Short answer: if you are from the US or Canada, usually no. If you are from the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand or most of Asia, yes, you need a plug adapter that turns your plug into Japan’s two flat pins (Type A).
Almost nobody needs a voltage converter for a phone or laptop. Japan runs on 100 volts, and most chargers made for travel accept anything from 100 to 240 volts.
Below: a table by home country, how to read your charger’s label, the 3-pin catch for North Americans, and what to ask for if you buy an adapter after you land.
- Your charger says INPUT 100-240V
- Your plug has two flat, parallel pins
- No third round pin (or you have a 3-pin to 2-pin adapter)
- One adapter that gives a Type A plug, if you need one
- A small power strip for rooms with few outlets
- Hair tools checked for 100V on the label
Voltage and plug facts checked in November 2026 on official pages.
- Voltage
- 100V across the whole country
- Frequency
- 50Hz in the east (Tokyo), 60Hz in the west (Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka)
- Outlets
- Type A (2 flat pins); Type B (3-pin) exists but is less common
- What an adapter does
- Changes the plug shape only, never the voltage
What Adapter Do I Need for Japan? Answer by Home Country
Japan uses the same plug family as the US: Type A (two flat pins) and Type B (two flat pins plus a round earth pin). Type A is by far the most common. So the real question is simple: does your plug already have two flat pins?
The third column below is the part most guides skip. In Japanese electronics stores, adapters are labelled with Japanese shape letters, not the international A to N letters. The ones you want are marked kokunai-yo, which means “for use in Japan”.
← Swipe to see the full table →
| Where you’re from (your plug) | Adapter needed? | What to look for in a Japanese store |
|---|---|---|
| US, Canada: 2 flat pins (A) | No | Nothing needed |
| US, Canada: 3-pin with round earth pin (B) | Yes, 3-pin to 2-pin | For use in Japan, 3-pin A to A, such as Kashimura WP-75J |
| UK, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong (G) | Yes | For use in Japan, BF to A, such as Kashimura WP-74J, or a multi type |
| Australia, New Zealand (I) | Yes | For use in Japan, O to A, or a multi type |
| Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy (C, E, F; Italy also L) | Yes | For use in Japan: C to A, such as Kashimura WP-71J, for thin 2-pin plugs; SE to A, such as Kashimura WP-72J, for the thicker round pins on most grounded plugs; or a multi type such as the WP-77J |
| India (D, M) | Yes | A multi type that accepts B3; check the pin size |
| Not sure, or several countries | Probably | A multi type to A, such as Kashimura WP-77J or the Century Multi Travel Adapter for Japan |
Plan your trip: the tools we use
Our pick: if you are not from the US or Canada, one multi adapter made for use in Japan covers most plugs in a single piece.
Limits of the multi adapters
Multi adapters do not take every plug in the world. Century says some South African (B3L) and Brazilian (CB) plugs cannot be used with its model. Italy’s three-in-a-row L plug is not on its list either.
They also have a power limit. The WP-77J is rated 13A/125V, and the WP-71J is rated 6A. Think of them as tools for chargers and small electronics, not for heavy appliances.
A plug that fits is not always a device that works
Some travellers from Asia will find their plug already fits. The Philippines, for example, uses Type A, B and C plugs, so a two-flat-pin plug from Manila goes straight into a Japanese socket.
But the Philippines runs at 230V, and Japan at 100V. A plug that fits tells you nothing about the voltage. Check the INPUT line on the label (next section) before you plug anything in.
North Americans have a smaller gap: the US and Canada run at 120V, Japan at 100V. Chargers marked 100-240V do not care. Single-voltage 120V devices are the ones to check.
Single-shape adapters
If your whole group comes from one country, a single-shape adapter is smaller than a multi one. Kashimura lists its single-shape models (O to A for Australia and New Zealand, SE to A for thicker European pins, and the rest) on its for-Japan adapter page.
Adapter or Voltage Converter? Read Your Charger’s Label
An adapter and a converter do different jobs. An adapter only changes the plug shape. Every Kashimura and Century adapter page linked above says the same thing in plain words: the product cannot convert voltage.
Where to find the INPUT line
Look at the small print on your charger or power brick and find the word INPUT. Ignore the OUTPUT line; that is what the charger sends to your device, not what it takes from the wall.
If it says INPUT 100-240V, the charger works on Japan’s 100 volts and you only need the right plug shape. Phone chargers, laptop bricks and camera chargers usually say this.
JNTO, Japan’s official tourism body, also notes that dual-voltage hair dryers, travel irons and shavers should work anywhere in Japan.
Single-voltage items: the ones to worry about
If the label lists only 220-240V (some hair straighteners and dryers from the UK, Europe and Australia), it was not made for 100V. An adapter alone will let you plug it in, but that does not make it safe to use.
Your choices are to bring a voltage converter rated for that device, or leave it at home. For most people, leaving it at home is simpler than carrying a converter.
The same goes for US devices that list only 120V. If the label does not include 100V, don’t rely on it.
Label says 220-240V only
- Adapter alone is not enough
- Needs a converter rated for the device
- Often simpler to leave it at home
Label says 100-240V
- Works on Japan’s 100V
- Needs only the right plug shape
- Covers most phones, laptops and cameras
Where we would book this
Amazon
Readers already have an account
- Best for
- Travel adapters (Type A plugs), luggage, packing cubes, travel…
- Checked
- September 2026
Official site. Same price for you.
The 3-Pin and Polarised Plug Catch (US and Canada)
North Americans are not completely off the hook. KEK, a Japanese national research organisation, describes Japanese outlets as identical to ungrounded (2-pin) North American outlets. Most wall sockets have two holes and no earth hole.
