Time Difference Between United Kingdom and Japan
As of 12 October 2026, Japan is 8 hours ahead of United Kingdom. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, Tokyo, Japan ranges from 8 hours ahead to 9 hours ahead relative to London, United Kingdom. The calculator below is always up to date.
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London, United Kingdom
13:45
Mon, Oct 12, 2026
UTC+1 · Europe/London
Tokyo, Japan
+8h
21:45
Mon, Oct 12, 2026
UTC+9 · Asia/Tokyo
Japan is 8 hours ahead of United Kingdom.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Europe/London | UTC+1 | Active now |
| Japan | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | Not observed |
Hour by hour: United Kingdom to Japan
Every hour of today in United Kingdom and what it is in Japan. Highlighted rows fall inside Japan working hours (09:00–18:00).
| United Kingdom | Japan |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 08:00 |
| 01:00 | 09:00 |
| 02:00 | 10:00 |
| 03:00 | 11:00 |
| 04:00 | 12:00 |
| 05:00 | 13:00 |
| 06:00 | 14:00 |
| 07:00 | 15:00 |
| 08:00 | 16:00 |
| 09:00 | 17:00 |
| 10:00 | 18:00 |
| 11:00 | 19:00 |
| United Kingdom | Japan |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 20:00 |
| 13:00 | 21:00 |
| 14:00 | 22:00 |
| 15:00 | 23:00 |
| 16:00 | 00:00next day |
| 17:00 | 01:00next day |
| 18:00 | 02:00next day |
| 19:00 | 03:00next day |
| 20:00 | 04:00next day |
| 21:00 | 05:00next day |
| 22:00 | 06:00next day |
| 23:00 | 07:00next day |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
09:00–10:00 in United Kingdom (17:00–18:00 in Japan)
Both places are inside 09:00–18:00 for 1 hour a day. Anything in this window works without asking anyone to stay late.
Reasonable calling hours
08:00–13:00 in United Kingdom (16:00–21:00 in Japan)
Both people are awake and available between 08:00 and 21:00 local time during this window.
When this difference changes
United Kingdom puts its clocks back on Sunday, October 25, 2026
The local offset moves from UTC+1 to UTC. After that date, Japan is 9 hours ahead of United Kingdom — instead of 8 hours ahead, as it is today.
Planning something with more than two places?
Adding a third city usually kills the obvious answer. The Meeting Time Finder takes up to five cities at once and shows only the hours that work for everybody.
United Kingdom and Japan: common questions
What is the time difference between United Kingdom and Japan?
As of 12 October 2026, Japan is 8 hours ahead of United Kingdom. The gap is not fixed: across the year, Japan ranges from 8 hours ahead to 9 hours ahead relative to United Kingdom, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in United Kingdom, what time is it in Japan?
It is 05:00 PM in Tokyo, Japan. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is Japan ahead of or behind United Kingdom?
Japan is ahead of United Kingdom by 8 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in Japan starts and ends earlier in United Kingdom terms.
Do United Kingdom and Japan observe daylight saving time?
United Kingdom changes its clocks twice a year; Japan does not. The difference therefore shifts by an hour when United Kingdom switches: across the year, Japan ranges from 8 hours ahead to 9 hours ahead relative to United Kingdom.
What is the best time to call Japan from United Kingdom?
Working hours overlap between 09:00 and 10:00 United Kingdom time, which is 17:00 to 18:00 in Japan. Calls inside that window reach both sides during the normal working day.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for London, United Kingdom (UTC+1) and Tokyo, Japan (UTC+9) were generated on Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.