Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
If it's this in Colombo, it's that in Tokyo.
When it's 8:00 am in Colombo, it's 11:30 am in Tokyo — late morning there, the same day.
When it's 10:00 am in Colombo, it's 1:30 pm in Tokyo — midday there, the same day.
When it's 12:00 pm in Colombo, it's 3:30 pm in Tokyo — afternoon there, the same day.
When it's 3:00 pm in Colombo, it's 6:30 pm in Tokyo — evening there, the same day.
When it's 5:00 pm in Colombo, it's 8:30 pm in Tokyo — evening there, the same day.
When it's 9:00 pm in Colombo, it's 12:30 am in Tokyo — late night there, the next day.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: Colombo uses the LKR (Rs රු) and Tokyo uses the JPY (¥). Language shifts too — Sinhala in Colombo, Japanese in Tokyo. Cars drive on the left in both, so rentals feel familiar.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR · Rs රු)
- Language
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Calling code
- +94
- Drives on
- Left
- Country
- Japan
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY · ¥)
- Language
- Japanese
- Calling code
- +81
- Drives on
- Left
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between Colombo and Tokyo?
Colombo is 3.5 hours ahead of Tokyo. Colombo runs on GMT+5:30 and Tokyo on GMT+9. The gap can shift by an hour when either side enters or leaves daylight saving — the live clocks above always reflect the current offset.
When it's 10 am in Colombo, what time is it in Tokyo?
10:00 am in Colombo is 1:30 pm in Tokyo on the same day — midday there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When it's 3 pm in Colombo, what time is it in Tokyo?
3:00 pm in Colombo is 6:30 pm in Tokyo on the same day — evening there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When's the best time to schedule a meeting?
There are 5 hours where both cities are inside a 09:00–17:00 workday. Aim for the middle of that window so neither side is starting or closing out.
Does daylight saving time change the difference?
Yes, if either city observes DST. When one side shifts and the other doesn't, the gap changes by one hour. The DST badges under each clock show whether each zone is currently shifted and when the next transition lands.
How far is Colombo from Tokyo?
About 6,846 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 8h 33m, not counting airport time, winds, or routing around restricted airspace.
Can I send this meeting time as a calendar invite?
Yes. Pick a time on the slider above, open the meeting card, customize the title and duration, then download the .ics file. It imports cleanly into Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar with the correct timezone attached.
What currency do Colombo and Tokyo use?
Colombo uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs රු); Tokyo uses the Japanese yen (JPY, ¥). Check the live rate before transferring money or paying with a card abroad — most banks add a 1–3 % FX margin on top of the mid-market rate.
How do I call Colombo from Tokyo?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 00), then +94, then the local number — drop any leading zero of the city or mobile code. For free calls, WhatsApp, Signal, and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi regardless of country code.
What language is spoken in Colombo and Tokyo?
Colombo primarily speaks Sinhala, Tamil; Tokyo speaks Japanese. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do Colombo and Tokyo drive on the same side of the road?
Yes — both drive on the left. Rental cars feel identical between the two.