LightChance (beta)
LoginStart free

Photo locations · Kyoto · Japan

Kiyomizu-dera Terrace: sunrise photography forecast

Kiyomizu-dera’s terrace looks across a wooded hillside toward Kyoto, with the pagoda and city changing position as you move through the temple route. It is a public temple visit first and a tripod location second.

Sunset todaySunset tomorrowSunset Wednesday

Will tomorrow's sunrise be worth it?

Simplified forecast from the open model run. The full forecast — a second model, your exact viewpoint, the hourly cloud timeline — is in the app.

Global model, about 13 km: less certain than in Europe.

in 23h 22m

Blocked grey lid

Ends

in 23h 57m

Diffused muted light · even light for details & forests

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunrise

Light corridor: blocked

Why: Thick cloud along the sun's path is likely to stop the low light.

  • Light path: blocked (58% blocking cloud at the ray's height)
  • Sun: likely hidden. Low cloud fills the horizon (55%); the sun will probably stay behind it.
Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity11% cover — too thin to draw as cloud10% cover — too thin to draw as cloud17% cover — too thin to draw as cloud17% cover — too thin to draw as cloudConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 45–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 74–74% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 33–33% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 20–20% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 45–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 74–74% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 49–49% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 66–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 74–74% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 0–100% cover · 45–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 74–74% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 70–70% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 5–100% cover · 45–65% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 10–10% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 80–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintyConnected cloud layer · 100–100% cover · 45–45% visual uncertaintymid cloud · 78% reported, 17% resolved on a pressure surface — 61% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 91% reported, 33% resolved on a pressure surface — 58% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmmid cloud · 67% reported, 17% resolved on a pressure surface — 50% is somewhere between 3 and 8 kmlow cloud · 27% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 27% is somewhere between 0.45 and 3 kmlow cloud · 55% reported, 11% resolved on a pressure surface — 44% is somewhere between 0.29 and 3 km

Terrain is drawn for illustration only — it is not used to calculate underlight or obstruction.

cloud-cover fieldinterpolation uncertaintysun directionnear-ground humiditycloud at unresolved heightmodelled underlightunderlight · height uncertainunderlight · lit on one readinglit but hidden behind nearer cloud

Forecast refreshed a few hours before sunrise.

Know the light
before it happens

€3.33 /month

Billed annually — €39.99

Try 14 days free

Card required, nothing charged for 14 days. Cancel any time in the trial and you pay nothing at all. EU/EEA consumers: see the right-of-withdrawal section in our Terms.

For photographers: shooting Kiyomizu-dera Terrace

Best months

Late March to early April for blossom and mid-to-late November for autumn colour. Seasonal evening illuminations create the rare blue-hour opportunity.

Suggested focal lengths

24–70 mm for terrace and hillside; 70–200 mm for pagoda, city and layered foliage.

Composition

Use the temple architecture to frame rather than trying to show the entire crowd. Longer focal lengths isolate the pagoda among blossom or maple leaves.

Recommended arrival

Be at the entrance before opening for normal morning access. For special evening openings, arrive well before the admission period and expect queues.

Access planning

Opening hours and special illuminations are seasonal. Tripods may be impractical or restricted; follow staff instructions and keep visitor routes open.

Parking: No convenient temple parking; use public transport or a taxi to the lower Higashiyama area.

Approach: A 15–25 minute uphill walk through busy streets from the nearest bus stops, followed by the temple route.

Other photo locations