HomeUK → Japan
Do I need an adapter from the UK to Japan?
You need a Type A adapter for Japan.
United Kingdom: Type G, 230 V, 50 Hz → Japan: Type A/B, 100 V, 50 / 60 Hz.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 100 V. Type G plugs do not fit Japan's Type A/B sockets. Pack a Type A adapter.
Dual voltage (100–240 V input) covers 100 V. Type G plugs do not fit Japan's Type A/B sockets. Pack a Type A adapter.
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.
Some models are dual voltage and some are not. Check the INPUT line on the charger: 100–240 V works on 100 V with just a plug adapter; a single voltage needs a converter. Type G 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.
Some models are dual voltage and some are not. Check the INPUT line on the power supply: 100–240 V works on 100 V with just a plug adapter; a single voltage needs a converter. Type G 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.co.uk)
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Why
Plug shape. The UK uses Type G (three rectangular pins in a triangle, fused plug). Sockets in Japan 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. The UK 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. Adapter or converter?
Frequency. The UK 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.
United Kingdom: The UK uses the fused three-rectangular-pin Type G plug (BS 1363) everywhere. The only exception is the shaver socket found in hotel bathrooms: a two-pin BS 4573 outlet, often switchable between 115 V and 230 V, limited to about 200 mA. It will run an electric shaver or toothbrush charger but nothing more powerful. Types D and M survive only for stage lighting and remotely switched lights.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an adapter from the UK to Japan?
Yes. UK plugs are Type G and sockets in Japan are Types A or B, so you need a Type A adapter.
Do I need a voltage converter from the UK to Japan?
Only for single-voltage appliances. The UK is 230 V and Japan is 100 V, so an UK hair dryer, straightener or kettle needs a step-up converter (or a dual-voltage model). Phones, laptops and chargers marked INPUT 100–240 V just need the plug adapter.
Will my UK 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 the UK?
You need a Type G adapter for the United Kingdom, plus a voltage converter for your hair dryer or straightener. Full Japan to UK guide.