Wakeikoku — Japanese Ambient Scenery
The spring version is being prepared for release.
Release updates will be posted on X at @mikoshibax.
Keep a quiet Japanese scene on your desk.
Wakeikoku is a landscape iPhone app designed to be left on display while your phone rests on a desk or bedside table. As time passes, ink-painted scenery changes with the hour: dawn mist, afternoon light, sunset glow, and a sky full of stars.
In this spring release, a limited-time sakura effect drifts across the screen from the top of each hour, and a new sky-blue washi background makes daytime scenes feel lighter and brighter.
It is for people who want something calmer and more atmospheric than a standard digital clock display.
Download
It will be available on the App Store after release.
The Story Behind Wakeikoku
Wakeikoku was not created simply to be a Japanese-style clock. It grew out of a small fatigue with seeing Apple’s clock mode every day, then expanded into washi textures, ink painting, Kyoto scenery, and the idea that time itself should feel like something that moves.
If you want the making-of story behind the app, read How Wakeikoku Was Made: The Story Behind a Japanese Desk Clock App.
Four Worlds
Mt. Fuji — Lake Kawaguchi at the foot of Fuji. Morning fog, blue sky, sunset glow, and a canopy of stars.
Kyoto — A five-story pagoda with hawks soaring at dawn and dusk. The washi background shifts color with the seasons.
Tokyo — Shibuya streets and Tokyo Tower. Pedestrians cross, trains roll by — urban life rendered in ink.
Seijaku — A single enso (Zen circle) and nothing more. The ultimate in minimalist timekeeping.
Mt. Fuji and Kyoto are free. Tokyo and Seijaku unlock with a one-time purchase.
Spring 2026 Limited-Time Sakura
For a limited spring season, sakura petals drift from the top of each hour. You can choose how many minutes the effect lasts, from a brief moment to nearly the full hour.
This seasonal version uses sakura on its own, without gold leaf mixed in. It is planned as a spring-only presentation for this release.
Sky-Blue Washi Background
Wakeikoku now includes a sky-blue washi background style. It keeps the paper texture while giving daytime scenes and Seijaku a brighter spring atmosphere.
Real Stars, Real Moon
At night, over 2,800 real stars and 31 constellations fill the sky. The moon waxes and wanes with astronomical accuracy, and near the horizon it appears larger — the famous “moon illusion.” Constellation lines can be toggled in settings.
Gold Leaf at the Top of the Hour
Gold leaf is still part of Wakeikoku’s visual language and can be used again in future seasonal presentations. In this spring version, the focus is on sakura by itself.
Seal Stamps
Add a traditional Japanese seal stamp to the corner of your screen — showing the season, time of day, scene name, or any single kanji you choose. Make the scroll yours.
World Clock
Display world time zones alongside the ink-painted scenery. Check the time across the globe while enjoying the view.
Who It Is For
- People searching for an iPhone desk clock app
- People who want a calm Japanese scene on a desk or bedside table
- Fans of washi textures, ink art, and atmospheric interfaces
- Anyone who wants stars, moon phases, and scenery in a clock app
FAQ
Q. What kind of clock app is Wakeikoku?
A. Wakeikoku is a landscape iPhone app that lets you keep time inside a calm Japanese scene. The scenery changes with the hour, season, and mood.
Q. Does Wakeikoku include stars and moon phases?
A. Yes. At night it displays more than 2,800 stars, 31 constellations, and astronomically accurate moon phases.
Q. When is Wakeikoku best used?
A. It works best while your iPhone is charging on a desk, shelf, or bedside table, where it can feel more like a small ambient scene than a plain clock.
Key Features
- 4 ink-painted worlds (Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Tokyo, Seijaku)
- Time-of-day scenery (dawn, day, dusk, night)
- Seasonal washi color shifts
- Spring 2026 limited-time sakura animation
- Optional sky-blue washi background
- 2,800+ real stars & 31 constellations
- Astronomically accurate moon phases
- Seasonal visual accents
- Classic clock & enso clock styles
- Custom seal stamps
- World clock
- Portrait & landscape support with landscape lock
- No ads, no tracking
- Japanese & English support
Download
Contact
Bug reports and feature requests are welcome.