On top of this electrifying news the ship received orders to prepare for getting underway. "Piedmont" had been selected from the Pacific Fleet destroyer tenders as the one to move into Tokyo Bay with the first naval units for occupation of Japanese ships. On 16 August the ship departed Eniwetok to rendezvous with the U.S. 3rd Fleet at about one day's steaming from Japan. The long-awaited event took place on 28 August when "Piedmont" dropped her anchor in Sagami Wan, Honshū, Japan. Early on the 30th, she moved into Tokyo Bay and on the following day moored to the dock at the Yokosuka Naval Base.