Electricity and sockets
Yes – from the UK you need a travel adapter for Japan, because the sockets there (Types A and B) will not take your plugs.
Sockets at the destination
Japan runs on 100 V at 50 Hz or 60 Hz, with sockets following Types A and B. The grid in Japan delivers 100 V. Dual-voltage gear copes; single-voltage 230 V devices do not. Both 50 Hz or 60 Hz are recorded, which can matter for motors and timers but not for chargers.
You will find identical sockets in Taiwan. Watch out when moving on: Turkmenistan, Qatar and Lebanon use a completely different system. Across Asia this setup is fairly rare: 2 of 50 countries.
Protective earth
Not every socket in Japan is earthed: Type B yes, Type A no. Class I appliances belong in an earthed outlet.
Quick check by home country
| From the UK | adapter for Types A and B | Check route → |
|---|---|---|
| From the US | usually no adapter | Check route → |
At 100 V a 230 V-only hair dryer will not work properly; dual-voltage chargers will. Frequency is 50 Hz or 60 Hz; timers and simple motors run differently. Check your own device →
The same sockets are used further afield: Aruba, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Nicaragua, Suriname and the United States.
Common questions
Yes. UK plugs do not fit the sockets in Japan.
The records list Types A and B; the grid supplies 100 V at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
At 100 V it depends on the rating plate: “100–240 V” is fine, single-voltage gear is not.
Detailed guide
Type A/B, 100 V and regional 50 or 60 Hz supplies.
Read the guide →An adapter changes the plug shape only, not voltage or frequency. Japan supplies 100 V at 50 Hz / 60 Hz – check the rating plate on your device. How to read a rating plate →
If a socket gets hot, crackles or smells burnt, unplug the device straight away.
Data for Japan from IEC World Plugs and IEC TR 60083. Sources and method →