Tokyo runs 8 hours ahead of Amsterdam in winter, 7 in summer. The gap shifts because Amsterdam changes its clocks twice a year and Tokyo never does.
8 Hours in Winter, 7 in Summer
The season in Amsterdam sets the offset.
- Amsterdam winter (CET, UTC+1): Tokyo is 8 hours ahead. 08:00 in Amsterdam is 16:00 in Tokyo.
- Amsterdam summer (CEST, UTC+2): Tokyo is 7 hours ahead. 08:00 in Amsterdam is 15:00 in Tokyo.
The switch happens on the last Sunday of March (clocks forward) and the last Sunday of October (clocks back). In 2026 the spring change falls on 29 March and the autumn change on 25 October. On those two days the difference jumps or drops by one hour.
Why Tokyo Stays on JST Year-Round
Tokyo uses Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) every day of the year. Japan abolished daylight saving after the post-war occupation and never reintroduced it. Amsterdam is the variable. You never check whether Tokyo has changed; you only check whether Amsterdam is on CET or CEST.
Amsterdam, Tokyo Meeting Windows
The overlap between a standard Amsterdam workday (09:00 to 17:00) and a standard Tokyo workday (09:00 to 18:00) is tiny. In winter it disappears: when Amsterdam opens at 09:00, Tokyo is already at 17:00. In summer Amsterdam opens at 09:00 and Tokyo is at 16:00, giving a one-hour slot.
Shift one side outside standard hours.
- Winter: Set the meeting for 08:00 Amsterdam time. That lands at 16:00 in Tokyo. The Amsterdam side starts early; the Tokyo side catches the end of their day.
- Summer: Book 08:00 or 08:30 Amsterdam time. That puts it at 15:00 to 15:30 in Tokyo. Slightly more room, but still tight.
If neither side can move, the meeting does not happen during core hours. The Amsterdam side is usually better placed to shift earlier; the Tokyo side is better placed to shift later.
Amsterdam, Tokyo Time Conversion Table
| Amsterdam time (local) | Tokyo time (JST) | Season |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 16:00 | Winter (CET) |
| 09:00 | 17:00 | Winter (CET) |
| 12:00 | 20:00 | Winter (CET) |
| 08:00 | 15:00 | Summer (CEST) |
| 09:00 | 16:00 | Summer (CEST) |
| 12:00 | 19:00 | Summer (CEST) |
Add 8 hours in winter, 7 in summer. If you forget which season Amsterdam is in, check whether the clocks are on CET or CEST.
How to Schedule an Amsterdam, Tokyo Call
Book the meeting for 08:00 or 08:30 Amsterdam time. That puts it at 15:00 to 16:00 Tokyo time in summer, or 16:00 to 16:30 in winter. The Amsterdam side starts their day early. The Tokyo side takes it as a late-afternoon slot.
Skip Amsterdam afternoons. They fall into Tokyo evenings: 13:00 to 17:00 in Amsterdam is 21:00 to 01:00 in Tokyo during winter, 20:00 to 00:00 in summer.
If you need to call from the US or Asia to both cities, check the best time to call Amsterdam for overlapping windows.