Lots of watch enthusiasts love Japanese brands. Most of them offer great quality timepieces without the huge price markup associated with Swiss watches.

Since Japanese watchmakers are very efficient with their production lines, there're thousands of different models to choose from. Even though this is a good thing, it can be hard to skim through if you're trying to find something very specific such as a minimalist watch.

In this article, we're going to save you hours of research by covering the 9 best Japanese minimalist watches available on the market.

Seiko SUP873

A minimalist watch should always have a simple design, and it doesn't get much simpler than the Seiko SUP873. The dial has the bare minimum; thin indices for the hour marks and small needle hands to tell the time. 

What's so peculiar about this watch is that it doesn't even have a seconds hand, which makes for a neat clutter-free dial. Also, you get a V115 solar caliber, so you get accurate timekeeping and you don't have to bother with changing a battery.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to take full advantage of the high accuracy of the Seiko V115 without a seconds hand, but timekeeping shouldn't be a priority if you're looking for a minimalist watch.

With its 38mm case and 7mm thickness, the Seiko SUP873 ticks all the boxes for a minimalist timepiece, and it will fit right under your shirt cuffs.

Citizen Stilleto

The Stiletto is a pillar in Citizen's collection. Although it is clearly a minimalist watch, the word I would use to describe the Stiletto is "stealthy". With its blacked-out look, this watch is reminescent of a B2 Stealth Bomber.

With this timepiece, you get straightforward baton indices and a simple two hands layout. Also, Citizen used a black font for the logo to have a monochrome dial. The Stiletto doesn't have a date display, which is something minimalist watch collectors will love.

The Citizen Stiletto isn't cheap at all, but you do get a few features that aren't available on entry-level timepieces.  For instance, the crystal is made of sapphire, which is extremely resistant to scratches.

One of the best aspects of the Stiletto is the case thinness. Thanks to its space-efficient quartz movement, you get a 4.7mm thickness, which makes it one of the thinnest cases in the industry.

Orient Bambino V3

The Bambino is undoubtedly the most popular watch out of Orient's collection. The Bambino lineup has tons of variants, coming in 5 different versions. The 3rd version is the most minimalist of all with its clean and elegant dial.

You still get signature Bambino components, such as the domed mineral crystal, which gives it a vintage vibe. Also, this timepiece is equipped with an automatic movement that hacks and hand-winds. This gives a lot of personality to the watch and it explains why it's so popular amongst collectors.

What's so great about the Bambino v3 is that it can be had a reasonable price, and you can be sure that it will last for upwards of a decade thanks to its super reliable F6724 movement.

Seiko SRPB41

Citizen NH8350

The Citizen NH8350 is one of these watches that's super affordable but looks like a million bucks. The dial has a great sunburst finish as well as elongated baton hands & indices. Also, you get an incredibly small day-date display which adds functionality to the NH8350 without taking away from its minimalist design.

Mechanical movements are not that common for entry-level Citizen watches, so its nice to have the 8200 automatic caliber in the NH8350. While it doesn't have the hacking function, you still get the ability to hand-wind the movement.

This is a super dressy timepiece that will look awesome with a suit, but you can also change the strap to wear it with a casual outfit. Also, the 50m water resistance means you could technically take the NH8350 for a swim every once in a while.

Orient Symphony III

The Symphony is such a classic and beloved watch, Orient recently released the third generation. With every new iteration, Orient changes a few small aspects while keeping the timeless essence of the Symphony.

For this 3rd generation, Orient introduced the spear-tipped hands, which help the Symphony stand out from its baton-handed peers. You also get a subtle date display at the 3 o'clock position with rounded-edges giving it a distinctive look.

The Symphony gets Orient's in-house F6722 caliber, which can be seen through the exhibition case back. Once again, the F6722 is hand-wound, hackable, and very reliable.

The polished finish of the case paired with the neat-looking bracelet contributes to the classy and elegant feeling of the Orient Symphony.

Seiko SNE507

A minimalist watch doesn't have to be boring, and the Seiko SNE507 is the perfect example. On this timepiece, you get the usual characteristics of minimalism: thin hands & indices, tiny date display, uncluttered dial, etc..

From there, Seiko incorporated a few styling elements that give a lot of flair to the SNE507 without taking away from the minimalist design. For instance, you get a two-tone textured dial, a dented pattern around the bezel, and a "Cabochon" crown (synthetic jewel for style).

The greatness of the Seiko SNE507 doesn't stop at styling, you also get high-quality components. For example, the Seiko V157 is a great solar-powered caliber that is extremely accurate and has a 10-month power reserve once fully charged.

One cool thing about the Seiko V157 movement is that it will let you know when it's about to run out of energy by ticking every 2 seconds instead of every second.

Citizen Axiom Chronograph

When someone mentions minimalist styling, there's no way you're picturing a chronograph watch in your head. Citizen tried their best to break every preconceived idea you had about minimalist timepieces and they still managed to perfectly capture the essence of minimalism.

Citizen found a way to fit tons of features in the dial without ending with a cluttered mess. For instance, you get 3 chronograph subdials: 2 used for a 60-minute stopwatch (minutes and seconds) and the other one's used as a 24-hour clock. Also, you get a subtle but practical date display around the 4 o'clock position.

What's great about the Citizen Axiom is that it has a 43mm case, so it will look great on men with medium to large wrists (6.75''+). This isn't usually the case for minimalist watches as they are usually located in the 40mm and below range.

Orient RA-AC0E

The Orient RA-AC0E surely doesn't have a pretty name, but it does have a pretty face. While it isn't that different when compared to other minimalist watches, the RA-AC0E lineup offers 6 different colorways, such as the gorgeous green-dialed version pictured up there.

Orient markets the RA-AC0E as a great blend between function and design. Indeed, this dressy timepiece offers sporty specs such as the 100m water resistance rating, which means you could swim and snorkel with it. Also, the mesh bracelet stays classy but is a bit more comfortable than traditional steel bracelets.

Not only is the dial available in a couple of different colors, but it also has a subtle sunburst effect, which looks matte at first, but changes up when the lighting is right. Another cool quirk of the dial is the date window, which matches the dial's color; something quite rare for Orient watches.