TickAtlas
trend 10 min read Updated 2026-03-21

Ichimoku Cloud (Ichimoku)

The Ichimoku Kinko Hyo ("one glance equilibrium chart") is a comprehensive indicator providing support/resistance, trend direction, and momentum in a single view. It consists of five lines and the "cloud" (kumo).

TL;DR

  • Ichimoku is a trend indicator used in technical analysis
  • Price above the cloud is bullish; below is bearish. Cloud thickness indicates support/resistance strength. Tenkan crossing Kijun generates signals.
  • Best timeframes: H4, D1
  • Skip to API docs →

What is Ichimoku Cloud?

The Ichimoku Kinko Hyo ("one glance equilibrium chart") is a comprehensive indicator providing support/resistance, trend direction, and momentum in a single view. It consists of five lines and the "cloud" (kumo).

How Ichimoku is Calculated

formula 
Tenkan-sen = (Highest High + Lowest Low) / 2 over 9 periods
Kijun-sen = (Highest High + Lowest Low) / 2 over 26 periods
Senkou Span A = (Tenkan + Kijun) / 2, plotted 26 periods ahead
Senkou Span B = (Highest + Lowest) / 2 over 52 periods, plotted 26 ahead
Chikou Span = Close plotted 26 periods back

How to Interpret Ichimoku

Price above the cloud is bullish; below is bearish. Cloud thickness indicates support/resistance strength. Tenkan crossing Kijun generates signals.

Trading Strategies Using Ichimoku

Strategy 1: Kumo Breakout

Trade when price breaks above or below the Ichimoku cloud.

Entry Rules

Buy when price closes above the cloud with Tenkan above Kijun. Sell on the opposite setup.

Exit Rules

Exit when price re-enters the cloud or Tenkan crosses Kijun against your position.

Combining Ichimoku with Other Indicators

Ichimoku works best when combined with complementary indicators:

  • Ichimoku + SMA: Combine for stronger confluence signals
  • Ichimoku + EMA: Combine for stronger confluence signals
  • Ichimoku + ADX: Combine for stronger confluence signals

Ichimoku Across Different Timeframes

Ichimoku works across all 7 timeframes but performs best on H4, D1 for most trading styles.

H4 D1

Learn about all 7 timeframes →

Accessing Ichimoku via TickAtlas API

GET https://tickatlas.com/v1/indicator

Python Example

python 
import requests

url = "https://tickatlas.com/v1/indicator"
headers = {"X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}
params = {
  "symbol": "EURUSD",
  "indicator": "Ichimoku_Tenkan",
  "timeframe": "H1"
}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
data = response.json()
print(data)

Sample Response

200 OK 
{
  "symbol": "EURUSD",
  "indicator": "Ichimoku_Tenkan",
  "timeframe": "H1",
  "timestamp": "2026-03-21T14:00:00Z",
  "value": 58.43,
  "signal": "neutral"
}
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Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. 1

    Using Ichimoku on timeframes below H4 where it generates excessive noise

  2. 2

    Ignoring the cloud as dynamic support/resistance

  3. 3

    Not waiting for all five components to align for strongest signals

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ichimoku good for beginners?

Ichimoku can be overwhelming for beginners due to its five components. Start by learning just the cloud (kumo) and price relationship. Add the Tenkan/Kijun crossover once comfortable.

Continue learning

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