The short answer

6am in Tokyo is 5pm in Eastern Standard Time on the previous day.

Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. That's already evening in Eastern Standard Time, after the typical working day ends.

Tokyo
6am
Eastern Standard Time
5pm
previous day
Right now
6pmJST · UTC+09:00 · Mon, Jun 22
5amEDT · UTC-04:00 · Mon, Jun 22
Read across to convert
Tokyo
JST · UTC+09:00
6pm ☾
Eastern Standard Time
EDT · UTC-04:00
5am ☾
Pinned6amTokyo=5pmEastern Standard Time · Sun (previous day)
12amMon
11amSun ·−1d
WORK
1am
12pmSun ·−1d
WORK
2am
1pmSun ·−1d
WORK
3am
2pmSun ·−1d
WORK
4am
3pmSun ·−1d
WORK
5am
4pmSun ·−1d
WORK
PINNED
6am
5pmSun ·−1d
7am
6pmSun ·−1d
8am
7pmSun ·−1d
9am
WORK
8pmSun ·−1d
10am
WORK
9pmSun ·−1d
11am
WORK
10pmSun ·−1d
12pm
WORK
11pmSun ·−1d
1pm
WORK
12amMon
2pm
WORK
1am
3pm
WORK
2am
4pm
WORK
3am
5pm
4am
NOW
6pm
5am
7pm
6am
8pm
7am
9pm
8am
10pm
9am
WORK
11pm
10am
WORK
daylightnightworking hoursoverlap
Best time to meet
Closest workable window
Just outside the working window — early on one side, late on the other.
Tokyo
7am–8am
=
Eastern Standard Time
6pm–7pm
previous day
Popular conversions

Quick reference.

9amTokyo=8pmEastern Standard Time · prev day
12pmTokyo=11pmEastern Standard Time · prev day
3pmTokyo=2amEastern Standard Time
5pmTokyo=4amEastern Standard Time
9pmTokyo=8amEastern Standard Time
In context

What each side covers.

Tokyo
JST · UTC+09:00
6pm
Cities on this clock
Eastern Standard Time
EDT · UTC-04:00
5am
Did you mean…? “EDT” is shared by several places. This page shows Eastern Standard Time (US & Canada) — or switch to Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Frequently asked

Quick answers about converting between Tokyo and Eastern Standard Time. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

What is the time difference between Tokyo and Eastern Standard Time?
Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time right now. We always show the live, daylight-saving-correct difference, so this figure already accounts for whichever side is observing summer time today.
When it's 6am in Tokyo, what time is it in Eastern Standard Time?
6am in Tokyo is 5pm in Eastern Standard Time on the previous day. That's already evening in Eastern Standard Time, after the typical working day ends. Use the hour-by-hour table above to read any other time across.
What's the best time for a call between Tokyo and Eastern Standard Time?
There's no comfortable 9-to-5 overlap between Tokyo and Eastern Standard Time — they sit on opposite sides of the planet's working day. Plan for an early or late call on one side, or hand work off asynchronously.
Does this account for daylight saving time?
Yes. We track every clock change in both places, so the abbreviations you see — JST and EDT — are the ones actually in effect right now, not a fixed all-year value. When either side changes its clocks, this page updates automatically.
Why is the date sometimes different on each side?
When two places are far enough apart, the same moment can fall on different calendar days. That is why some conversions are marked "previous day" or "next day" — it is the same instant in time, read off two clocks that crossed midnight at different points.