This article discusses the Japanese cultural perspective on being late, different types of tardiness in Japan, what is considered acceptable, punctuality and respect in Japan, business etiquette when it comes to being late, social etiquette when it comes to being late, and the consequences of being late in Japan. Generally speaking, arriving five minutes before an appointed time is considered “on time” while arriving five minutes after an appointed time is considered “late”. Punctuality and respect are highly valued in Japanese culture so it is important to always make an effort to arrive on time for any appointment or meeting. In addition, arriving 10-15 minutes after the start of a social event may be acceptable depending on the situation but try not to arrive too much later than 15 minutes as this could indicate a lack of consideration towards your host.