Current time in Japan in real time
Japan uses a single time zone across the whole country (JST, UTC+09:00). The time is the same in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and any other city. There is no seasonal daylight saving.
Local time → Japan converter
Enter a time and it automatically works out what time it is in Japan. The difference with your time zone is calculating….
What time is it in Japan?
Time difference with Japan by time of year
Many countries change the clock twice a year; Japan never does. That is why the difference varies:
| Period | Time in the UK | Time in Japan | Difference | Example: 12:00 in the UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct – Mar (winter) | GMT · UTC+0 | JST · UTC+9 | +9 h | 21:00 in Japan |
| Mar – Oct (summer) | BST · UTC+1 | JST · UTC+9 | +8 h | 20:00 in Japan |
Note: If adding hours takes the result past 24:00, the clock moves to the next day in Japan.
Time difference with Japan from your country
Japan uses JST (UTC+9) with no clock change all year round. Below you can see the difference from your detected time zone and, if you need it, that of many other countries.
See the difference from all listed countries
| Country | Time zone | Difference with Japan | 12:00 local → time in Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | GMT/BST (UTC+0 / UTC+1) | +9 h winter · +8 h summer | 21:00 / 20:00 in Japan |
| Ireland | GMT/IST (UTC+0 / UTC+1) | +9 h / +8 h | 21:00 / 20:00 in Japan |
| United States (New York) | EST/EDT (UTC−5 / UTC−4) | +14 h / +13 h | 02:00 / 01:00 (next day) |
| United States (Chicago) | CST/CDT (UTC−6 / UTC−5) | +15 h / +14 h | 03:00 / 02:00 (next day) |
| United States (Denver) | MST/MDT (UTC−7 / UTC−6) | +16 h / +15 h | 04:00 / 03:00 (next day) |
| United States (Los Angeles) | PST/PDT (UTC−8 / UTC−7) | +17 h / +16 h | 05:00 / 04:00 (next day) |
| Canada (Toronto) | EST/EDT (UTC−5 / UTC−4) | +14 h / +13 h | 02:00 / 01:00 (next day) |
| Canada (Vancouver) | PST/PDT (UTC−8 / UTC−7) | +17 h / +16 h | 05:00 / 04:00 (next day) |
| Australia (Sydney)* | AEST/AEDT (UTC+10 / UTC+11) | −1 h / −2 h | 11:00 / 10:00 in Japan |
| Australia (Perth) | AWST (UTC+8) · no DST | +1 h | 13:00 in Japan |
| New Zealand (Auckland)* | NZST/NZDT (UTC+12 / UTC+13) | −3 h / −4 h | 09:00 / 08:00 in Japan |
| India | IST (UTC+5:30) · no DST | +3 h 30 | 15:30 in Japan |
| South Africa | SAST (UTC+2) · no DST | +7 h | 19:00 in Japan |
| Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) · no DST | +1 h | 13:00 in Japan |
| Philippines | PHT (UTC+8) · no DST | +1 h | 13:00 in Japan |
* Australia and New Zealand are in the southern hemisphere: their daylight saving runs roughly October to April, so Japan is further behind in those months. · Some countries have several time zones; the main ones are shown.
When to call Japan?
Business hours in Japan are 9:00 to 18:00 JST. Use the converter above to work out the exact time from your country. As a reference, these are the ideal windows from various countries:
| Country | Call between these local hours | In Japan |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (winter) | 00:00 – 09:00 | 09:00 – 18:00 JST |
| United Kingdom (summer) | 01:00 – 10:00 | 09:00 – 18:00 JST |
| United States (East) | 19:00 – 04:00 * | 09:00 – 18:00 JST |
| United States (West) | 16:00 – 01:00 * | 09:00 – 18:00 JST |
| Australia (Sydney) | 10:00 – 19:00 | 09:00 – 18:00 JST |
| India | 05:30 – 14:30 | 09:00 – 18:00 JST |
* Ranges that go past 24:00 cross local midnight (for example, 18:00 on Monday to 03:00 on Tuesday). Japan does not change the clock, so the window is fixed all year. For your exact time use the converter above.
More tools for your trip to Japan
Frequently asked questions about the time in Japan
What time is it in Japan right now?
The current time in Japan is shown in real time on the clock at the top of this page. Japan uses JST (Japan Standard Time, UTC+09:00) fixed all year, with no seasonal clock change. The same time applies in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and the rest of the country.
What is the date today in Japan?
Today's date in Japan appears below the live clock. Japan is several hours ahead of Europe and the Americas, so depending on your local time it may already be the next day in Japan. It is especially useful to keep in mind when confirming hotel bookings or flights with a night departure.
How many hours difference is there between the UK and Japan?
The difference varies with the time of year in the UK (Japan has no clock change):
- Winter (Oct–Mar): Japan is 9 hours ahead (UK on GMT, UTC+0).
- Summer (Mar–Oct): Japan is 8 hours ahead (UK on BST, UTC+1).
What time zone does Japan use?
Japan uses JST (Japan Standard Time), equivalent to UTC+09:00. It is the only time zone for the whole archipelago: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara, Sapporo… all use exactly the same time.
Does Japan switch to daylight saving time?
No. Japan does not apply a seasonal clock change. JST time (UTC+9) is fixed all year, which makes calculating the difference with any other country much simpler.
Is the time in Tokyo the same as in Osaka or Kyoto?
Yes. All of Japan shares the same time zone (JST, UTC+9). The time is exactly the same in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nara, Kyushu and Hokkaido.
Why is it useful to know the time in Japan before travelling?
Knowing the Japanese time zone is useful in several situations: calling hotels to confirm bookings, understanding the opening hours of museums and shops, coordinating from home with someone already there, or working out what time your flight arrives in local time. If you are planning the trip, it also helps you decide your entry and exit dates more precisely.
How many hours difference is there between the UK and Japan?
The UK uses GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer. The difference with Japan (JST, UTC+9) is 9 hours in winter and 8 hours in summer. If it is 08:00 in London, it is 17:00 the same day in Japan (winter).
How many hours difference is there between New York and Japan?
New York uses EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer. The difference with Japan (JST, UTC+9) is 14 hours in winter and 13 hours in summer. If it is 08:00 in New York, it is 22:00 the same day in Japan (winter).
How many hours difference is there between Los Angeles and Japan?
Los Angeles uses PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer. The difference with Japan (JST, UTC+9) is 17 hours in winter and 16 hours in summer. If it is 08:00 in Los Angeles, it is 01:00 the next day in Japan (winter).
How many hours difference is there between Sydney and Japan?
Sydney uses AEST (UTC+10) and AEDT (UTC+11) in the southern summer (October–April). Japan (JST, UTC+9) is therefore 1 hour behind in the Australian winter and 2 hours behind in summer. If it is 12:00 in Sydney in winter, it is 11:00 in Japan.
How many hours difference is there between India and Japan?
India uses IST (UTC+5:30) all year with no clock change. The difference with Japan (JST, UTC+9) is 3 hours and 30 minutes. If it is 08:00 in New Delhi, it is 11:30 the same day in Japan.