TimezoneTable

Japan & United States

Compare working hours between Japan and United States to find the best overlap for meetings and collaboration.

No Overlap
Duration
Japan9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
United States9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
UTC
Japan
United States
00:00
06:00
12:00
18:00
24:00
Outside work
Working hours
Overlap
Best time

Work Culture Guide: Japan & United States

Japan

Working Hours

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Japan has a strong work ethic; overtime is common but increasingly discouraged. "Core hours" (10 AM - 3 PM) are when meetings are scheduled.

Lunch Break

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

60 minutes, strictly observed

Business Etiquette

  • •Punctuality is crucial—arrive 5 minutes early
  • •Business cards (meishi) are exchanged formally with both hands
  • •Hierarchy is important; defer to senior colleagues
  • •Silence during conversations is normal and not awkward
  • •Group consensus (nemawashi) is valued over individual decisions

Major Holidays

  • Golden Week — Late April - Early May (multiple holidays)
  • Obon — Mid-August (varies by region)
  • New Year (Shogatsu) — December 29 - January 3
  • Silver Week — Mid-September (varies)
  • Emperor's Birthday — February 23

Communication Style

Indirect and context-heavy. Japanese communication often relies on reading the atmosphere (kuuki wo yomu). Explicit "no" is rarely stated.

Meeting Culture

Meetings are formal and structured. Presentations are detailed. Questions may be asked afterwards rather than during. Follow-up via email is common.

United States

Working Hours

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Varies significantly by coast—East Coast starts 3 hours earlier than West Coast. Many tech companies have flexible hours.

Lunch Break

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

30-60 minutes, often eaten at desk or during meetings

Business Etiquette

  • •Direct communication style is preferred—get to the point quickly
  • •Punctuality is highly valued; being late is seen as disrespectful
  • •First names are commonly used even with senior colleagues
  • •Email and Slack are primary communication channels
  • •Work-life boundaries are increasingly respected, especially post-pandemic

Major Holidays

  • Thanksgiving — Late November (4th Thursday)
  • Independence Day — July 4
  • Christmas-New Year — December 24 - January 1
  • Memorial Day — Last Monday of May
  • Labor Day — First Monday of September

Communication Style

Direct and results-oriented. Americans value efficiency and clear action items from meetings.

Meeting Culture

Agendas are expected, discussions are time-boxed. Video calls have become standard. Meetings often start with brief small talk.