The Japan time difference is +9 hours from London and +14 hours from New York in winter, and +8 hours and +13 hours in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; Japan does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 21:00 in Tokyo during UK winter time (GMT) and 20:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 02:00 the next day in Tokyo during Eastern Standard Time and 01:00 the next day during Eastern Daylight Time.
Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Japan: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+9, IANA identifier
Asia/Tokyo - Difference with London: +9 h in UK winter (GMT), +8 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +14 h during Eastern Standard Time, +13 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in Japan: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and Japan
| Time in London | In Tokyo (UK winter, GMT) | In Tokyo (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 12:00 | 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 18:00 | 03:00 (next day) | 02:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 | 07:00 (next day) | 06:00 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Tokyo (US winter, EST) | In Tokyo (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 22:00 | 21:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 02:00 (next day) | 01:00 (next day) |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 08:00 (next day) | 07:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 12:00 (next day) | 11:00 (next day) |
| Period | Tokyo vs London | Tokyo vs New York | Tokyo vs Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | +9 h | +13 h | +16 h |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | +9 h | +14 h | +17 h |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | +9 h | +13 h | +16 h |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | +8 h | +13 h | +16 h |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | +9 h | +13 h | +16 h |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | +9 h | +14 h | +17 h |
The one-hour difference between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in Japan does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
Japan does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+9 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call Japan from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Tokyo time, call between 00:00 and 11:00 London time in UK winter, and between 01:00 and 12:00 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 19:00 and 06:00 (starting the evening before, local time) during EST, and between 20:00 and 07:00 during EDT.
With such a large gap, working days barely overlap: aim for the very start or end of the day, and always state the time zone in your meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to Japan from Europe means travelling east: your day is shortened and you will need to go to bed earlier than usual. From North America, the flight crosses the International Date Line and you land on a later calendar day. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Japan time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | UTC+9 | JST |
- Tokyo (
Asia/Tokyo): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in Japan in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Asia/Tokyo: standard time remains UTC+9 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Tokyo vs London | Tokyo vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +9 h | +14 h |
| 14 March – 27 March | +9 h | +13 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +8 h | +13 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +9 h | +13 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +9 h | +14 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Tokyo in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Tokyo (35.69° N, 139.75° E). They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:50 | 11:50 | 16:50 | 10 h 00 | 21:50 / 07:50 |
| February | 06:28 | 11:55 | 17:22 | 10 h 53 | 21:28 / 08:22 |
| March | 05:52 | 11:50 | 17:48 | 11 h 55 | 20:52 / 08:48 |
| April | 05:09 | 11:41 | 18:13 | 13 h 05 | 21:09 / 10:13 |
| May | 04:36 | 11:37 | 18:38 | 14 h 02 | 20:36 / 10:38 |
| June | 04:25 | 11:41 | 18:58 | 14 h 34 | 20:25 / 10:58 |
| July | 04:36 | 11:47 | 18:58 | 14 h 21 | 20:36 / 10:58 |
| August | 05:00 | 11:46 | 18:32 | 13 h 32 | 21:00 / 10:32 |
| September | 05:23 | 11:36 | 17:50 | 12 h 26 | 21:23 / 09:50 |
| October | 05:47 | 11:27 | 17:07 | 11 h 20 | 21:47 / 09:07 |
| November | 06:16 | 11:25 | 16:35 | 10 h 18 | 21:16 / 07:35 |
| December | 06:43 | 11:36 | 16:29 | 9 h 46 | 21:43 / 07:29 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (14 h 34 between 04:25 and 18:58), the shortest 15 December (9 h 46).
In the other destinations covered by our guides, daylight varies with latitude and position within the time zone:
| Destination | Time zone | Daylight on 15 January 2027 | Daylight on 15 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osaka | Asia/Tokyo | 07:05 – 17:09 | 04:56 – 19:12 |
| Kyoto | Asia/Tokyo | 07:05 – 17:08 | 04:54 – 19:12 |
| Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | 06:50 – 16:50 | 04:37 – 18:58 |
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in Japan
- Outbound from the UK (flying east): you « lose » 9 hours in UK winter and 8 hours in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 08:00 – 16:00 in Tokyo from London in UK winter (07:00 – 15:00 during BST), and to 13:00 – 21:00 in Tokyo from New York during EST (12:00 – 20:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Tokyo, the sun rises around 06:50 and sets around 16:50 in mid-January, and around 04:36 and 18:58 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to Japan
- Our complete Japan travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Japan: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between Japan and the UK or the US?
Japan is 9 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 8 hours ahead during British Summer Time. It is 14 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 13 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time (17 and 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles).
What time is it in Japan when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 21:00 in Tokyo in UK winter and 20:00 in summer. Noon in New York is 02:00 the next day in Tokyo during EST and 01:00 the next day during EDT.
Does Japan have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+9 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call Japan from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 00:00 and 11:00 London time in UK winter (01:00 to 12:00 during BST), or between 19:00 and 06:00 New York time during EST (20:00 to 07:00 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for Japan?
Tokyo: Asia/Tokyo.
What time does the sun rise in Tokyo?
Around 06:50 on 15 January 2027 and around 04:36 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 16:50 and 18:58. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
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