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Photo locations · Kyoto · Japan

Kiyomizu-dera Terrace: sunset 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.

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Will today's sunset 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 16h 31m

Pale clear glow

Exactly at sunset: Fair

Little usable low-sun light expected

Sky colors

Golden hour
Sunset

Light corridor: open

Why: The sun's path is clear at the height its low light travels, so the light can reach the clouds at sunset.

  • Light path: clear (13% blocking cloud at the ray's height)
  • Sun: may be hidden. Some low cloud toward the horizon (52%) may hide the sun on and off.
Viewer's line of sight, tangent to the Earth at your locationNear-ground relative humidity6% cover — too thin to draw as cloud10% cover — too thin to draw as cloud16% cover — too thin to draw as cloud11% cover — too thin to draw as cloud14% cover — too thin to draw as cloudlow cloud · 62% reported, 6% resolved on a pressure surface — 56% is somewhere between 0.17 and 3 kmlow cloud · 38% reported, 3% resolved on a pressure surface — 35% is somewhere between 0.12 and 3 kmlow cloud · 38% reported, 0% resolved on a pressure surface — 38% is somewhere between 0.02 and 3 kmlow cloud · 46% reported, 10% resolved on a pressure surface — 36% is somewhere between 0.31 and 3 kmlow cloud · 52% reported, 16% resolved on a pressure surface — 36% is somewhere between 0.28 and 3 kmlow cloud · 39% reported, 14% resolved on a pressure surface — 25% is somewhere between 0 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 sunset.

Know the light
before it happens

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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.

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