Tokyo · Japan · East Asia
Current Time in Tokyo
Live NTP-synced clock · JST UTC+9 — no daylight saving · Weather, world city comparisons & complete guide
UTC OffsetUTC+9
Daylight SavingNone ⏰
vs London…
Population13.9 mil.
The exact current time in Tokyo is displayed live above, synchronized with international NTP servers. Japan’s capital operates on JST (Japan Standard Time), permanently fixed at UTC+9 year-round. Japan does not observe Daylight Saving Time — the clocks never change, making scheduling between Tokyo and other time zones straightforward and predictable. … Tokyo shares the same time zone as Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, Fukuoka and the whole of Japan, as well as South Korea (KST) and the Indonesian province of West Papua.
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Tokyo Time vs World Cities – Live Comparison
| City | Current Time | Time Zone | vs Tokyo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | … | JST UTC+9 | ±0 |
| 🇬🇧 London | … | … | … |
| 🇫🇷 Paris | … | … | … |
| 🇺🇸 New York | … | … | … |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | … | … | … |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | … | GST UTC+4 | … |
| 🇮🇳 Mumbai | … | IST UTC+5:30 | … |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | … | SGT UTC+8 | … |
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | … | … | … |
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Japan Standard Time – JST Explained (No Daylight Saving)
⏰ JST is always UTC+9 — Japan never changes its clocks
☀️ Summer
UTC+9
JST — Japan Standard Time
Clocks do NOT change
Clocks do NOT change
❄️ Winter
UTC+9
JST — Japan Standard Time
Clocks do NOT change
Clocks do NOT change
💡 No clock changes, ever. Japan experimented with Daylight Saving Time briefly between 1948 and 1952 under the US occupation but abolished it when the occupation ended. Public opinion, concerns over summer heat during commutes, and the complexity for a nation with a single mainland time zone all contributed to the decision not to reinstate it. As a result, JST is one of the most stable time zones in the world — the same offset every hour, every day, every year. This makes scheduling with Tokyo uniquely predictable: the time difference between Tokyo and any other fixed-offset city (like Dubai or Singapore) never changes, while the difference to DST-observing cities like London or New York shifts seasonally as their clocks change.
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Tokyo Time Zone Converter – Compare with World Cities
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Tokyo – Geography & Location Facts
LocationKantō RegionHonshū island · Tokyo Bay · Kantō plain
GPS Coordinates35.6762°N139.6503°E (east of Greenwich)
Elevation~40 m avgLow-lying bay plain; ranges from 0 m (reclaimed land) to ~92 m (western hills)
Area (metropolis)2,194 km²Tokyo Metropolis (Tōkyō-to); Greater Tokyo Area ~13,500 km²
ClimateCfa (Köppen)Humid subtropical — hot humid summers, cool dry winters, cherry blossoms in late March
Main RiverSumida (Sumida-gawa)27 km long · flows through eastern Tokyo into Tokyo Bay; also Ara River and Tama River
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Population & Administrative Data
| Population (Tokyo Metropolis) | ~13.9 million |
| Greater Tokyo Area (metro) | ~37.4 million |
| Density (metropolis) | ~6,340 people/km² |
| Official language | Japanese |
| Currency | Japanese Yen (¥, JPY) |
| International dial code | +81 (03 Tokyo) |
| Internet domain | .jp / .tokyo |
| Postcode format | 1xx-xxxx (100-0001 etc.) |
| Drives on | Left 🚗 |
| ISO code | JP-13 (Tokyo-to) |
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A Brief History of Tokyo
- c. 1457A minor warrior named Ōta Dōkan constructs Edo Castle on a hill at the edge of the Kantō plain, near the mouth of the Sumida River. The surrounding settlement of Edo (meaning “river gate”) remains a modest fishing village for more than a century, unremarkable among Japan’s cities.
- 1603Tokugawa Ieyasu unifies Japan after the Battle of Sekigahara and establishes the Tokugawa shogunate, choosing Edo as his seat of government. Over the next century the city grows explosively — by 1700 Edo is the largest city in the world, with a population exceeding one million people, far surpassing London and Paris.
- 1868The Meiji Restoration ends 265 years of Tokugawa rule. Emperor Meiji moves the imperial seat from Kyoto to Edo, renaming it Tōkyō (“Eastern Capital”). Japan rapidly modernises, adopting Western institutions, technology and infrastructure. The first Japanese railway opens between Shinbashi and Yokohama in 1872.
- 1923The Great Kantō Earthquake (magnitude 7.9) devastates Tokyo and Yokohama on 1 September 1923, killing over 100,000 people and destroying roughly 575,000 homes. The subsequent fires, driven by midday cooking stoves and strong winds, burn for days. The city is painstakingly rebuilt over the next decade, with wider fire-break avenues.
