Current Time in
Tokyo
Tokyo observes Japan Standard Time (JST, GMT+9) all year and, helpfully for planners, Japan does not use daylight saving, so the offset never shifts. As the sprawling capital of Japan and one of Asia's foremost business and cultural centres, it welcomes executives, tourists and food lovers in huge numbers, the majority arriving from far enough away that a substantial time difference is unavoidable.
Location Details
Daylight Status
It is currently nighttime in Tokyo. The city is currently in its rest period, which is important to consider for communication.
When to Arrive & What Daylight to Expect
Tokyo sits around 35.7 degrees north, closer to the subtropics than most Western capitals, so its days vary less across the year. At the June solstice the city sees roughly 14.5 hours of daylight, with an early sunrise around 4.30am and sunset near 7pm, while around midwinter daylight settles at about 9.8 hours and dusk arrives by 4.30pm. Because the sun rises so early in summer, blackout curtains help. If you can plan it, an afternoon arrival works well for travellers coming from the west, letting you ride out the remaining daylight before settling into a local night's sleep.
Jet Lag Arriving in Tokyo
How hard Tokyo hits depends on where you fly in from. These figures are calculated from current time-zone offsets, so they account for daylight saving wherever it applies. Eastbound arrivals should chase morning light; westbound arrivals should seek late-afternoon light and resist an early night.
From Los Angeles
WestboundLos Angeles is 16 hours ahead of Tokyo, so plan for roughly 16 days of adjustment. Seek late-afternoon and early-evening light in Tokyo, and push your first bedtime as late as you can.
Los Angeles → Tokyo route guide →From New York
WestboundNew York is 13 hours ahead of Tokyo, so plan for roughly 13 days of adjustment. Seek late-afternoon and early-evening light in Tokyo, and push your first bedtime as late as you can.
New York → Tokyo route guide →From London
EastboundLondon is 8 hours behind Tokyo, so plan for roughly 8 days of adjustment. Eastbound is the harder direction: prioritise early-morning light in Tokyo and avoid bright evening light.
London → Tokyo route guide →From Paris
EastboundParis is 7 hours behind Tokyo, so plan for roughly 7 days of adjustment. Eastbound is the harder direction: prioritise early-morning light in Tokyo and avoid bright evening light.
Paris → Tokyo route guide →From Frankfurt
EastboundFrankfurt is 7 hours behind Tokyo, so plan for roughly 7 days of adjustment. Eastbound is the harder direction: prioritise early-morning light in Tokyo and avoid bright evening light.
Frankfurt → Tokyo route guide →Getting Into the City
Tokyo has two main airports. Narita, well to the east in Chiba, handles most long-haul flights; the Narita Express (N'EX) runs to Tokyo, Shinjuku and Shibuya in roughly 55–90 minutes, while the cheaper Keisei Skyliner reaches Ueno in about 40 minutes. Haneda, much closer to the city on Tokyo Bay, increasingly serves international routes and is the more convenient option: the Tokyo Monorail links to Hamamatsucho in around 15 minutes, and the Keikyu Line runs to Shinagawa in a similar time, both connecting to the JR loop. A prepaid Suica or PASMO IC card covers trains, subways and buses, sparing you ticket queues when you are exhausted.
Your First 48 Hours in Tokyo
On arrival day in Tokyo, expect a strong urge to crash, since most travellers land here having lost a full day or more. Counter it by heading out: a wander through a district such as Shinjuku or along the Sumida River keeps you moving in daylight. Drink water steadily, go easy on alcohol, and if a nap is unavoidable keep it brief and early. Aim to last until around 10–11pm local time. Dinner in Tokyo is typically eaten from about 6 to 8pm, and a warm meal of ramen or a set menu at that hour gently signals your body that the day is ending here.
On your first full day, wake at a reasonable Tokyo morning hour and get outside promptly. Most visitors reach Japan travelling west across many zones, so bright morning light is generally what you want to help drag your clock forward toward local time. A daylight walk through the Imperial Palace gardens or Yoyogi Park combines movement with sunlight. Green tea or a vending-machine coffee is a fine morning lift, but taper caffeine off well before evening so it does not interfere with the deeper, more restorative sleep your body needs on the second night.
Local Practicalities
Tokyo's department stores and shops generally open around 10 or 11am and close by 8pm, though convenience stores stay open 24 hours and are invaluable for late arrivals. Locals eat dinner relatively early, often 6–8pm, and many restaurants take last orders well before midnight. Summers are hot and humid with a rainy season in June, while winters are crisp and dry, so check the season before packing. Cash is still widely used despite growing card and IC-card acceptance. The rail network is punctual to the minute but stops running around midnight, so plan late evenings carefully while your sleep is still erratic.
Minimise Jet Lag to Tokyo
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