JST to CST Converter
Convert time between Japan Standard Time (JST) and Central Standard Time (CST)
Japan Standard Time (JST)
Central Standard Time (CST)
Time Difference
Central Standard Time (CST) is 0 hours ahead of Japan Standard Time (JST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| JST | CST |
|---|---|
| 11:00 | 20:00 |
| 13:00 | 22:00 |
| 15:00 | 00:00 |
| 17:00 | 02:00 |
| 19:00 | 04:00 |
| 21:00 | 06:00 |
| 23:00 | 08:00 |
| 01:00 | 10:00 |
| 03:00 | 12:00 |
| 05:00 | 14:00 |
| 07:00 | 16:00 |
| 09:00 | 18:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About JST to CST Time Conversion
Converting time between Japan Standard Time (JST) and Central Standard Time (CST) is essential for Japan to US Midwest coordination. JST is UTC+9 while CST is UTC-6, making JST 15 hours ahead of CST. Japan does not observe daylight saving time, so JST remains constant year-round. However, the US Central region observes daylight saving time, transitioning from CST (UTC-6) to CDT (UTC-5). This means the actual difference varies between 15 hours (when CST is active) and 14 hours (when CDT is active).
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Japan and major Midwest cities. Whether you're scheduling international meetings, coordinating between Tokyo and Chicago, or managing global teams across both regions, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations accounting for seasonal daylight saving changes.
Common Use Cases for JST to CST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Japan to US Central region business meetings
- Coordinating Tokyo and Chicago corporate operations
- Managing global business operations between Japan and Midwest USA
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from Japan to US Central region
- Coordinating with Midwest family and friends from Japan
- Scheduling virtual events for Japan-Central USA audiences
Time Zone Information
Japan Standard Time (JST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+9
- IANA Timezone: Asia/Tokyo
- Daylight Saving: None - JST remains constant year-round
- Major Cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, Nagoya
- Coverage: All of Japan
Central Standard Time (CST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio
- Coverage: Central United States
Quick Reference: JST to CST
Remember: JST is always 15 hours ahead of CST, but becomes 14 hours when CDT is active (daylight saving time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between JST and CST?
Japan Standard Time (JST) is UTC+9, while Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. JST is 15 hours ahead of CST. This means when it's 8:00 AM in JST, it's 5:00 PM the previous day in CST.
Does Japan observe daylight saving time?
No, Japan does not observe daylight saving time. Japan Standard Time (JST) remains UTC+9 year-round. However, the US Central region observes daylight saving time, transitioning from CST (UTC-6) to CDT (UTC-5). This means the time difference varies between 15 hours (when CST is active) and 14 hours (when CDT is active).
What is the time difference during Central Daylight Time (CDT)?
When the US Central region observes Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from mid-March to early November, the difference becomes 14 hours. During this period, when it's 8:00 AM JST, it would be 6:00 PM CDT the previous day. This is why it's important to verify whether CST or CDT is currently active.
What major cities are in JST and CST timezones?
JST covers major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, and Nagoya, as well as all cities throughout Japan. CST covers major Central US cities like Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
How do I convert JST to CST manually?
To convert from JST to CST, subtract 15 hours from the JST time. For example, if it's 9:00 AM JST, it would be 6:00 PM CST the previous day. Remember that the difference becomes 14 hours when the US Central region observes CDT (daylight saving time).
What should I know about scheduling across JST and CST?
Japan is 14-15 hours ahead of the US Central region, with very limited overlap. Morning JST times (8-10 AM) correspond to evening CST times (5-7 PM previous day), while afternoon JST (2-4 PM) corresponds to late morning CST (9-11 AM previous day). Scheduling requires careful coordination to find mutually acceptable times for both regions.
Pro Tips
- • JST is always 15 hours ahead of CST - but becomes 14 hours when CDT is active (March-November).
- • Japan does not observe daylight saving time, so JST is consistent year-round while CST/CDT changes twice annually.
- • Morning JST (8-10 AM) equals evening CST (5-7 PM previous day), making same-day coordination challenging.
- • For business coordination between Japan and Midwest, afternoon JST (2-4 PM = 9-11 AM CST previous day) provides late morning options.
- • Use 24-hour time format when communicating across JST-CST to eliminate AM/PM confusion across day boundaries.
- • Between March and November, remember the 14-hour difference when CST transitions to CDT due to daylight saving time.