What time are the Tokyo and London sessions in Hawaiʻi time?
The Tokyo stock market opens at 9:00 am Japan time, which is 2:00 pm HST the day before, all year, because neither Japan nor Hawaiʻi changes its clocks. London opens at about 8:00 am UK time: about 9:00 pm HST the night before while the UK is on summer time, and about 10:00 pm HST in UK winter. Both are common windows for Hawaiʻi traders who do not want to trade at dawn.
What are the session times in HST?
Times are for the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, shown in Hawaiʻi time. London times are approximate; check the exchange before you plan around them.
| Session | Local time | HST |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo morning | 9:00 am to 11:30 am Japan time | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm |
| Tokyo afternoon | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm Japan time | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm |
| London, UK summer time | about 8:00 am to 4:30 pm UK time | about 9:00 pm to 5:30 am |
| London, UK winter time | about 8:00 am to 4:30 pm UK time | about 10:00 pm to 6:30 am |
Why does the session start the day before in Hawaiʻi?
Japan and the UK are ahead of Hawaiʻi. So Monday morning in Tokyo is Sunday at 2:00 pm HST, and Monday morning in London is Sunday night in Hawaiʻi.
That is why the futures week opens on Sunday afternoon in Hawaiʻi: 12:00 pm HST, or 1:00 pm HST in winter.
When does the London time change?
The UK changes its clocks on different dates from the US. On Sunday, October 25, 2026, the London open moves from about 9:00 pm to about 10:00 pm HST. On Sunday, March 28, 2027, it moves back to about 9:00 pm HST.
For about one week in the fall and two weeks in the spring, London has changed and the US has not. See the clock change page.
Can I trade the Tokyo or London session with US futures?
Yes. US stock index futures, like the Micro Nasdaq 100 (MNQ), trade on CME during these hours. You do not need a Japanese or UK account.
Expect fewer contracts to trade than at the New York open. Check the spread, the gap between the best buy and sell prices, before you enter.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that Tokyo and London open on the previous day in HST.
- Using the US clock change date for London. The UK changes about a week earlier in the fall.
- Forgetting the Tokyo lunch break, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm HST.
Sources
- Japan Exchange Group: trading hours
- London Stock Exchange: business days and trading service hours
- GOV.UK: When do the clocks change?
- CME Group trading hours
- IANA time zone database
Last reviewed: 2026-10-16
Read next
- The best futures session if you work 9 to 5 in Hawaii
- You do not have to wake up at 3am to trade from Hawaii
- All futures questions, answered
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Mahalo for reading and trade well!
Glenn & Reid | Hawaiʻi Trading Academy
Risk disclaimer: Education only. Not financial advice. Trading futures involves substantial risk of loss. Futures are not suitable for every investor, and you can lose more than your initial deposit. Examples on this page use made-up numbers to teach the math. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Hawaiʻi Trading Academy provides education only. We are not financial advisors, and nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product. HTA is not affiliated with CME Group or any exchange or agency named here. Times, rules and dates can change; check the source before you trade.
