Travel power tool · Asia
Japan plug types & voltage — adapters, 100–240V devices and local sockets
Japanese sockets are mostly ungrounded Type A flat-pin outlets; grounded Type B only appears in newer buildings and some hotels. Mains voltage is 100 V — the lowest of any major country.
Sockets & supply
Flat-pin sockets, but only 100 V: 50 Hz in the east (Tokyo), 60 Hz in the west (Osaka, Kyoto). 100–240 V chargers work as-is; single-voltage 220–240 V hairdryers and kettles will underperform.
From China — your plugs vs local sockets
On the ground
Japanese sockets are mostly ungrounded Type A flat-pin outlets; grounded Type B only appears in newer buildings and some hotels. Mains voltage is 100 V — the lowest of any major country.
The grid is split: eastern Japan (Tokyo, Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama) runs at 50 Hz while western Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Okinawa) runs at 60 Hz. Large appliances may use 200 V branch circuits, but wall outlets remain 100 V.
What to pack
Chinese flat-pin plugs fit directly; the angled Type I plug does not, so grounded devices need an A/B adapter. 100–240 V chargers work as-is; single-voltage 220 V hairdryers and kettles will underperform — leave them home.
Most Japanese outlets are ungrounded, so even with an adapter your three-prong device gets no earth — check the manual for high-power or medical equipment.
Wide-voltage (INPUT 100–240V) chargers and power bricks work anywhere; single-voltage heating appliances (hairdryers, kettles) need a transformer when voltages differ. Country data cannot certify a device — check the nameplate.
Sources & verification
Checked 2026-11-04 against: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country (CC BY-SA 4.0) · PlugVoltage power dataset 2026.10.20.1 (CC BY 4.0) · PackBefore country dataset (CC BY 4.0)
Voltages are nominal; local and legacy variance is noted above where known.
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South Korea · Taiwan · United States · China · Hong Kong