Last Updated on October 8, 2025 by Vlad
Here’s a fun fact: More travellers panic about Japanese power outlets than they do about eating raw fish. And honestly? I get it. Nothing kills your Japan buzz faster than arriving at your hotel, completely knackered from a long-haul flight, only to discover your charger won’t fit in the wall socket and your phone’s about to die.
I’ve been that person standing in a Tokyo hotel room at midnight, my Blackberry battery on 3%, desperately googling “where to buy Japan adapter in Shibuya” on the hotel wifi. Not my finest moment, but it taught me everything you need to know.
Here’s the straight goods on Japanese power outlets – no boring technical waffle, just what you actually need to know.
The Quick Answer (By Country)
🇦🇺 Aussies & 🇳🇿 Kiwis: Your plugs WON’T work. You need an adapter. Japan uses 100V which is fine for your devices, but the plug shape is completely different.
🇬🇧 Brits: Nope, won’t work either. UK plugs are totally different from Japanese ones. You’ll need an adapter AND need to check your device handles 100V.
🇺🇸 Americans & 🇨🇦 Canadians: You’re in luck! Your 2-pin plugs will work fine in Japan (same Type A). BUT if you’ve got a 3-pin grounded plug, you’ll need an adapter. Voltage is close enough (100V vs 120V) that most stuff works fine.
What Japanese Power Outlets Look Like
Japan uses two types of plugs, but you’ll mostly only see one:
Type A (the common one): Two flat pins, just like American plugs. You’ll see these everywhere – hotels, restaurants, train stations, literally everywhere.
Type B (rare as hen’s teeth): Same as Type A but with a grounding pin. I’ve been to Japan dozens of times and reckon I’ve seen maybe three of these. Don’t stress about it.
Will My Stuff Work? (By Device)
✅ These Will Work Fine (With the Right Adapter):
- Your phone charger
- Laptop (check it says 100-240V on the brick – most modern ones do)
- iPad/tablet chargers
- Camera battery chargers
- Electric toothbrush
- Kindle or e-reader
- Most travel-friendly hair dryers (the dual voltage ones)
❌ These Might Cause Problems:
- Old hair dryers/straighteners (if they’re not dual voltage, they’ll either blow up, run really weakly, or just not work)
- Some older laptops
- UK/AU/NZ devices that are ONLY 230-240V (without worldwide support)
- Anything without a voltage range that includes 100V
How to check: Look at the label on your device or charger.
If it says “INPUT: 100-240V” → You’re golden. Works anywhere in the world.
If it only says “230V” or “240V” (common on older UK/AU/NZ devices) → It won’t work properly in Japan without a voltage converter. Honestly? Leave it at home. Not worth the hassle.
If it says “120V” (some older US/Canadian devices) → Should work okay in Japan’s 100V, but might run slightly weaker.
Pro tip for Brits, Aussies & Kiwis: Japan’s 100V is half your home voltage (230-240V). Most modern devices handle this fine because they’re dual voltage. But double-check that label – old hair straighteners and kettles are usually the culprits that only work on 230-240V.
Which Adapter Should You Buy?
I’ve tried a bunch over the years. Here’s what actually works:
For Phone/Tablet Charging (2-pin devices):
Aussies & Kiwis: Get a basic travel adapter from any travel shop back home (around $10-15 AUD/NZD). Korjo makes good ones that are cheap and reliable. I’ve got three floating around in my travel bag.
Brits: Pick up a UK to Japan adapter before you leave. Available at Boots, Argos, or any airport shop (though you’ll pay more at the airport). About £5-8.
North Americans: If you’ve only got 2-pin plugs, you don’t need anything! Your plugs fit Japanese sockets perfectly. Lucky buggers.
For Laptops/Cameras (3-pin grounded plugs):
Everyone needs an adapter for these, even Americans and Canadians. Japanese outlets don’t have that third grounding pin.
Best option: Buy a proper 3-pin adapter. You can grab one from electronics stores in Japan (Bic Camera, Yodobashi) for about ¥800-1,000 ($6-8 USD/CAD, $10-12 AUD/NZD, £4-6). Works a treat.ices, like those that require a different voltage, you’ll need a transformer to convert the voltage.
The Universal Adapter Option:
If you travel to multiple countries regularly, just grab a universal adapter (around $20-40 USD-AUD / £15-25). Saves buying different ones for each country. Make sure it’s rated for the devices you’re using though – some cheap ones are only good for low-power stuff.
Where to buy before you leave:
- Online: Most ship internationally if you plan ahead
- Australia/NZ: Travel shops, Bunnings, airports, Amazon, eBay
- UK: Boots, Argos, airports, Amazon
- USA/Canada: Target, Best Buy, airports, Amazon
The “I Forgot My Adapter” Emergency Plan
Don’t panic. Here’s what to do:
At the airport: Both Narita and Haneda have electronics shops selling adapters. Expect to pay about ¥1,000-1,500 ($8-12 USD/CAD, $10-18 AUD/NZD, £6-9). Not cheap, but saves your trip.
In Tokyo/Major cities:
- Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera: These massive electronics stores are everywhere. Look for the travel section – they’ve got tons of adapters. Staff usually speak some English.
- Don Quijote (Donki): The chaotic mega-store that sells everything. Check near the travel goods section.
