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Time Difference: San Diego to Tokyo

🇺🇸San DiegoUTC-8
vs
🇯🇵TokyoUTC+9
🇺🇸
San Diego, US
Mon, Jul 13
🇯🇵
Tokyo, Japan
Mon, Jul 13

Click a time to convert

Time Difference
16 hours
Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of San Diego

San Diego vs Tokyo timezone guide

San Diego (US) uses the America/Los_Angeles timezone at UTC-8, while Tokyo (Japan) uses Asia/Tokyo at UTC+9. This means Tokyo is 17 hours ahead of San Diego (based on standard offsets — the live difference above accounts for daylight saving time).

Best meeting times between San Diego and Tokyo

Standard 9-to-5 working hours in San Diego and Tokyo do not overlap. To meet synchronously, one side will need to start early or stay late — see the hour-by-hour planner below for the least disruptive options.

Hour-by-hour planner

San DiegoTokyoStatus
6am10pmSan Diego early, Tokyo late evening
7am11pmSan Diego early, Tokyo late evening
8am12amSan Diego early, Tokyo asleep
9am1amSan Diego working hours, Tokyo asleep
10am2amSan Diego working hours, Tokyo asleep
11am3amSan Diego working hours, Tokyo asleep
12pm4amSan Diego working hours, Tokyo asleep
1pm5amSan Diego working hours, Tokyo asleep
2pm6amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
3pm7amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
4pm8amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
5pm9amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
6pm10amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
7pm11amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
8pm12pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
9pm1pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
10pm2pmSan Diego late evening, Tokyo working hours

Green = standard working hours (9 AM – 5 PM). Amber = early (6–9 AM). Orange = evening (5–10 PM). Grey = asleep or late.

Daylight saving time between San Diego and Tokyo

San Diego observes daylight saving time, but Tokyo does not. That means the difference between the two cities changes seasonally — by one hour, around San Diego's transition dates.

  • Dec 31 Mar 8San Diego is 17 hours behind Tokyo
  • Mar 8 Nov 1San Diego is 16 hours behind Tokyo
  • Nov 1 Dec 31San Diego is 17 hours behind Tokyo

Distance between San Diego and Tokyo

Great-circle distance
8,989 km
Direct flight time
~11h 34m

San Diego and Tokyo are 8,989 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly ~11h 34m, depending on aircraft type, winds, and routing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between San Diego and Tokyo?
The current time difference is 16 hours. San Diego is currently 16 hours behind Tokyo.
Is San Diego ahead of Tokyo?
No. San Diego is currently 16 hours behind Tokyo.
What time is it in Tokyo when it's 9 AM in San Diego?
When it's 9 AM in San Diego, it's 1am in Tokyo.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between San Diego and Tokyo?
Standard 9-to-5 working hours in San Diego and Tokyo do not overlap. To meet synchronously, one side will need to start before 9 AM or work past 5 PM — see the planner above for the least disruptive options.
Do San Diego and Tokyo observe daylight saving time?
San Diego observes daylight saving time, but Tokyo does not — the difference between the two cities changes by one hour around the DST transition dates.
How far apart are San Diego and Tokyo?
San Diego and Tokyo are 8,989 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly 11 hours 34 minutes.