Japan Standard Time sits 8 hours ahead of Central European Time in winter, 7 hours ahead in summer. At 09:00 in Paris or Berlin, it is already 17:00 in Tokyo during standard months, or 16:00 during daylight saving months. The gap shapes every business call, flight booking, and deadline between the two zones, and the exact number depends entirely on whether Europe is on CET or CEST.
How the CET to JST gap shifts
Japan Standard Time runs at UTC+9 year-round. Japan abolished daylight saving after World War II and has not observed it since 1952. Central Europe alone determines how the gap moves: CET (UTC+1) from late October to late March, CEST (UTC+2) from late March to late October. The switch happens on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.
The 8-hour winter difference
From late October to late March, Central Europe stays on CET (UTC+1) while Japan stays at UTC+9. That creates a fixed 8-hour gap. 10:00 in Berlin is 18:00 in Tokyo. JST never varies. The winter gap holds steady for five months.
The 7-hour summer difference
From late March to late October, most of the continent switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). Japan still sits at UTC+9, so the gap narrows to 7 hours. When it is 11:00 in Paris, it is 18:00 in Tokyo. Afternoons in Madrid or Rome stretch further into Japanese evenings during these months.
Algeria and Tunisia stay at UTC+1 year-round. They remain 8 hours behind Tokyo permanently.
CET to JST conversion table
| CET (winter, UTC+1) | JST (UTC+9) | CEST (summer, UTC+2) | JST (UTC+9) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 08:00 | 00:00 | 07:00 |
| 03:00 | 11:00 | 03:00 | 10:00 |
| 06:00 | 14:00 | 06:00 | 13:00 |
| 09:00 | 17:00 | 09:00 | 16:00 |
| 12:00 | 20:00 | 12:00 | 19:00 |
| 15:00 | 23:00 | 15:00 | 22:00 |
| 18:00 | 02:00 (+1) | 18:00 | 01:00 (+1) |
| 21:00 | 05:00 (+1) | 21:00 | 04:00 (+1) |
European morning, Japanese afternoon
The only realistic overlap for same-day communication is the European morning, when Japan has already moved into the afternoon. A 09:00 to 11:00 window in Berlin or Paris corresponds to 16:00 to 18:00 in Tokyo during winter, or 16:00 to 18:00 during daylight saving months. By the time offices in Milan or Hamburg hit lunch, Japanese workdays are ending.
When to book calls between Central Europe and Japan
Book calls for 09:00 to 10:00 CET in winter, or 08:00 to 09:00 CEST in summer. That lands at 17:00 to 18:00 JST.
Skip late European afternoons. By 16:00 CET it is already 23:00 or midnight in Tokyo. Early European mornings before 07:00 are equally impractical: Japan is already well into its evening.
Send the invite in 24-hour format. Confirm the Tokyo-side time in JST. Japan uses the 24-hour clock in writing, schedules, and transport. 18:00 in Tokyo is "18:00," not "6:00 PM." Read Japanese train timetables and confirm call times the same way to avoid mix-ups.
What is the difference between CET and CEST?
CET (UTC+1) is the standard time used from late October to late March. CEST (UTC+2) is the daylight saving time used from late March to late October. The switch happens on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.
Is Tokyo ever 9 hours ahead of Central Europe?
No, not for cities that observe DST. Algeria and Tunisia stay at UTC+1 year-round, making them 8 hours behind Tokyo permanently. For Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, the gap is 8 hours in winter and 7 in summer.
Why is the time difference not always 8 hours?
Because clocks shift twice a year across most of the continent while Japan does not. When the switch to CEST happens, the gap shrinks to 7 hours. When the return to CET comes, the gap widens back to 8 hours. Japan's fixed UTC+9 offset is the constant.
Best time to send an email to Tokyo
Send it between 08:00 and 10:00 Central European Time. That lands in the Japanese afternoon, 15:00 to 17:00 JST in winter or 15:00 to 17:00 in summer, when the recipient is likely at their desk and still alert enough to reply the same day.
Check the live clock at the top of the page for the exact current time in both zones, and test any hour of the day with the interactive tool. The full Central European Time daylight saving dates explain how the twice-yearly clock change affects every country in the zone, from Warsaw to Algiers.