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DateAlmanac

What is JST in CST?

Central Time is 15 hours behind

Japan Standard Time is on UTC+9:00 and Central Time is on UTC−6:00 right now. The gap changes during the year — see below.

Convert a time

CST — Central Time

2:00 am

CST, Sat

Time in Tokyo
5:29:08 PM
Time in Chicago
2:29:08 AM
Difference
−15 h
Next clock change
March 14, 2027

When the difference changes

Japan Standard Time and Central Time do not change their clocks on the same dates, so the gap between them is not the same all year. Most converters show only today’s figure. These are the periods ahead:

  1. Now – March 14, 2027Central Time is 15 hours behind
  2. March 14, 2027 – November 7, 2027Central Time is 14 hours behind
  3. November 7, 2027 – onwardsCentral Time is 15 hours behind

Periods shorter than a day are not listed. Each zone changes at its own local time, so on a date when both move there are a few hours when the gap is briefly something else.

Daylight saving

Japan Standard Time

No clock changes

Japan Standard Time stays on JST all year, so its offset from UTC never moves.

Central Time

Sunday, March 14, 2027

Clocks go forward one hour — 2:00 am becomes 3:00 am local time, and the zone is on CDT after that.

JST to CST conversion table

Every hour of Saturday, November 7, 2026, converted from Japan Standard Time to Central Time. 15 of the 24 hours fall on a different calendar day in Chicago, which is marked.

12:00 am JST
9:00 am CST−1 day
1:00 am JST
10:00 am CST−1 day
2:00 am JST
11:00 am CST−1 day
3:00 am JST
12:00 pm CST−1 day
4:00 am JST
1:00 pm CST−1 day
5:00 am JST
2:00 pm CST−1 day
6:00 am JST
3:00 pm CST−1 day
7:00 am JST
4:00 pm CST−1 day
8:00 am JST
5:00 pm CST−1 day
9:00 am JST
6:00 pm CST−1 day
10:00 am JST
7:00 pm CST−1 day
11:00 am JST
8:00 pm CST−1 day
12:00 pm JST
9:00 pm CST−1 day
1:00 pm JST
10:00 pm CST−1 day
2:00 pm JST
11:00 pm CST−1 day
3:00 pm JST
12:00 am CST
4:00 pm JST
1:00 am CST
5:00 pm JST
2:00 am CST
6:00 pm JST
3:00 am CST
7:00 pm JST
4:00 am CST
8:00 pm JST
5:00 am CST
9:00 pm JST
6:00 am CST
10:00 pm JST
7:00 am CST
11:00 pm JST
8:00 am CST

Scheduling between the two

There is no overlap between a nine-to-six working day in Tokyo and one in Chicago — the gap is too wide. A call has to sit early or late for one side. Early morning in Tokyo is the usual compromise, since that is late afternoon or evening in Chicago.

A note on CST: it can also mean China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5). This page means US Central Time.

Central Time (CST) is used in Dallas, Houston, Mexico City and Winnipeg

Other conversions