HomeAustralia → Japan
Do I need an adapter from Australia to Japan?
You need a Type A or B adapter for Japan.
Australia: Type I, 230 V, 50 Hz → Japan: Type A/B, 100 V, 50 / 60 Hz.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 100 V. Type I plugs do not fit Japan's Type A/B sockets. Pack a Type A adapter. Japan uses both 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on region.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 100 V. Type I plugs do not fit Japan's Type A/B sockets. Pack a Type A adapter. Japan uses both 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on region.
Single-voltage device (230 V) on a 100 V supply. A plug adapter alone will damage it; you need a voltage converter, or a dual-voltage model. You will also need a Type A plug adapter. Japan uses both 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on region.
Single-voltage device (230 V) on a 100 V supply. A plug adapter alone will damage it; you need a voltage converter, or a dual-voltage model. You will also need a Type A plug adapter. Japan uses both 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on region.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 100 V. Type I plugs do not fit Japan's Type A/B sockets. Pack a Type A adapter. Japan uses both 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on region.
Single-voltage device (230 V) on a 100 V supply. A plug adapter alone will damage it; you need a voltage converter, or a dual-voltage model. You will also need a Type A plug adapter. Japan uses both 50 Hz and 60 Hz depending on region.
What to buy for Japan (on amazon.com.au)
Some links on this site are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Why
Plug shape. Australia uses Type I (two flat pins in a v shape and a flat earth pin). Japan sockets are Type A (two flat parallel pins) and Type B (two flat parallel pins and a round earth pin). They are not compatible, so you need a plug adapter.
Voltage. Australia is 230 V; Japan is 100 V. Different voltage families. Dual-voltage devices (INPUT 100–240 V) are fine; single-voltage devices need a converter or will be damaged.
Frequency. Australia is 50 Hz; Japan is 50 / 60 Hz. No change to worry about.
Japan: Japan runs on 100 V nationwide, lower than anywhere else. The frequency is split: 50 Hz in eastern Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama, Sapporo, Sendai) and 60 Hz in western Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka). Sockets are mostly ungrounded Type A; grounded Type B sockets are uncommon outside newer buildings, so a US three-pin plug may need a 3-to-2 adapter. Japanese Type A pins are the same width, so a polarised US plug (one wide blade) may not fit an older Japanese socket.
Australia: Australia's nominal supply is 230 V (AS 60038) although many areas still measure close to 240 V; either way it is in the same band as Europe. Sockets are Type I only. The same Type I plug is used in New Zealand, and fits sockets in China, Argentina and Papua New Guinea.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an adapter from Australia to Japan?
Yes. Australia plugs are Type I and Japan sockets are Type A/B, so you need a Type A adapter.
Do I need a voltage converter from Australia to Japan?
Only for single-voltage appliances. Australia is 230 V and Japan is 100 V, so a Australia hair dryer, straightener or kettle needs a converter (or a dual-voltage model). Phones, laptops and chargers marked INPUT 100–240 V just need the plug adapter.
Will my Australia phone charger work in Japan?
Yes. Phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage (100–240 V). You only need a Type A plug adapter.
What about the reverse trip, Japan to Australia?
See the Japan to Australia guide.