- Daiso/100 yen shops: Hit and miss, but I’ve found basic adapters here for ¥110-220 (about $1-3 USD-AUD / £1-2). Worth a shot.
- Konbini (convenience stores): Some Lawsons and Family Marts stock basic adapters, especially near tourist areas.
At your hotel: Ask the front desk. Many hotels keep a stash of adapters for guests – sometimes free to borrow, sometimes for a small fee.
Voltage: The Nerdy Bit (Skip If You Want)
Japan: 100V USA/Canada: 120V (close enough, no worries) UK/Australia/NZ: 230-240V (big difference!)
Most modern electronics are “dual voltage” (100-240V) so they handle all of these fine. That’s your phone charger, laptop, camera, etc.
The frequency thing (50Hz in Eastern Japan around Tokyo, 60Hz in Western Japan around Osaka) doesn’t matter for phone chargers and laptops. Only affects things like electric clocks and old appliances. You won’t notice a thing.
Voltage converters: Heavy, bulky, and 99% of travellers don’t need them. If your hair straightener isn’t dual voltage, just buy a cheap one in Japan instead (about ¥2,000-3,000 / $20-30 USD-AUD / £12-15 at Don Quijote).
Charging On The Go
Here’s where Japan is bloody brilliant:
Shinkansen (bullet trains): Every seat has a power outlet. Well, almost every seat. The ones at the very back of each carriage sometimes don’t, so check before you sit if you’re desperate for power.
Train stations: Heaps of them have charging stations or power outlets near the waiting areas. Tokyo Station is particularly good for this.
Cafes: Most Starbucks, Tully’s, and Doutor coffee shops have outlets. Just don’t be that person hogging the table for 4 hours on a busy day.
Fast food: McDonald’s, MOS Burger, and other chains usually have some outlets available.
Your hotel: Obviously. But heads up – some older business hotels only have one or two outlets in awkward spots. I now travel with a power board (with a Japanese plug adapter) so I can charge everything at once.
What NOT to Do (Trust Me on This)
Don’t buy the overpriced adapter at the airport when you can get one for a fraction of the price elsewhere. Airport shops know you’re desperate and charge accordingly.
Don’t assume USB charging will be everywhere. While Japan’s getting better at this, older hotels and many public spaces still only have traditional power outlets. USB-C outlets are slowly appearing but aren’t standard yet.
Don’t pack a voltage converter unless you absolutely need one for a specific device. They’re heavy, bulky, and 99% of travellers don’t need them. If your hair straightener isn’t dual voltage, just buy a cheap one in Japan (¥2,000-3,000 / $20-30 USD-AUD / £12-15 at Don Quijote).
Don’t forget your adaptor. Sounds obvious, but I’ve done it. Twice. Learn from my mistakes.
Americans/Canadians: Don’t assume ALL your plugs will work. Your 2-pin plugs fit perfectly, but 3-pin grounded plugs won’t. Pack an adapter for those laptops and other grounded devices.
My Current Setup (After Many Trips)
Here’s what I pack now as an Aussie traveller (adjust based on your country):
Aussies/Kiwis/Brits need:
- 2x basic adapters (one for bedside, one for bag)
- 1x 3-pin adapter for laptop if needed
- 1x small power bank with your home country outlets + 1 adapter (so you only need one adapter but can charge multiple devices)
- All your charging cables (because buying cables in Japan is pricey)
Americans/Canadians need:
- 1x 3-pin adapter if you’ve got grounded plugs
- Maybe one spare basic adapter just in case
- Your regular cables
Quick FAQs
Can I use British plugs in Japan? Nope. Totally different shape (UK uses Type G, Japan uses Type A/B). You’ll need an adapter. Also check your device works on 100V.
Will my American/Canadian stuff work? Yeah, pretty much. Your 2-pin plugs (Type A) are nearly identical to Japanese ones – they’ll fit perfectly. But if you’ve got a 3-pin grounded plug (Type B with grounding), you’ll need an adapter because Japanese Type A sockets don’t have that third hole.
What about Australian and New Zealand plugs? Won’t work at all without an adapter. Aussie/Kiwi plugs (Type I) are completely different from Japanese ones (Type A). The prongs are angled differently and there are three pins vs two.
Where’s the best place to buy adapters in Japan? Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera if you want choice and quality (about ¥800-1,500). Daiso (100 yen shop) if you want cheap and cheerful (about ¥110-220). Don Quijote is good too for mid-range options.
Can I charge my phone in my rental car? Most modern rentals have USB ports now. But older ones might just have a cigarette lighter socket, so pack a car charger adapter just in case.
Bottom Line
Look, this isn’t rocket science:
Aussies, Kiwis & Brits: Get yourself an adapter before you leave (or grab one at the airport if you’re a last-minute packer). Check your devices are dual voltage (100-240V) and you’ll be sweet.
Americans & Canadians: You’re mostly sorted – your 2-pin plugs work fine in Japan. Just pack a 3-pin adapter if you’ve got grounded devices like some laptops.
The worst that happens? You forget your adapter, pop into a Bic Camera or Daiso, and spend ¥1,000. Problem solved in 10 minutes.
Now stop stressing about power outlets and start planning the fun stuff – like where you’re going to eat your first proper ramen.
Got questions about power adapters or charging in Japan? Drop them in the comments below and I’ll help you out.