Kyoto's Mountains Turn Crimson

Sep 30, 2026 | News On Japan

KYOTO - A spectacular sea of clouds appeared over Mount Oe in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture, on the morning of September 30, creating a breathtaking landscape as the rising sun gradually turned the mist a deep crimson.

The phenomenon emerged around 5:30 a.m., just as the sky began to brighten. Known in Japan as a "sea of clouds," it occurs when radiative cooling causes water vapor near the ground to condense into mist, forming a blanket of clouds across the landscape. As sunlight reaches the mist, it takes on a reddish glow, producing an almost otherworldly scene.

Fukuchiyama experienced its coldest morning of the season on September 30, with temperatures falling to 15.3 degrees Celsius following rainfall the previous day, creating favorable conditions for the phenomenon.

Visitors who gathered to witness the spectacle were visibly moved by the scenery. "I was incredibly impressed. It was so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off it," one visitor said. Another described the experience as overwhelming, saying, "It's a view that makes you feel as though your soul has been cleansed."

The sea of clouds can be seen around Mount Oe until early winter when weather conditions are favorable.

Source: YOMIURI

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