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Japan Plugs, outlets & travel adapters
Japan uses Type A and B sockets. The mains supply is 100 V at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
Plugbert's take American-style socket families. Check the outlet, grounding and device rating before plugging in.
Do you need a travel adapter for Japan?
It depends on where your plugs come from.
🇺🇸 From the United States
Your plugs fit some compatible outlets in Japan, but not every listed socket design. An adapter may be needed for the outlet you encounter. A grounded three-prong plug needs a suitable grounded connection; do not remove its ground pin or assume a two-pin adapter provides earth.
Japan uses 100 V and the United States uses 120 V, but similar nominal voltages do not guarantee compatibility. Check that your device's input rating covers the destination supply.
United States to Japan in full🇬🇧 From the United Kingdom
You need a plug adapter. Plugs from the United Kingdom (Type G) don't fit the Type A and B sockets in Japan. A Type A (US 2-pin) adapter fits the listed socket families there. For grounded devices, get a Type B (US 3-pin) adapter for a compatible grounded outlet instead; it does not fit every listed outlet. Socket variants can differ; check the actual outlet and adapter rating.
Japan uses 100 V, lower than the 230 V in the United Kingdom. An input rating of "100–240V" covers the listed supply voltage; you still need a suitable plug or adapter. Single-voltage devices may run weakly or not at all.
United Kingdom to Japan in fullFrom other countries
Somewhere else?
Sockets you'll find in Japan
What to expect in Japan
Two flat pins, with a grounding catch
JNTO's visitor guide describes Japan's two flat, parallel pins: Type A. A small ungrounded US or Canadian charger may fit directly. UK travelers need an adapter with the appropriate two-pin output that accepts their Type G plug.
Electrical Safety First also lists Type B. That does not promise a three-hole outlet in your room. A grounded three-prong plug cannot go into a plain two-hole outlet; check with your accommodation before relying on it.
Panasonic explains Japan's separate earth terminals and the need for an appropriate grounding connection. Do not remove a ground pin or treat a three-to-two-pin adapter as proof of grounding. Equipment requiring earth needs a manufacturer-approved connection to a suitable grounded outlet.
Tokyo and Osaka have different frequencies
JNTO confirms 100 V throughout Japan, with 50 Hz in the east, including Tokyo, and 60 Hz in the west, including Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya. Some travel tables show only 50 Hz; that leaves out the western supply.
Read the device input label. 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz includes both regions. A device marked only 120 V is not automatically suitable for 100 V. An adapter changes the plug connection, not voltage or frequency.
Choosing a universal adapter
Check that its wall-side Type A output suits the outlet, that it accepts your own plug, and that its instructions support your device's grounding requirements. A universal label cannot create an earth connection in a two-hole outlet. For a Japan and South Korea trip, check each country's supply separately rather than buying one vaguely “Asian” plug.
Will your devices work in Japan?
Sockets in Japan supply 100 V. Find the "input" line on each device or its charger. An input rating of "100–240V" covers the listed supply voltage; you still need a suitable plug or adapter. Check that the input frequency also covers 50 / 60 Hz. An adapter changes the plug shape, not the voltage or frequency. For switchable devices, follow the manufacturer's instructions before plugging in.
Often rated 100–240 V; confirm on the charger: phone charger, laptop charger, camera battery charger.
Check the label first: electric toothbrush, electric shaver, CPAP machine, hair straightener / curler.
Usually single voltage: hair dryer, kettle / coffee maker, anything with a heating element.
Plug twins
These countries list the same plug types and a similar voltage range. Check each guide for socket variants and local exceptions.