Japanese municipalities reduce office hours to improve productivity

Several municipalities in Japan are implementing measures to shorten administrative service hours to promote work-style reforms and increase productivity.

In Zenkoji City, office hours will be reduced to 9:00 AM through 4:00 PM starting October 1. The city aims to improve service quality and allow for flexible procedures by expanding online applications, introducing reservation systems, and increasing convenience store document issuance.

Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture has announced it will shorten its service window to 9:00 AM through 4:45 PM starting December 1. The city noted that approximately 90 percent of visitors currently arrive during the proposed new hours. This move follows a trend in the prefecture, with Minamiechizen Town having previously implemented similar changes. While physical windows will close earlier, telephone support will remain available during standard hours.