TOKYO–I figured things would be hard when I moved to Tokyo almost four years ago – finding new friends, paying for life in a big city. But the biggest challenge proved to be completely unexpected: dealing with the fact that the people and stores in this great city don’t function early. I’m a morning person; Tokyo is not a morning city.

The gym near my house doesn’t open until 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends. Dry cleaners don’t open their doors until 10 a.m., and the closest supermarket: 9:30 a.m. (Back in Washington, D.C.,...