What is the Time Difference Between Tokyo and Sydney?
Tokyo and Sydney are close enough to feel manageable but far enough to trip you up: the gap is just 1 hour in winter and 2 hours in summer, because the two countries handle daylight saving on opposite schedules. Here's the clean breakdown.
Time Zone Overview
Tokyo (JST)
Tokyo is JST (UTC+9) all year. Japan has no daylight saving time.
Sydney (AEST/AEDT)
Sydney is AEST (UTC+10) in winter and AEDT (UTC+11) during Australian daylight saving (first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April).
Time Difference
Australian summer / Japan winter: Sydney is 2 hours ahead of Tokyo.
Australian winter / Japan summer: Sydney is 1 hour ahead of Tokyo.
Japan never moves; the gap shifts only when Australia switches.
Conversion Formula
Time in Sydney = Time in Tokyo + 2 hours (Australia summer) or + 1 hour (Australia winter)
Quick Reference Table (Tokyo JST → Sydney)
| Tokyo | Sydney (AEDT, Aus summer) | Sydney (AEST, Aus winter) |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 11:00 PM | 1:00 AM (next day) | 12:00 AM (next day) |
Common Use Cases
- Japan–Australia business and tourism
- Coordinating creatives and engineers across the Pacific Rim
- Sports and esports events spanning both markets
- Family calls between Tokyo and Sydney
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Tokyo and Sydney?
1 hour in Australian winter, 2 in Australian summer. Sydney is ahead.
Does Tokyo observe DST?
No. Tokyo stays on JST (UTC+9) all year.
If it's 3 PM in Tokyo, what time is it in Sydney?
5 PM AEDT (Aus summer) or 4 PM AEST (Aus winter).
Best overlap for a meeting?
9 AM-5 PM Tokyo = 10 AM-7 PM Sydney (summer). Very workable.
Is Sydney ahead of Tokyo?
Yes, by 1-2 hours.
Use our world clock and meeting planner for live conversion.