Flight time & jet lag: San Francisco to Tokyo

San Francisco to Tokyo: Route overview

Crossing the Pacific westward from San Francisco to Tokyo, this 8,227-km long-haul route is among the longest commercial corridors, with a flight time of 9h 38m to 10h 52m and a 17-hour time zone shift. At 17 time zones crossed eastbound, this is among the most demanding routes for jet lag. Full adjustment typically requires 7 days of deliberate sleep and light management. Both cities sit at similar temperate latitudes, meaning daylight patterns will feel familiar upon arrival — a helpful factor for circadian adjustment.

What makes the San Francisco–Tokyo route different

Eastbound routes crossing 17 or more time zones are among the hardest for circadian adjustment because they require your body to advance its clock — effectively going to sleep earlier than it wants to, which is more difficult than staying up later.

Arrival strategy for Tokyo

After flying east across 17 time zones to Tokyo, your body will be significantly behind local time. If you arrive at 08:00 local, your body thinks it is 15:00. Prioritize getting bright morning light between 07:00 and 10:00 local time to advance your internal clock. Avoid the strong temptation to nap in the afternoon — if you must, limit it to 20 minutes. Target a local bedtime of 22:00 even if you do not feel sleepy, and avoid screens for 2 hours before.

Circadian rhythm analysis: San Francisco → Tokyo

When you arrive in Tokyo, your circadian rhythm is still running on San Francisco time. At 09:00 Tokyo time, your body clock reads 16:00 — already a reasonable waking hour. The disruption is moderate, and you should be able to function with some effort. By 22:00 local time (when you should sleep), your body reads 05:00 — still mid-afternoon internally. Falling asleep will be very difficult without sleep hygiene strategies. Your circadian system adjusts at roughly 1 hour per day, so expect 7 days for full alignment.

Your body clock in Tokyo (day 1)

How your body clock maps to local time upon arrival, before any adjustment.

Pre-departure preparation

To prepare for this 17-hour eastward shift to Tokyo, begin adjusting 4 days before departure. Each night, move your bedtime 255 minutes earlier and wake correspondingly earlier. Seek bright light immediately upon waking. On departure day, set your watch to Tokyo time and begin eating meals on that schedule. This pre-adjustment can reduce your recovery time by 1–2 days.

Your first 72 hours in Tokyo

Day 1 in Tokyo: Your body is ~17 hours off local time. Get bright sunlight in the morning. Avoid napping past 14:00. Eat at local mealtimes even if not hungry. Caffeine is fine before 14:00, not after. Day 2: ~16 hours off. Continue morning (07:00–10:00) light exposure. Sleep quality should improve. Day 3: ~15 hours off. Noticeable improvement. Maintain light and meal timing discipline.

Recovery timeline

Full circadian adjustment for the San Francisco → Tokyo route typically takes 7 days, based on the body's natural adaptation rate of ~1 hour per day for eastbound travel. During this period, expect gradually improving sleep quality, with the most noticeable symptoms (fatigue, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes) during the first 3 days. By day 7, most travelers report feeling fully synchronized with Tokyo's schedule.

Route Planner

Adjust departure date for DST-accurate results.

Jet lag adjustment plan: San Francisco → Tokyo

Significant jet lag. Allow 4–7 days for full adjustment. Plan sleep and light exposure carefully.

Business hours: San Francisco vs Tokyo

Seasonal and climate factors

Transpacific winds between San Francisco and Tokyo shift seasonally, with the winter jet stream creating the largest outbound/return time differential. Spring and autumn typically offer the most predictable flight times. Tokyo at 36°N experiences moderate seasonal daylight variation. Summer offers longer evenings useful for westward adjustment, while winter's earlier sunsets support eastward adjustment schedules.

How the San Francisco–Tokyo flight time is estimated

The 9h 38m to 10h 52m estimate for San Francisco to Tokyo is derived from the 8,227-km great-circle distance. Long-haul flights spend most of their duration at optimal cruise altitude (typically 35,000–40,000 feet), achieving effective speeds of 820–900 km/h. An additional 30–50 minutes accounts for taxi, takeoff, climb, descent, approach, and taxi at both SFO and NRT. This oceanic route means actual flight paths follow organized track systems that may deviate from the great-circle distance, potentially adding 5–10% to the theoretical minimum path. Prevailing winds along this corridor can shift the actual time by 20–60 minutes in either direction.

Wind patterns and flight duration

Pacific routes between San Francisco and Tokyo are significantly affected by the Pacific jet stream. Eastbound flights ride the jet stream for notably shorter times. The differential between outbound and return times on this route can exceed 1 hour.

Practical travel context

Transpacific routes between San Francisco and Tokyo are among the longest commercial routes, typically operated by wide-body aircraft with adequate range for the 8,227-km journey. For stays shorter than 9 days, some travelers opt not to fully adjust to local time. Instead, they maintain a compromise schedule between origin and destination time, which can be effective for brief business trips.

Frequently asked questions: San Francisco to Tokyo

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