100% 2.7m/s
05:00
- 100% 3% 69% 58% 100% 2.8m/s
06:00
- 9% 4% 100% 59% 100% 2.7m/s
07:00
- 94% 5% 100% 60% 100% 2.3m/s
08:00
- 0% 5% 87% 56% 87% 2.4m/s
09:00
- 0% 4% 4% 50% 5% 2.5m/s
10:00
- 0% 4% 0% 46% 4% 2.1m/s
11:00
- 0% 3% 0% 41% 3% 1.6m/s
12:00
- 0% 3% 0% 38% 3% 1.3m/s
13:00
- 0% 4% 0% 36% 4% 0.96m/s
14:00
- 0% 4% 0% 35% 4% 0.6m/s
15:00
- 0% 4% 9% 35% 9% 0.93m/s
16:00
- 0% 4% 36% 36% 36% 1.7m/s
17:00
- 0% 4% 54% 42% 54% 2.3m/s
18:00
- 0% 2% 0% 51% 2% 2.7m/s
19:00
- 0% 0% 0% 56% 0% 2.4m/s
20:00
- 0% 0% 0% 58% 0% 1.8m/s
21:00
- 0% 0% 0% 60% 0% 1.5m/s
22:00
- 0% 0% 0% 60% 0% 1.4m/s
23:00
- 0% 0% 0% 60% 0% 1.4m/s
Wed, Feb 18 Sunrise 06:40 Sunset 17:40
24:00
- 0% 0% 0% 61% 0% 1.2m/s
01:00
- 0% 0% 0% 62% 0% 1m/s
02:00
- 12% 0% 6% 62% 12% 1.1m/s
03:00
- 4% 0% 35% 62% 35% 0.99m/s
04:00
- 0% 0% 0% 62% 0% 0.94m/s
05:00
- 0% 0% 0% 63% 0% 0.9m/s
06:00
- 0% 0% 0% 64% 0% 0.97m/s
07:00
- 0% 0% 0% 64% 0% 0.92m/s
08:00
- 0% 4% 0% 59% 4% 0.81m/s
09:00
- 0% 0% 0% 54% 0% 1.3m/s
10:00
- 0% 4% 0% 48% 4% 2.1m/s
11:00
- 0% 4% 0% 42% 4% 3m/s
12:00
- 0% 5% 0% 37% 5% 4.6m/s
13:00
- 0% 49% 0% 36% 49% 5m/s
14:00
- 0% 100% 0% 30% 100% 4.9m/s
15:00
- 0% 100% 0% 31% 100% 6.1m/s
16:00
- 0% 13% 0% 48% 13% 6.7m/s
17:00
- 0% 21% 0% 63% 21% 6.9m/s
18:00
- 0% 9% 0% 69% 9% 5m/s
19:00
- 0% 96% 0% 82% 96% 4.6m/s
20:00
- 0% 59% 0% 74% 59% 5.9m/s
21:00
- 0% 35% 0% 75% 35% 6.3m/s
22:00
- 0% 56% 0% 77% 56% 5.9m/s
23:00
- 0% 31% 0% 74% 31% 6m/s
Thu, Feb 19 Sunrise 06:39 Sunset 17:41
24:00
- 0% 16% 0% 53% 16% 5.6m/s
01:00
- 0% 5% 0% 49% 5% 6.2m/s
02:00
- 0% 5% 0% 50% 5% 5.9m/s
03:00
- 0% 5% 0% 50% 5% 5.7m/s
04:00
- 0% 8% 0% 51% 8% 5.3m/s
05:00
- 0% 9% 0% 52% 9% 5.1m/s
06:00
- 0% 12% 0% 53% 12% 5m/s
07:00
- 0% 11% 0% 54% 11% 4.6m/s
08:00
- 0% 6% 0% 51% 6% 4.9m/s
09:00
- 0% 5% 0% 45% 5% 5.7m/s
10:00
- 17% 3% 0% 47% 21% 4.6m/s
11:00
- 35% 2% 0% 48% 36% 3.4m/s
12:00
- 52% 0% 0% 49% 52% 2.3m/s
13:00
- 68% 0% 18% 51% 68% 1.8m/s
14:00
- 84% 0% 37% 52% 84% 1.4m/s
15:00
- 100% 0% 55% 54% 100% 0.95m/s
16:00
- 81% 0% 70% 55% 100% 0.75m/s
17:00
- 62% 0% 85% 57% 100% 0.55m/s
18:00
- 42% 0% 100% 59% 100% 0.35m/s
19:00
- 28% 0% 100% 60% 100% 0.42m/s
20:00
- 14% 0% 100% 61% 100% 0.49m/s
21:00
- 0% 0% 100% 62% 100% 0.56m/s
22:00
- 0% 0% 82% 63% 82% 0.59m/s
23:00
- 0% 0% 63% 63% 63% 0.62m/s
Fri, Feb 20 Sunrise 06:38 Sunset 17:42
24:00
- 0% 0% 45% 63% 45% 0.65m/s
01:00
- 0% 0% 30% 57% 30% 0.73m/s
02:00
- 0% 0% 15% 50% 15% 0.82m/s
03:00
- 0% 0% 0% 43% 0% 0.9m/s
How to read: these inputs help produce the derived score; they are not requirements by themselves.

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