The Best Time of Day and Year for Photos in Kyoto

Kyoto is the same city, but photos taken at different times look completely different. This article looks at light and seasons to tell you when to come to Kyoto for the best photo shoot.

🌅 Early morning vs dusk — a battle of light

Early morning 6:00–8:00 (rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

• Soft light: The light in the first hour after sunrise is the gentlest and falls very naturally on faces
• Fewest visitors: Tour groups arrive at 8:30 at the earliest, so you have the place almost to yourself
• Clear air: There is less dust in the morning, so photos are at their sharpest

Dusk 16:00–17:30 (rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐)

• Warm light: The golden quality of the hour before sunset looks like a built-in filter
• Atmosphere: The blue hour suits photos with a sense of story
• Downside: There are 3–5 times more visitors in the afternoon than in the morning

🌸 Season by season

Spring (March–May) · cherry blossom season

• Light: After the spring equinox the sun rises earlier, and there's good light by 6:30
• Best time to shoot: early morning 6:30–8:30
• What to wear: light tones, mainly white, pink and beige

Summer (June–August) · lush greenery

• Light: The earliest sunrise of the year (around 4:30); arrive before 5:30
• Best time to shoot: early morning 5:30–7:30 or afternoon 16:00–18:00
• Highlights: hydrangeas, the Gion Festival, yukata

Autumn (November) · autumn leaf season

• Light: After the autumn equinox the sun rises later; the light is just right around 7, and it's most beautiful with morning mist
• Best time to shoot: early morning 7:00–9:00
• What to wear: off-white, khaki, navy

Winter (December–February) · cool, refined mood

• Light: The sun stays low, so the light is fairly soft all day
• Best time to shoot: morning 9:00–11:00 or afternoon 14:00–16:00
• Special pick: Kyoto in the snow — if it snows, don't miss it