Tokyo to San Diego Time Difference
San Diego is 16 hours behind Tokyo. When it's 12:47:25 AM in Tokyo, it's 08:47:25 AM in San Diego.
How Many Hours Behind Is San Diego From Tokyo?
San Diego is 16 hours behind Tokyo. So Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of San Diego looking the other way — the same gap, described from the other end.
In practice that means a working day in Tokyo starts when it is already 5:00 PM the previous day in San Diego. The gap is not fixed all year: it becomes 17 hours on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when San Diego changes its clocks.
Best Time to Call Tokyo and San Diego
Standard 9-to-5 hours in Tokyo and San Diego never overlap, so someone has to take the call outside their working day. The most workable window is 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Tokyo, which is 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM in San Diego.
both at work Tokyo only San Diego only neither — hours shown along the strip are Tokyo local time.
Convert a Specific Time
Pick any date and time in Tokyo to see the exact equivalent in San Diego.
Common Times Converted
Tokyo time on the left, San Diego time on the right.
Tokyo to San Diego: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Based on today, Monday, October 12, 2026 in Tokyo. Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both cities are at work.
| Tokyo | San Diego | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 8:00 AM prev day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 9:00 AM prev day | San Diego only |
| 2:00 AM | 10:00 AM prev day | San Diego only |
| 3:00 AM | 11:00 AM prev day | San Diego only |
| 4:00 AM | 12:00 PM prev day | San Diego only |
| 5:00 AM | 1:00 PM prev day | San Diego only |
| 6:00 AM | 2:00 PM prev day | San Diego only |
| 7:00 AM | 3:00 PM prev day | San Diego only |
| 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM prev day | San Diego only |
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 10:00 AM | 6:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 11:00 AM | 7:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 12:00 PM | 8:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 1:00 PM | 9:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 2:00 PM | 10:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 3:00 PM | 11:00 PM prev day | Tokyo only |
| 4:00 PM | 12:00 AM | Tokyo only |
| 5:00 PM | 1:00 AM | — |
| 6:00 PM | 2:00 AM | — |
| 7:00 PM | 3:00 AM | — |
| 8:00 PM | 4:00 AM | — |
| 9:00 PM | 5:00 AM | — |
| 10:00 PM | 6:00 AM | — |
| 11:00 PM | 7:00 AM | — |
Understanding the Tokyo – San Diego Time Difference
Tokyo runs on Asia/Tokyo, currently JST (UTC+9:00). San Diego runs on America/Los_Angeles, currently PDT (UTC-7:00). The gap of 16 hours is simply the distance between those two offsets.
San Diego observes Daylight Saving Time and Tokyo does not, so the gap between them shifts by an hour twice a year. The next shift is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when San Diego adjusts its clocks and the difference becomes 17 hours. Anything scheduled across that date needs checking again.
Full clock-change dates: Daylight Saving Time in Japan · Daylight Saving Time in the United States.
Tokyo today
San Diego today
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Tokyo and San Diego?
San Diego is currently 16 hours behind Tokyo. That gap becomes 17 hours on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when San Diego changes its clocks.
How many hours behind is San Diego from Tokyo?
San Diego is 16 hours behind Tokyo. Looking at it the other way, Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of San Diego.
What time is it in San Diego when it is 9:00 AM in Tokyo?
When it is 9:00 AM in Tokyo, it is 5:00 PM the previous day in San Diego.
Is San Diego ahead of or behind Tokyo?
San Diego is 16 hours behind Tokyo. Tokyo reaches each point in the day first, so San Diego is still getting started while the Tokyo working day is finishing.
What is the best time to call between Tokyo and San Diego?
Standard business hours in Tokyo and San Diego do not overlap at all, so one side has to step outside the 9-to-5. The most workable window is 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Tokyo, which is 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM in San Diego.
Does the time difference between Tokyo and San Diego change during the year?
Yes. San Diego observes Daylight Saving Time and Tokyo does not, so the gap between them shifts during the year. It changes to 17 hours on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
What time zones are Tokyo and San Diego in?
Tokyo uses the Asia/Tokyo time zone, currently JST (UTC+9:00). San Diego uses America/Los_Angeles, currently PDT (UTC-7:00).