「の」usage in「１時間前の午前８時半」


I've been translating [NHK
EasyNews](http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10010571601000/k10010571601000.html)
and met this phrase

> ２５日は、 **申し込みが始まる１時間前の午前８時半には** 、約３０人が並んでいました

Although, I think I do understand the meaning of it

> In one hour before 8:30 am, when the reservations started, ...

I don't get the here at all. Should it not be reversed? As in

> 何々が始まる午前8時半の一時間には

I've always though of it as genitive case in my mother tongue, so I feel
pretty confused.

Thank you!




> Although, I think I do understand the meaning of it
>

>> In one hour before 8:30 am, when the reservations started

No, this sentence means "By 8:30 AM, which is an hour before the registration
started, ...".

The actual registration starts at 9:30, which is written at the end of the
article.

Here, の is used as the apposition marker.

>   * 友達の田中さん my friend Tanaka  
>  (compare: 田中さんの友達 a friend of Tanaka)
>   * 日本の首都の東京 Tokyo, the capital of Japan  
>  (The first の is like "of", the second の is for apposition)
>   * 開始時間の21時に At the starting time, (which is) 21:00
>

As you said, 午前8時半の1時間前 would mean "An hour before 8:30 AM" (ie. 7:30 AM).




> Although, I think I do understand the meaning of it
>

>> In one hour before 8:30 am, when the reservations started

No, this sentence means "By 8:30 AM, which is an hour before the registration
started, ...".

The actual registration starts at 9:30, which is written at the end of the
article.

Here, の is used as the apposition marker.

>   * 友達の田中さん my friend Tanaka  
>  (compare: 田中さんの友達 a friend of Tanaka)
>   * 日本の首都の東京 Tokyo, the capital of Japan  
>  (The first の is like "of", the second の is for apposition)
>   * 開始時間の21時に At the starting time, (which is) 21:00
>

As you said, 午前8時半の1時間前 would mean "An hour before 8:30 AM" (ie. 7:30 AM).

