JST to EST Converter

Convert time between Japan Standard Time (JST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Japan Standard Time (JST)

20:30:41
UTC +0
Dec 28, 2025
Asia/Tokyo

Eastern Standard Time (EST)

20:30:41
UTC +0
Dec 28, 2025
America/New_York

Time Difference

Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 0 hours ahead of Japan Standard Time (JST)

Select Date

Select Time

Quick Reference

JSTEST
11:0021:00
13:0023:00
15:0001:00
17:0003:00
19:0005:00
21:0007:00
23:0009:00
01:0011:00
03:0013:00
05:0015:00
07:0017:00
09:0019:00

Top 10 Most Common Time Zones

AbbreviationFull NameUTC OffsetTypical Use
UTCCoordinated Universal TimeUTC ±0Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs)
EST / EDTEastern (US) TimeUTC −5 / −4New York, Toronto — North American business hub
CST / CDTCentral (US) TimeUTC −6 / −5Chicago, Dallas — US central business region
PST / PDTPacific (US) TimeUTC −8 / −7San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard
GMT / BSTGreenwich Mean / British Summer TimeUTC 0 / +1UK, used globally as a reference with UTC
CET / CESTCentral European (Summer) TimeUTC +1 / +2Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core
ISTIndia Standard TimeUTC +5:30India — major IT & outsourcing region
CSTChina Standard TimeUTC +8Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub
JSTJapan Standard TimeUTC +9Tokyo — finance & tech hub
AEST / AEDTAustralian Eastern (Daylight) TimeUTC +10 / +11Sydney, 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 OffsetRegion(s)
CSTCentral Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard TimeUTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5North America, China, Cuba
ISTIndian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard TimeUTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2India, Ireland, Israel
ASTAtlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard TimeUTC−4 / UTC+3Caribbean, Canada, Middle East
PSTPacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard TimeUTC−8 / UTC+8North America, Philippines
ESTEastern Standard Time (North America / Australia)UTC−5 / UTC+10North America, Australia

✅ Best Practice

To avoid ambiguity, always:

  • Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g., America/New_York instead of "EST"
  • Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g., UTC−5 when abbreviations must be used
  • Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset

About JST to EST Time Conversion

Converting time between Japan Standard Time (JST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) is essential for US East Coast to Japan coordination. JST is UTC+9 while EST is UTC-5, making JST 14 hours ahead of EST. Japan does not observe daylight saving time, so JST remains constant year-round. However, the US East Coast observes daylight saving time, so the actual difference varies between 14 hours (when EST is active) and 13 hours (when EDT is active).

This conversion is crucial for business operations between Japan and the US East Coast. Whether you're scheduling international meetings, coordinating project deadlines, or managing business operations across both regions, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations accounting for seasonal daylight saving changes.

Common Use Cases for JST to EST Conversion

Business & Work

  • Scheduling Japan to US East Coast business meetings
  • Coordinating Tokyo and New York financial markets operations
  • Managing global business operations between Japan and East Coast USA

Personal & Travel

  • Planning travel from Japan to US East Coast
  • Coordinating with East Coast family and friends from Japan
  • Scheduling virtual events for Japan-East Coast 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

Eastern Standard Time (EST)

  • UTC Offset: UTC-5
  • IANA Timezone: America/New_York
  • Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
  • Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta
  • Coverage: Eastern United States

Quick Reference: JST to EST

8:00 AM JST
6:00 PM EST (previous day)
12:00 PM JST (noon)
10:00 PM EST (previous day)
6:00 PM JST
4:00 AM EST
10:00 PM JST
8:00 AM EST

Remember: JST is always 14 hours ahead of EST, but becomes 13 hours when EDT is active (daylight saving time)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between JST and EST?

Japan Standard Time (JST) is UTC+9, while Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5. JST is 14 hours ahead of EST. This means when it's 8:00 AM in JST, it's 6:00 PM the previous day in EST.

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 East Coast observes daylight saving time, transitioning from EST (UTC-5) to EDT (UTC-4). This means the time difference varies between 14 hours (when EST is active) and 13 hours (when EDT is active).

What is the time difference during Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)?

When the US East Coast observes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) from mid-March to early November, the difference becomes 13 hours. During this period, when it's 8:00 AM JST, it would be 7:00 PM EDT the previous day. This is why it's important to verify whether EST or EDT is currently active.

What major cities are in JST and EST timezones?

JST covers major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama, and Nagoya, as well as all cities throughout Japan. EST covers major East Coast US cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Atlanta.

How do I convert JST to EST manually?

To convert from JST to EST, subtract 14 hours from the JST time. For example, if it's 9:00 AM JST, it would be 7:00 PM EST the previous day. Remember that the difference becomes 13 hours when the US East Coast observes EDT (daylight saving time).

What should I know about scheduling across JST and EST?

Japan is 13-14 hours ahead of the US East Coast, with very limited overlap. Morning JST times (8-10 AM) correspond to evening EST times (6-8 PM previous day), while afternoon JST (2-4 PM) corresponds to morning EST (12-2 AM). Scheduling requires careful coordination to find mutually acceptable times for both regions.

Pro Tips

  • • JST is always 14 hours ahead of EST - but becomes 13 hours when EDT is active (March-November).
  • • Japan does not observe daylight saving time, so JST is consistent year-round while EST/EDT changes twice annually.
  • • Morning JST (8-10 AM) equals evening EST (6-8 PM previous day), offering limited but possible overlap for real-time communication.
  • • For best scheduling results, afternoon JST (2-4 PM = 12-2 AM EST) typically requires early morning or late night coordination on the East Coast.
  • • Use 24-hour time format when communicating across JST-EST to eliminate AM/PM confusion across the day boundary.
  • • Between March and November, remember the 13-hour difference when EST transitions to EDT due to daylight saving time.