- 1945Allied firebombing during Operation Meetinghouse (March 1945) destroys 41 km² of Tokyo in a single night — the most destructive conventional air raid in history. At war’s end Japan surrenders; the US occupation begins. Under occupation authorities (1945–1952) Japan briefly adopts Daylight Saving Time (1948–1952), which is abolished immediately after sovereignty is restored.
- 1964 & 2021Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympic Games twice — in 1964, symbolising Japan’s postwar recovery (the Shinkansen bullet train makes its debut days before), and in 2021 (postponed from 2020 by COVID-19). Today Tokyo is the world’s largest metropolitan economy, a global capital of technology, manga, anime, fashion, gastronomy and innovation, home to more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city on Earth.
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Top Tourist Attractions in Tokyo
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Senso-ji TempleTokyo’s oldest and most visited temple, founded in 628 AD in the Asakusa district, according to tradition when two fishermen brothers pulled a golden statue of Kannon from the Sumida River. The iconic Kaminarimon (“Thunder Gate”) with its 700 kg paper lantern leads to the Nakamise-dōri shopping street. The main hall and five-storey pagoda are among the most photographed scenes in Japan, drawing over 30 million visitors per year.
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Tokyo SkytreeAt 634 metres, Tokyo Skytree is the world’s tallest tower and second-tallest structure. Completed in 2012, it serves as a broadcasting tower and observation platform, with two decks at 350 m and 450 m offering panoramic views of the Kantō plain and, on clear days, Mount Fuji to the south-west.
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Meiji ShrineA Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, set within a 70-hectare forested park in the heart of Harajuku. Founded in 1920, the shrine and its towering torii gates see over 3 million visitors during the New Year holiday alone — the highest attendance of any shrine in Japan. The adjoining Yoyogi Park is popular for weekend leisure.
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Shibuya CrossingThe world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, located in front of Shibuya Station. Up to 3,000 people cross simultaneously when lights turn green, from all directions at once. Best viewed from the Mag’s Park or Starbucks observation windows above. The surrounding Shibuya district is a global fashion hub and the birthplace of multiple Japanese youth subcultures.
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Edo-Tokyo MuseumA vast museum in Ryōgoku dedicated to the history of Tokyo from the Edo period to the present day, featuring life-size reconstructions of Edo-era streetscapes, models of the original Edo Castle, and exhibits on the 1923 earthquake and WWII reconstruction. One of Japan’s most comprehensive urban history museums.
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Shinjuku GyoenA 58.3-hectare national garden combining formal French and English landscaping with a traditional Japanese garden and a large greenhouse. Famous for its 1,100 cherry trees, which draw enormous crowds in late March and early April. Previously an imperial garden, it opened to the public after World War II and now welcomes over two million visitors annually.
✈️ Tokyo Airports
| Airport | IATA Code | Distance | Transport | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Haneda | HND | 14 km south | ~35 min (Keikyu/Monorail to central Tokyo) | 🌍 Primary hub — domestic & international |
| Narita International | NRT | 60 km north-east | ~60 min (Narita Express / Skyliner) | 🛫 Major international gateway |
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Japanese Food Culture – Tokyo Specialities
Edomae SushiTokyo-style sushi originating from Edo-period street stalls, where vinegared rice topped with fresh fish from Tokyo Bay was sold to labourers. Characterised by slightly firmer, seasoned rice and precisely crafted nigiri. Tokyo has the highest concentration of Michelin-starred sushi restaurants on Earth.
RamenTokyo-style ramen features a soy-based (shōyu) clear broth with wavy noodles, chashu pork, soft-boiled egg and nori. While ramen originated in China, Japan has elevated it to an art form — dedicated ramen museums exist in Tokyo, and queuing an hour outside a tiny 8-seat shop for a bowl is entirely normal.
WagashiTraditional Japanese confections made from mochi rice, sweet bean paste (an), agar jelly and seasonal ingredients. Intricate seasonal wagashi are integral to Japanese tea ceremony and change with the seasons — spring sakura mochi, summer yokan jelly, autumn chestnut yokan and winter yuzu-flavoured pieces.
YakitoriSkewered chicken grilled over binchotan charcoal — every part of the bird used, from breast and thigh to liver, heart and cartilage. Yakitori-ya (specialist restaurants) are a fixture of Japanese nightlife, typically found under railway bridges (yakitori-yokochō) and in basement izakayas across Yurakucho and Shinjuku.
Chanko NabeA protein-rich hot-pot stew traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers (rikishi) in training. A hearty broth simmered with chicken, tofu, vegetables, fish cakes and mochi, served tableside in a large iron pot. Many sumo stables in the Ryōgoku district of Tokyo operate restaurants serving authentic chanko-nabe to the public.
