What is the legal maximum working hours per day?

What the Law Says

Japan’s Labor Standards Act sets strict limits on daily and weekly working hours to protect workers’ health and safety.

The Labor Standards Act establishes a standard workday of 8 hours and a standard workweek of 40 hours. Employers may require overtime only if they have a written agreement (a '36 Agreement') with employee representatives and file it with the labor standards inspection office.

Overtime is legally capped at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year. However, under special circumstances defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, up to 100 hours of overtime per month is permitted — but only if the average over several months does not exceed 80 hours and health measures are implemented.

Employers must also provide at least one day off per week or four days off every four weeks, and pay overtime premiums: at least 25% above regular wages for hours beyond 8 per day or 40 per week, and 35% for work on statutory rest days.

Statutory Text

An employer shall not employ any worker for more than eight hours a day or forty hours a week, excluding rest periods.

— Labor Standards Act, s. 32 — Hours of Work

Statutory Text

When an employer has concluded a written agreement… with the representative of the majority of workers… the employer may require workers to work overtime…

— Labor Standards Act, s. 36 — Agreement on Overtime and Holiday Work

Statutory Text

The number of hours of overtime work… shall not exceed forty-five hours per month…

— Ordinance on the Enforcement of the Labor Standards Act, Art. 17-2

What to Do

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