What time is it in Tokyo, London, Dubai, Sydney, and NYC? — the tourist's guide
If you're visiting a major destination for the first time, the most basic question is also the most useful: what time is it there right now? Beyond that, you'll want to know whether they observe DST, what their business hours are like, and what their typical schedule looks like. Here's a tour of five major destinations.
For real-time current time in any city, the world clock shows them all.
Tokyo, Japan
Time zone: UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time, JST)
DST: No
Current time: see time-in-Japan page
Business hours: typically 9 AM-6 PM. Many companies still expect 8 AM start; long Friday "after-work" drinks are common.
Public hours: shops typically 10 AM-9 PM. Restaurants serve until late (some until 4 AM). Train system runs roughly 5 AM-midnight.
Cultural notes:
- Punctuality is highly valued. Arrive 5-10 minutes early to meetings.
- Lunch breaks are typically 12-1 PM, often eaten communally.
- Vending machines are everywhere; convenience is a national value.
- 24-hour culture in central Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku); rural areas are early-to-bed.
For travelers from US East Coast: Tokyo is 14 hours ahead of NY (winter) or 13 hours (summer). Phone calls home work best at Tokyo's late evening = NY morning.
London, United Kingdom
Time zone: UTC+0 (GMT) winter, UTC+1 (BST) summer
DST: Yes (Mar to Oct)
Current time: time-in-United-Kingdom
Business hours: typically 9 AM-5:30 PM. Tea breaks at 11 AM and 3 PM still observed in traditional offices. Lunch typically 12-2 PM.
Public hours: shops 9 AM-7 PM (later in central London). Pubs traditionally close at 11 PM; many extend to midnight. Underground (subway) runs roughly 5 AM-midnight, with night service on weekends on some lines.
Cultural notes:
- Punctuality matters but less rigidly than in Tokyo.
- Sundays are quieter; many shops have shorter hours.
- Bank holidays close everything; check the calendar.
- Christmas to New Year is a long quiet period.
For travelers from US East Coast: London is 5 hours ahead of NY (most of year). Standard meeting time: 11 AM EST = 4 PM GMT.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Time zone: UTC+4 (Gulf Standard Time, GST)
DST: No
Current time: time-in-UAE
Business hours: typically 9 AM-5 PM, but Dubai has unusual variations. Friday is a half-day or full holiday in some sectors (Islamic prayers Friday afternoon). Saturday is a workday. Sunday is the start of the work week (different from Western convention).
Public hours: shops in malls typically 10 AM-10 PM (often 10 AM-midnight in summer when the heat keeps people indoors). Outdoor venues are quieter during summer afternoons.
Cultural notes:
- Ramadan affects schedules significantly. During Ramadan, work hours are shorter (often 9 AM-2 PM). Dining out is restricted to evening (Iftar).
- Friday is the religious day. Public sector closes; some retail closes Friday morning.
- Saturday-Sunday is the weekend in some sectors; Friday-Saturday in others. Confusing.
- Hot summers mean indoor activities dominate June-September.
For travelers: Dubai is 9 hours ahead of NY in winter (8 in summer). 4 hours ahead of UK winter (3 in summer).
Sydney, Australia
Time zone: UTC+10 (AEST) winter, UTC+11 (AEDT) summer
DST: Yes (Oct to April — opposite of Northern Hemisphere)
Current time: time-in-Australia
Business hours: typically 9 AM-5 PM. Traditional Australian work culture is somewhat relaxed but increasingly business-formal in finance and corporate.
Public hours: shops 9 AM-5:30 PM Mon-Sat (some until 9 PM Thursdays). Sundays often shorter hours. Restaurants serve through the evening.
Cultural notes:
- Australia's summer (your winter): December-February. Beach season; many businesses have reduced hours around Christmas-New Year.
- Australia's winter (your summer): June-August. School holidays in July are major travel times.
- Public holidays are state-specific. Easter, Anzac Day, Australia Day are widely observed.
For travelers from US East Coast: Sydney is 14-16 hours ahead of NY (depending on DST). Phone calls home: Sydney's morning = NY's previous evening.
New York City, USA
Time zone: UTC-5 (EST) winter, UTC-4 (EDT) summer
DST: Yes (Mar to Nov)
Current time: time-in-United-States
Business hours: financial sector starts 7-8 AM (after market open at 9:30 AM EST). Most corporate offices 9 AM-5/6 PM. Tech often more flexible.
Public hours: shops in tourist areas 10 AM-8 PM or later. Manhattan retail often open later. Subway runs 24/7 (one of the few major systems globally).
Cultural notes:
- 24-hour culture in central Manhattan. Restaurants, bodegas, gyms open at all hours.
- Early bird specials at restaurants 5-7 PM common.
- Tipping culture: 18-20% standard at restaurants.
- Major holidays affect everything: Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November), Christmas, New Year.
For travelers: NY is 5 hours behind UK (winter), 14-15 hours behind Sydney, 13-14 hours behind Tokyo.
Quick reference table
| City | UTC offset (winter) | UTC offset (summer) | DST? |
|------|---------------------|---------------------|------|
| Tokyo | +9 | +9 | No |
| London | +0 (GMT) | +1 (BST) | Yes |
| Dubai | +4 | +4 | No |
| Sydney | +10 (AEST) | +11 (AEDT) | Yes (Oct-Apr) |
| NYC | -5 (EST) | -4 (EDT) | Yes (Mar-Nov) |
Note: Sydney's "summer" is December-February; its DST runs October to April.
Common mistakes when traveling
Booking flights with wrong dates: a flight departing NY at 11 PM might land in Tokyo "tomorrow," but the booking system shows "tomorrow" — confusing if you weren't paying attention.
Forgetting to adjust phone: most modern phones auto-update on arrival. Older or jail-broken phones may not.
Calendar entries on wrong day: an event scheduled in your home time zone may show on a different calendar date in your destination zone.
Currency exchanges and banks: Friday closures in Dubai. Sunday closures in many countries. Plan around these.
Holiday calendars: each country has different public holidays. Check before traveling.
Universal travel tips
1. Check current time in your destination on departure day: especially if you're flying overnight or across multiple zones.
2. Set your phone to destination time before landing: helps psychologically.
3. Don't trust street clocks: many are wrong, especially in tourist areas.
4. Use the world clock as a quick reference.
5. Have a backup time-keeping method: phone batteries die.
6. Account for DST shifts during your trip: if you're in a destination during DST shift dates, your local clock will jump.
FAQ
What time is it in Tokyo right now?
Check time-in-Japan. Or use the world clock for live time.
Is London on the same time as Paris?
No. London is UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer. Paris (and most of Europe) is UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer. Always 1 hour difference.
Does Dubai use the Gregorian calendar or Hijri?
Both. The Hijri calendar is used for religious purposes. The Gregorian calendar is used for civil matters (banking, government, business). Most documents use both.
Why does Sydney's DST go opposite to ours?
Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. Their summer is December-February, so DST shifts in October (start of summer in NZ/Aus) and April (end). The flip is consistent with the seasonal logic.
Should I adjust my watch when I land?
Yes — it's the easiest mental reset. Modern phones auto-update; mechanical watches need manual adjustment.
What about my computer's time zone?
Modern operating systems detect time zone automatically. If you're using Wi-Fi-only mode, the detection may take a few minutes after landing.
Bottom line
Tokyo, London, Dubai, Sydney, and NYC each have distinct time-zone characteristics. DST status varies (only London, Sydney, NYC observe). Business hours and cultural rhythms differ significantly. For real-time time in any of these (or any other) city, the world clock is the live tool.
For converting between any two zones, the time converter handles it.