2021 Olympics: What is the time difference with Tokyo?

With the Olympics vastly approaching, find out the time difference between the U.S. and Japan for watching events.

Every four years, the Summer Olympics take center stage in a different host city each time. With the pandemic halting all normal activities for much of 2020, so did the Olympic Games.

After a long hiatus of waiting, one of the most iconic summer traditions returns to the sporting world, with Tokyo, Japan, as Asia host to its fourth-ever Games.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, July 23, and will be broadcast live on NBC and will re-air in a primetime coverage spot later on in the evening. Other networks of the NBC family, including NBCSN, will join the fold as well.

What time zone is Tokyo and when will 2021 Olympics events air in the U.S.?

To get the full Olympics experience, expect to wake up rather early if you are on the east coast, and in the middle of the night on the west coast. Tokyo is ahead by nearly a day, making the live programming come on at inconvenient times for most working Americans.

In fact, watching the Olympics on television is the only option that non-Japanese residents have, as the country is undergoing a state of emergency due to the pandemic that could last upwards of six weeks.

With that in mind, assuming no further issues arise that could delay the games even longer, fans will get to enjoy some of their favorite sports which include, but are not limited to — gymnastics, swimming, basketball, volleyball, track and field, tae kwon do, boxing, wrestling, handball, and more during the two-week ordeal.

The most unique and unexpected Summer Olympics in recent memory will have some different aspects attached to it, but like all sports, finding a sense of normalcy is the overarching goal.

July 23 will kick it all off.