I believe that under these circumstances, or even under less favourable circumstances, Japetus could be seen with a good opera-glass.

So also might Titan.
Transits, eclipses, and occulations of Saturn's satellites can only be seen when the ring is turned nearly edgewise towards the earth.

For the orbits of the seven inner satellites lying nearly in the plane of the rings would (if visible throughout their extent) then only appear as straight lines, or as long ellipses cutting the planet's disc.
The belts on Saturn are not very conspicuous.

A good 3-1/2-inch is required (so far as my experience extends) to show them satisfactorily.
The rings when turned edgewise either towards the earth or sun, are not visible in ordinary telescopes, neither can they be seen when the earth and sun are on opposite sides of the rings.

In powerful telescopes the rings seem never entirely to disappear.
The shadow of the planet on the rings may be well seen with a good 2-inch telescope, which will also show Ball's division in the rings.