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Phrases like 5[時]{じ}に[帰]{かえ}ります or 3[時]{じ}に[行]{い}きます or 8[時]{じ}に[来]{き}ます are
the very basics one can find in a beginner's book. And despite that, I have
yet to see an explanation what exactly they mean. Let's say, that going home
takes 1 hour and someone says: 5[時]{じ}に[帰]{かえ}ります。 Does that mean he arrives
home at 5 (and departs at 4)? Or maybe he departs at 5 (and arrives at 6)? Or
maybe you can say both just by swapping particle に for something else?

Does it work the same way with other movement verbs?
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2019-12-18T05:05:08.243
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2019-12-19T02:21:01.560
2019-12-18T06:59:23.743
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question
grammar usage time
行く 帰る 来る + time expression - how it works
For 行く and 来る, they operate pretty much like their English counterparts.

'John is coming here at 5:00 (５時に来る）.' 5:00 indicates his arrival time.  
'John is going at 5:00（５時に行く）.' 5:00 indicates his departure time.

With 帰る, however, it could indicate the time at which John left or the time he
arrived home.  
**_Situation A (said by a work colleague):_** 「ジョンさん、昨日は何時に帰ったんですか？」 'Hey
John, what time did you leave (to go home) yesterday?'.  
**_Situation B (said by a roommate/parent,etc.):_** 「あっ、ジョン君だ。いつ帰ったの？」'Ah,
it's you John. When'd _you_ get home?'.

So, there is a bit of a necessity to read the context behind the question or
statement when it comes to 帰る. If you want to be more specific you can always
use clarifying words like 出発 and 到着 (or 出る and 着く) to specify the
departure/arrival time(s).
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2019-12-19T02:21:01.560
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2019-12-19T02:21:01.560
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answer