What is the Time Difference Between London and Tokyo?
The time difference between London and Tokyo is one of the largest common international gaps, spanning 8 to 9 hours depending on the season. This conversion is critical for UK-Japan business, travel, and coordinating across these major financial centers.
Time Zone Overview
London Time (GMT/BST)
London uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter and British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) during DST (late March to late October).
Tokyo Time (JST)
Tokyo uses Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) year-round. Japan does not observe DST.
Time Difference
Winter: Tokyo is 9 hours ahead of London (GMT → JST = +9h)
Summer: Tokyo is 8 hours ahead of London (BST → JST = +8h)
Conversion Examples
Winter: 9:00 AM GMT → 6:00 PM JST
Summer: 9:00 AM BST → 5:00 PM JST
Daylight Saving Time Impact
- London: BST (UTC+1) late March to late October
- Tokyo: JST (UTC+9) year-round, no DST
The gap shrinks by 1 hour when London is on BST.
Quick Reference Table (London GMT / Tokyo JST)
| London | Tokyo |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 3:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 6:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 12:00 AM (next day) |
| 6:00 PM | 3:00 AM (next day) |
| 9:00 PM | 6:00 AM (next day) |
Quick Reference Table (London BST / Tokyo JST)
| London | Tokyo |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 3:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 6:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 2:00 AM (next day) |
| 9:00 PM | 5:00 AM (next day) |
Common Use Cases
- UK-Japan business meetings and trade
- Financial market overlap (London 8AM-4PM, Tokyo 9AM-3PM JST)
- Travel planning between the two capitals
- Coordinating with remote teams or family in Japan
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between London and Tokyo?
8h in summer, 9h in winter. Tokyo is always ahead.
Does Tokyo observe DST?
No, JST (UTC+9) year-round.
When does the gap change?
When London switches to/from BST (last Sun March, last Sun October).
If it's 2 PM in London, what time is it in Tokyo?
11 PM JST (winter) or 10 PM JST (summer).
Best meeting window?
8-10 AM London = 5-7 PM Tokyo (winter) or 4-6 PM (summer).
Use our world clock for live London/Tokyo times and meeting planner for date-specific scheduling.