Kyoto Maple Color Psychology & Meaning
Kyoto maple is the red of momiji season — temple gardens burning with autumn color against moss and stone. It is dramatic yet contemplative, the palette of a perfectly framed photograph.
#A63A2B
#D25F3B
#E8A05C
#5C1F1A
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Kyoto Maple Color Palette
#A63A2B · #D25F3B · #E8A05C · #5C1F1A
Fail
WCAG Grade
2.0:1
Contrast Ratio
240
Saves
740
AI Copies
Use #A63A2B as the background. Use #D25F3B as the primary accent. Use #E8A05C as secondary. Use #5C1F1A as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Kyoto Maple — autumnal, dramatic, serene.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Kyoto Maple color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 11.3% | 166, 58, 43 | 0%, 65%, 74%, 35% | 7°, 59%, 41% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 22.2% | 210, 95, 59 | 0%, 55%, 72%, 18% | 14°, 63%, 53% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 43.1% | 232, 160, 92 | 0%, 31%, 60%, 9% | 29°, 75%, 64% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 3.3% | 92, 31, 26 | 0%, 66%, 72%, 64% | 5°, 56%, 23% |
Kyoto Maple Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Kyoto Maple palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#A63A2B gently saturated red
#D25F3B gently saturated red
#E8A05C saturated orange
#5C1F1A gently saturated red
Kyoto Maple Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #5C1F1A on #E8A05C |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.77:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #E8A05C on #5C1F1A |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.77:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #5C1F1A on #D25F3B |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.27:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #D25F3B on #5C1F1A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.27:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E8A05C on #A63A2B |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A63A2B on #E8A05C |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.95:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #5C1F1A on #A63A2B |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.96:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A63A2B on #5C1F1A |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.96:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8A05C on #D25F3B |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.77:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D25F3B on #E8A05C |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.77:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #D25F3B on #A63A2B |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #A63A2B on #D25F3B |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Kyoto Maple palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Maple viewing, or momijigari, has been a Japanese autumn ritual since the Heian period. Kyoto temples and hillsides turn this exact red each November, drawing pilgrims of color.
Best Design Use Cases
Maple red for hero surfaces and leaves. Lighter flame for accents. Amber for sunset tones. Deep rust for text and branches. Suits Japanese travel, autumn campaigns, and contemplative seasonal brands.
Industries This Palette Suits
Travel, Japanese culture, autumn tourism, seasonal design, photography.
Colors That Pair Well With Kyoto Maple
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
cyan-blue
directly opposite #D25F3B on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #D25F3B — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Kyoto Maple Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #D25F3B for small UI elements on #A63A2B — at 1.7:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Don't set body copy in #5C1F1A on #A63A2B — 2.0:1 fails WCAG AA; keep it for large decorative headings only.
- Don't use #E8A05C behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Kyoto Maple Color Scheme
To use this Kyoto Maple color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #A63A2B for the main background and #D25F3B for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #5C1F1A and #A63A2B is 1.96:1 (Fail). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Kyoto Maple Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Kyoto Maple color palette?
The Kyoto Maple palette contains #A63A2B, #D25F3B, #E8A05C, #5C1F1A. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Kyoto Maple color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #5C1F1A on #E8A05C reaches 5.8:1 (AA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Kyoto Maple palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #3CAFD3, #C7A548, #F0EBEB extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Kyoto Maple palette create?
Kyoto Maple reads as autumnal, dramatic, serene. Gently saturated red drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated red — a combination that works best when the mid-tone base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Kyoto Maple color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Kyoto Maple palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Kyoto Maple palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Kyoto Maple's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.