Did you know that in Japan the hours go past 24? Ever asked what time it is in Japan? Maybe wondered how many hours is it between Tokyo and Osaka? In this article, we will understand a little about Japan time, its differences and curiosities.
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What time is it in Japan? Japanese time
The time in Japan is known by the acronym JST (Japan Standard Time), in Japanese it is known as Nihon Hyoujunji (本標準時). Japan's time zone is UTC/GMT +9, 12 hours ahead of Brazil, which is UTC -3.
I think we all know that Japan is 12 hours ahead, so if it's 3 pm here, it's 3 am there. It is worth ing that in Japan there is no daylight saving time, so be aware of this when converting our time to Japan time.
In addition to Japan, countries such as Korea, Indonesia and Yakutsk have the same standard hours. The sun rises about 89 degrees east of Japan at 05:26. The sunset takes place at 17:42 at 272º to the west. The day lasts about 12 hours and 16 minutes in Japan.
The time in Japan is past 24:00
Japan uses the 24-hour and 12-hour formats in daily life. However, on TV programs or some places, they go beyond the 24:00 shown on the clock. How is that possible? Japan finds it easier to keep the early morning hours within the same day.
That's because the Japanese have a very active nightlife, it can be confusing for some to watch a TV program start at 21:00 and end at 1:00. That's why they prefer to put from 21:00 to 25:00 instead of leaving a 1:00AM.
Countries other than Japan such as the UK, Korea, Hong Kong and China use hours beyond 24:00 when business hours extend beyond midnight. This also prevents train tickets with no date from issuing times such as 22:00 to 01:00.
This avoids common cases that happen in Brazil when we say Sunday night at 2 AM, when it is already Monday. You can find the Japanese time suring 24:00 on TV, stations, radios, shows, shops, hotels, theater and even in お風呂 (ofuro).
The History of Japan's Hours and Clocks
Before the Meiji Era (1868-1912), each region of Japan had its own time zone that depended on the position of the sun. When trains became popular in Japan, the practice of telling the time from the highest position in the sun became a source of confusion. Trains in Osaka ended up arriving 20 minutes early in Tokyo because of the small time difference.
During World War II, countries such as Singapore and Malaysia adopted Japan Time, but this was reversed after Japan surrendered. Formerly the islands of Okinawa and Taiwan used the time is UTC +8, that is, one hour less than the Japanese time, but that ended in 1937.
Clocks have existed in Japan since the mid-7th century in the form of water clocks. Back in the Edo period, Japan had a traditional mechanical clock. He used a seasonal time system, based on a mechanical clock from Europe.
These traditional Japanese clocks are called Wadokei (和時計) and were introduced by Jesuit missionaries or Dutch merchants. They were lantern clocks made of bronze or iron.
Local Time in Tokyo
In addition to Japan's national time, most people tend to look up how many hours it is in Tokyo. Japan time is the same across the country, regardless of region and locality. There is no time zone difference as in some states in Brazil.
So, in case you're wondering how many hours it is in Okinawa, or how many hours it is in Osaka, that Japan's time is the same everywhere. Even the time in South Korea is the same as in Japan.
We recommend reading other related articles below:
- How long does the trip to Japan take?
- Climate and Weather in Japanese
- Seasons, Weather, and Climate in Japanese: Learn Key Vocabulary
What is the time in Okinawa?
Although Japan adopts the same time in all its cities, Okinawa usually has more sunlight due to its location in the south of the country, it also adopts other time zones.
Although the main time is still the same as in Japan (JST), Okinawa has also used Okinawa Standard Time (OST) which is one hour off. There is not much information about this currently.
The traditional Japanese time
The traditional Japanese clock had six hours numbered from 9 to 4, which counted backwards from noon to midnight. The numbers 1 to 3 were not used for religious reasons, as these numbers were used by Buddhists for prayer.
The count went backwards because the first Japanese artificial clocks used burning incense to tell time. Dawn and dusk, therefore, were marked as the sixth hour in the Japanese timekeeping system. Traditional Japanese clocks also had Chinese zodiac symbols. (Source: Wikipedia);
| Zodiac | night zodiac | Number | solar time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 卯 - Rabbit. | 酉 - Rooster. | 六 - 6 | Sunrise Sunset. |
| 辰 - Dragon. | 戌 - Dog. | 五 - 5 | |
| 巳 - Snake. | 亥 - Pig. | 四 - 4 | |
| 午 - Horse. | 子 - Rato. | 九 - 9 | afternoon/midnight. |
| 未 - Goat. | 丑 - Boi. | 八 - 8 | |
| 申 - Monkey. | 寅 - Tiger. | 七 - 7 | . |
Japanese strictly follow the schedule
Punctuality is extremely important in Japanese culture, and this is reflected in the schedules. Trains in Japan are known for their punctuality, with delays of only a few seconds. Shops and restaurants usually open and close punctually.
