Time Difference: Sydney and Tokyo
Tokyo is 1 hour behind Sydney on AEST and 2 hours behind on AEDT. 9:00 AM in Sydney is 8:00 AM in Tokyo on AEST and 7:00 AM on AEDT.
Daylight saving note: Tokyo never changes its clocks. It is 1 hour behind Sydney on AEST and 2 hours behind on AEDT, which runs from the first Sunday in October to the first Sunday in April.
A Short Gap With a Seasonal Twist
Sydney is UTC+10 on AEST and UTC+11 on AEDT, and Tokyo is UTC+9 all year. The gap is 1 hour for roughly six months and 2 hours for the other six. Tokyo is behind in both cases.
Sydney's summer time runs from early October to early April, so the 2-hour gap applies during the Australian summer. 12:00 PM in Sydney is 11:00 AM in Tokyo on AEST and 10:00 AM on AEDT.
Because the gap is small, it's easy to forget it moves. If a Tokyo colleague sets a recurring slot in Tokyo time, the Sydney side sees it shift by an hour each October and April, and the other way round if Sydney sets it.
Sydney to Tokyo Conversion Table
Each column is one real season of the Sydney-Tokyo gap. Pick the column that matches your date.
| 🇦🇺 Sydney (AEST) | 🇯🇵 Tokyo (AEST → JST) | 🇯🇵 Tokyo (AEDT → JST) |
|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 23:00(prev day) | 22:00(prev day) |
| 03:00 | 02:00 | 01:00 |
| 06:00 | 05:00 | 04:00 |
| 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 12:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 15:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 |
| 18:00 | 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 21:00 | 20:00 | 19:00 |
- AEST → JST: first Sunday in April to first Sunday in October, while Sydney is on AEST
- AEDT → JST: first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April, while Sydney is on AEDT
* "next day" / "prev day" = the converted time falls on a different calendar date.
Best Meeting Time for Sydney and Tokyo
These two cities share most of the day. On AEST, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Sydney is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Tokyo, 7 hours. On AEDT the window starts an hour later, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Sydney, which is 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Tokyo. Sydney's close ends the window in both seasons.
Avoiding Sydney-Tokyo Time Mistakes
Tokyo is behind, so an early morning in Sydney is still the previous calendar day in Tokyo. With a 2 hours gap, that applies to anything before 2:00 AM in Sydney: 1:30 AM there is 11:30 PM the previous day in Tokyo. When the gap narrows to 1 hour, the cut-off moves to 1:00 AM.
The abbreviation can mislead. A Sydney invite marked "AEST" in January is wrong, because Sydney is on AEDT. 10:00 AM in Tokyo is 11:00 AM in Sydney on AEST and 12:00 PM on AEDT, so confirm which season the date falls in.
A Worked Example: A Weekly Stand-Up Between Sydney and Tokyo
Suppose a Sydney team sets a weekly stand-up for 11:00 AM Sydney time. In Tokyo that's 10:00 AM on AEST and 9:00 AM on AEDT. The Sydney time stays put, and the Tokyo time moves by an hour twice a year.
If Tokyo hosts at 10:00 AM, Sydney joins at 11:00 AM on AEST and 12:00 PM on AEDT. A Tokyo-hosted series therefore shifts on the Sydney clock each April and October.
Decide which city holds the fixed time. If it's Tokyo, tell Sydney attendees before the first Sunday in April and the first Sunday in October that the series will move on their side.
Putting both times in the invite title, such as "Stand-up, 11:00 AM Sydney / 9:00 AM Tokyo" on AEDT, saves a lot of questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Sydney and Tokyo?
Tokyo is 1 hour behind Sydney while Sydney is on AEST (April to October) and 2 hours behind while it is on AEDT (October to April). Tokyo doesn't change its clocks.
What time is 9 AM in Sydney in Tokyo?
On AEST, 9:00 AM in Sydney is 8:00 AM in Tokyo. On AEDT it's 7:00 AM. Both are the same calendar day.
When does the Sydney-Tokyo difference change?
On the first Sunday in October, when Sydney moves to AEDT and the gap grows from 1 hour to 2, and on the first Sunday in April, when it narrows back to 1. Tokyo has no change.
What is the best time to schedule a Sydney-Tokyo call?
Late morning to mid afternoon in Sydney. On AEST, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Tokyo. On AEDT, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.