Tokyo
Japan · Asia/Tokyo · UTC+9
Tokyo is the financial and corporate capital of Japan and one of the world's largest business centers.
Business hours & meeting culture
- Working hours
- 09:00–18:00, with overtime culture in many companies
- Workweek
- Monday to Friday
- Culture
- Japanese business meetings prize preparation and consensus. Decisions are rarely made in the room; they are confirmed afterward. Punctuality is taken seriously — being five minutes early is on time.
- Meeting tips
- Golden Week (late April to early May) and Obon (mid-August) are wide holiday periods to avoid. Year-end (late December to early January) is also a slow window.
Travel & logistics context
Quick reference for business travelers — climate, currency, and language.Currency and language are country-level. Climate may vary across the country.
Climate
Sakura season late March–early April; autumn foliage late November.
Currency
Cash still common despite contactless growth; carry some bills.
Language
Reading English more common than speaking; bring business cards in both languages.
Plug & voltage
Lowest mains voltage worldwide; 50Hz east of Tokyo, 60Hz west.
See plug types ↗🤝Business etiquette
- Greeting
- Bow is primary; a light handshake is acceptable but follow your host's lead.
- Cards
- Two hands with the text facing the recipient; receive with both hands and treat with care.
- Gifts
- Modest, beautifully wrapped; avoid white wrapping (funeral association). Reciprocity expected.
- Tipping
- Not expected and can be considered rude; do not tip.
- Dress
- Conservative, dark suits; minimal accessories.
- Dining
- Itadakimasu before eating; do not stick chopsticks upright in rice.
Time difference vs. major business cities
Computed for 2026. Daylight saving will shift these by an hour during transitions.
| City | Time zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 🇰🇷Seoul | Asia/Seoul | Same time |
| 🇮🇳Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | -3h 30m |
| 🇦🇪Dubai | Asia/Dubai | -5h |
| 🇬🇧London | Europe/London | -8h |
| 🇺🇸New York | America/New_York | -13h |
| 🇦🇺Sydney | Australia/Sydney | +1h |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | America/Los_Angeles | -16h |
| 🇨🇳Shanghai | Asia/Shanghai | -1h |
Public holidays in Japan, 2026
Commonly observed national holidays. Regional holidays and bridge days are not included. See also the global holiday calendar.
- 2026-01-01
- 2026-01-12
- 2026-02-11
- 2026-02-23
- 2026-03-20
- 2026-04-29
- 2026-05-04
- 2026-05-05
- 2026-07-20
- 2026-08-11
- 2026-09-21
- 2026-09-23
- 2026-10-12
- 2026-11-03
- 2026-11-23
Plan a meeting with Tokyo
Use the meeting planner to compare times across multiple cities, with weekend and holiday awareness.
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