Arriving late in Japan is very rare and a source of shame, so all Japanese people try to be as punctual as possible.
The Japanese Standard Time was established in 1895. Before that, Japan used several local time zones. The unification of the time zone facilitated communication and transportation in the country.
What time does the store open in Japan?
Unlike some countries like Brazil, shops do not open so early and do not close so late. It is common to find restaurants closed at 8:00 p.m., and large commercial stores opening at 11:00 a.m.
See the average opening and closing hours of each establishment in Japan:
- Department stores and large retailers: they are usually open from 10 am to 8 pm, from Monday to Saturday.
- Street stores: they usually open from 10 AM to 7 PM, from Monday to Saturday.
- Convenience stores: they are generally open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Lunch restaurants: they generally open from 11 am to 2 pm, from Monday to Friday.
- Dinner restaurants: They usually open from 5 PM to 10 PM, from Monday to Saturday.
- Izakayas (Japanese bars): they usually open from 5 PM to 11 PM, from Monday to Saturday.
- Banks: They usually open from 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, some banks may open from 9 AM to 12 PM.
- Museus: they are generally open from 9 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday to Sunday.
Time difference between Japan and the rest of the world
Japan has the same time zone as South Korea, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Yakutsk (Russia). Japan is 1 hour ahead of China and 2 hours ahead of Australia.
The list below shows the time difference between Japan and other major cities and countries in the rest of the world.
- Bulgaria (-7 hours)
- Croatia (-8 hours)
- Czech Republic (-8 hours)
- Denmark (-8 hours)
- England (-9 hours)
- (-8 hours)
- (-8 hours)
- Greece (-7 hours)
- Netherlands (-8 hours)
- Italy (-8 hours)
- Latvia (-7 hours)
- Portugal (-9 hours)
- Russia (-6 hours)
- Spain (-8 hours)
- Sweden (-8 hours)
- Switzerland (-8 hours)
- Ukraine (-7 hours)
- Accra (-9 hours)
- Angola (-8 hours)
- Argentina (-12 hours)
- Auckland (+4 hours)
- Beijing (-1 hour)
- Cairo (-7 hours)
- Costa Rica (-15 hours)
- Dallas (-15 hours)
- Doha (-6 hours)
- Dublin (-9 hours)
- Djibouti (-6 hours)
- Esfahan (-5.30 hours)
- Ghana (-9 hours)
- Hanoi (-2 hours)
- Hong Kong (-1 hour)
- Iran (-5.30 hours)
- Ireland (-9 hours)
- Jakarta (-2 hours)
- Johannesburg (-7 hours)
- Korea (0)
- Kyiv (-7 hours)
- Las Vegas (-17 hours)
- Lome (-9 hours)
- Los Angeles (-17 hours)
- Luanda (-8 hours)
- Madrid (-8 hours)
- Malaysia (-1 hour)
- Mexico (-15 hours)
- Montreal (-14 hours)
- Moscow (-6 hours)
- New Delhi (-3:30 hours)
- New York (-14 hours)
- Oklahoma City (-15 hours)
- Orlando (-14 hours)
- Ottawa (-14 hours)
- Paraguay (-12 hours)
- Philadelphia (-14 hours)
- Port of Spain (-13 hours)
- Reykjavik (-9 hours)
- Rio de Janeiro (-11 hours)
- Saudi Arabia (-6 hours)
- Seoul (0)
- Shanghai (-1 hour)
- Singapore (-1 hour)
- Sydney (+2 hours)
- Tbilisi (-5 hours)
- Tehran (-5.30 hours)
- Thailand (-2 hours)
- Toronto (-14 hours)
- Tunisia (-8 hours)
- United Kingdom (-9 hours)
- Vancouver (-17 hours)
- Vladivostok (+1 hour)
- Wellington (+4 hours)
- Winnipeg (-15 hours)
- Yamousoukro (-9 hours)
These were some curiosities about the time in Japan.
FAQ - Questions and Answers about the Hours in Japan
What is Japan's time zone?
Japan follows the JST (Japan Standard Time) time zone, which is UTC+9:00. This means that Japan is 9 hours ahead of Brasília time (UTC-3:00).
Does Japan have daylight saving time?
No, Japan does not have daylight saving time. The entire country follows the same time zone throughout the year. It has been considered, tested, but never actually implemented. Studies have shown that daylight saving time does not save energy in Japan. Daylight saving time may have a negative impact on health, such as sleep disorders and digestive problems, as well as affect the productivity of the Japanese.
How can I adjust to the time zone in Japan?
To minimize the effects of jet lag during your trip, it is recommended to gradually adjust your sleep by going to bed and waking up a little earlier each day in the days leading up to your departure. In addition, it is important to expose yourself to natural light during the day to help regulate your circadian rhythm. Avoiding the consumption of caffeine and alcohol at night is also advisable, as these substances can impair the quality of sleep. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is essential to prevent dehydration, which can worsen jet lag symptoms.