MonjayakiTokyo’s own regional pancake, distinct from Osaka’s okonomiyaki. A runny batter of dashi, cabbage, seafood or pork and Worcestershire sauce is cooked on a teppan iron griddle at the table and eaten directly from the pan with a small spatula. The Tsukishima district in Tokyo has over 75 dedicated monjayaki restaurants along a single street.
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Practical Travel Information
| 💧 Tap water | Safe to drink ✅ — Tokyo tap water meets strict Japanese and WHO quality standards and is considered among the cleanest in the world. It is served in restaurants and freely available at public facilities. Vending machines selling water and other beverages are ubiquitous throughout the city. |
| 🚌 Public transport | World-class rail network: 9 Tokyo Metro lines, 4 Toei Subway lines (13 subway lines in total), and an extensive JR network (including the Yamanote circular line). IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) can be loaded and used on virtually all trains, buses and even convenience store purchases. Trains run with near-perfect punctuality — delays of more than a minute are publicly apologised for. |
| ⚡ Power outlets | Type A (two flat pins) — 100V / 50 Hz (eastern Japan) or 60 Hz (western Japan). Most modern electronics (laptops, phones) handle 100–240V automatically. UK, European and Australian visitors need Type A adaptor plugs. |
| 🗣️ Language | Japanese. English signage is extensive on the rail network and at tourist sites. English menus are common in central areas (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza). However, conversational English remains limited outside tourist zones — a translation app is strongly recommended. Japanese people are unfailingly polite in trying to assist. |
| 💳 Payments | Japan is still predominantly a cash society, especially outside major tourist areas. Carry yen for smaller restaurants, temples, convenience stores and taxis. ATMs at 7-Eleven, Japan Post and some convenience stores accept foreign cards. IC cards (Suica/Pasmo) are the most convenient payment method for transport and many purchases. |
| 🛂 Tipping | Not practised in Japan and can cause confusion or offence. Service is included implicitly in the price and considered a professional duty. Do not leave cash on the table — it may be returned to you. The concept of omotenashi (selfless hospitality) means service is given without expectation of extra reward. |
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Frequently Asked Questions – Tokyo Time Zone & JST
Tokyo uses JST (Japan Standard Time, UTC+9) permanently throughout the year. Japan does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so the offset never changes. The IANA timezone identifier is
Asia/Tokyo. The same offset applies across all of Japan — the country operates on a single unified time zone despite spanning roughly 25 degrees of longitude.
No. Japan does not observe Daylight Saving Time and has not done so since 1952. DST was briefly imposed during the US occupation (1948–1952) but was unpopular and immediately abolished when Japan regained sovereignty. Today, Japan’s clocks never change — JST is UTC+9 on every day of the year. Periodic proposals to reinstate DST (most recently around the 2020 Olympics) have not succeeded.
Tokyo is 9 hours ahead of London during UK winter (GMT, UTC+0). When the UK switches to BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) in late March, Tokyo becomes 8 hours ahead. Japan’s clocks never change, so the variation is entirely due to the UK’s DST transitions. To convert: London 08:00 GMT = Tokyo 17:00 JST; London 08:00 BST = Tokyo 16:00 JST.
Tokyo is 14 hours ahead of New York during US winter (EST, UTC−5). When New York switches to EDT (UTC−4) in mid-March, Tokyo is 13 hours ahead. There is also a brief 3-week window in spring and a 1-week window in autumn when the US and EU are on different DST schedules, but the Tokyo–NY difference only has two values: 13 or 14 hours, depending solely on whether the US is on EST or EDT.
Tokyo is 8 hours ahead of Central European cities (Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Brussels) during EU winter (CET, UTC+1). When Europe switches to CEST (UTC+2) on the last Sunday of March, Tokyo becomes 7 hours ahead until Europe falls back on the last Sunday of October. Japan’s side of the equation never changes; only Europe’s DST schedule shifts the gap.
Tokyo (JST, UTC+9) and Seoul (KST, UTC+9) share the same UTC offset, so they are always at exactly the same time. Neither Japan nor South Korea observes Daylight Saving Time, so the two cities are always in perfect synchrony, year-round. Tokyo is 1 hour ahead of Beijing and Shanghai (CST, UTC+8) year-round, since China also does not observe DST. Singapore (SGT, UTC+8) is equally 1 hour behind Tokyo at all times.
Tokyo is served by two major airports. Tokyo Haneda (HND), 14 km south of central Tokyo, handles both domestic and growing international routes and is connected by Keikyu Rail and the Tokyo Monorail (approximately 35 minutes to Hamamatsucho). Narita International (NRT), 60 km north-east, handles a large share of long-haul international traffic and is connected by the Narita Express (N’EX) and Keisei Skyliner (approximately 60 minutes to central Tokyo). Because Japan does not observe DST, flight schedules to/from Tokyo are consistent throughout the year.
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