Plugs with a round third pin
A laptop charger, gaming console cable or power strip with a round third pin often will not go into a Japanese wall socket. You need a small 3-pin to 2-pin adapter, such as the Kashimura WP-75J in the table above.
Check this before you leave, cable by cable. The part that matters is the plug that goes into the wall, not the brick or the device, so look at the end of every cord you plan to pack.
Polarised plugs
A polarised plug has one flat pin wider than the other. Japanese plugs are often unpolarised (both pins the same width).
If your wider pin doesn’t go into a Japanese socket, use an adapter. Never cut or file a pin to make it fit.
50Hz vs 60Hz: Does It Matter?
Japan is split in two. JNTO says eastern Japan runs at 50Hz and western Japan (including Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka) at 60Hz. Tokyo is on the 50Hz side.
For a dual-voltage phone or laptop charger, this makes no practical difference. You can charge in Tokyo and again in Osaka with the same setup.
Some items, such as certain clocks, can be affected, so check the label if you bring one.
Buying an Adapter in Japan (Bic Camera, Yodobashi, Don Quijote, Konbini)
Forgot yours? You can buy one after you land. JNTO says conversion plugs and transformers are relatively easy to find in urban areas: in electronics districts such as Tokyo’s Akihabara and Osaka’s Nipponbashi, and at large electronics retailers such as Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera.
The wrong-direction trap
Japanese stores also sell adapters labelled kaigai-yo, “for use abroad”. They are made for Japanese travellers heading overseas, so they turn a Japanese plug into a foreign one. That is the wrong direction for you.
What you want is kokunai-yo, “for use in Japan”. Kashimura describes its for-Japan adapters as made for using foreign appliances in Japan. If the Japanese text is hard to read, look at the picture on the package: your own plug shape should be the one going in, and two flat pins should come out.
Match the shape letter
Japanese packages use their own shape letters. Kashimura’s labels match them to countries like this:
- BF: UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia
- O: Australia, New Zealand, China
- C or SE: most of mainland Europe, South Korea, Indonesia
- B3: India, South Africa
The output side should be A (Japan’s Type A). If you are unsure, show staff your plug and ask for an adapter “for use in Japan”. The Century adapter is labelled in English (“Multi Travel Adapter for Japan”), which makes it easier to spot.
Don Quijote and convenience stores
What about Don Quijote? Larger stores sell some electronics, but Don Quijote does not list travel adapters online, so there is no way to confirm that a given store has them. Check if you are already there. If a Bic Camera or Yodobashi is nearby, go there instead.
And convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson)? No official listing of plug adapters was found for any of them. Don’t count on a konbini for one.
If you plan to pay by card in electronics stores, see Cash vs Card in Japan: What to Pay With, Place by Place.
A Power Strip Helps More Than a Second Adapter
If you carry several chargers, one adapter plus a small power strip is simpler than an adapter for every device. Plug the strip into the adapter once, then plug everything else into the strip.
Two things to check. The strip’s own plug must fit the wall: if it has a round third pin, it needs the 3-pin to 2-pin adapter too. And the strip must accept 100V, the same as any other device.
Charging away from the room
JNTO notes that newer shinkansen trains have outlets at window seats. Older trains may not, so a power bank in your day bag is still useful.
If you keep your phone on an eSIM instead of a pocket Wi-Fi unit, that is one less device to charge each night. Setup steps are in Japan Travel: How to Set Up Your eSIM Before Landing. For the rest of your bag, see Japan Packing Mistakes: A 2026 Strategy for First-Timers and the Japan Winter Packing List.
Step 1: Check the label
Find INPUT on each charger. 100-240V means an adapter is all you need.
Step 2: Check the plug shape
Two flat pins fit Japan as they are. A third round pin, or any non-US shape, needs an adapter.
Step 3: Bring or buy one adapter
Pack one that gives a Type A plug, or buy a for-Japan adapter at Bic Camera or Yodobashi after you land.
FAQ
QDo I need a travel adapter for Japan from the US?
Usually not. If your plug has two flat pins, it fits. If it has a round third pin, or one wider pin that won’t go in, you need a small adapter.
QAre Japanese outlets the same as American ones?
Same shape for 2-pin plugs. But most Japanese outlets have no earth hole, so 3-pin plugs don’t fit. If a polarised plug won’t go in, use an adapter. The voltage is 100V, not 120V.
QDo UK travellers need an adapter for Japan?
Yes. A UK plug (Type G) does not fit Japanese outlets. In a Japanese store, look for a for-Japan BF to A adapter or a multi adapter.
QCan I buy a travel adapter at Don Quijote?
Possibly, but it can’t be confirmed: Don Quijote does not list adapters online. Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera, named by JNTO, are the safer bet.
QDo I need a transformer for my phone or laptop?
Not if the charger says INPUT 100-240V, which most phone and laptop chargers do. An adapter for the plug shape is enough.
Check your labels, check your plug, and pack one adapter if your plug isn’t two flat pins.
If you forget, look for “for use in Japan” at Bic Camera or Yodobashi and you are set.
Keep planning
- ① Install and test your eSIM before take-offAiralo and Ubigi eSIMs activate on arrival, but the install itself needs Wi-Fi. Do it at home and confirm the profile shows up in your phone settings.
- ② Save your first hotel’s address in JapaneseTaxi drivers and station staff read Japanese addresses far faster than romanised ones. Copy it from the booking confirmation into your notes app.
- ③ Set aside cash for day oneMany small restaurants, temples and rural buses are still cash-only. Airport ATMs at 7-Eleven and the post office accept most foreign cards.
Skip these and your first hour in Japan goes on finding Wi-Fi at the station instead of getting to your hotel.
🔍 How to sanity-check any price you read online
Blogs (including this one) go out of date. The official page always wins over a screenshot from two years ago.
