Plug adapter for China from Japan
What travellers from Japan need to charge and power their devices in China: plugs, voltage and frequency, with the rest of the trip basics below.
Plug adapter
Not needed
Your Type A plugs fit China's Types A and I sockets.
Voltage
Higher: 220 V
Japan 100 V → China 220 V. Devices made for 110–120 V only need a step-down converter.
Frequency
Different
50 Hz / 60 Hz → 50 Hz. Chargers don't mind; mains-timed clocks and some motors may run fast or slow.
Your plug, their socket
In China: Type I (angled flat pins) and Type A sockets are standard. Older combined sockets also accept Europlugs (Type C), but they are no longer installed.
Your devices in China
Look for the “INPUT” line on the charger or label. A range such as 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz means the device adapts by itself and needs only a plug adapter.
| Device | Usually | In China |
|---|---|---|
| Phone, tablet and laptop chargers | 100–240 V | Works as is |
| Camera and power-bank chargers, e-readers | 100–240 V | Works as is |
| Electric shavers, toothbrushes | often 100–240 V; check | Check the label: single-voltage ones need a converter |
| Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons | single voltage | Will burn out on 220 V: buy a dual-voltage model or use the hotel's |
| Kettles, irons, travel cookers | single voltage, high power | Leave at home: converters for these are heavy and costly |
| Plug-in clocks, timers, some fans | 50 Hz / 60 Hz | May run fast or slow on 50 Hz |
A plug adapter does not change voltage. Plugging a 120 V-only appliance into 220 V through an adapter will destroy it within seconds and can start a fire.
The rest of the trip basics
- Time
- China is 1 h behind of Japan right now (UTC+8 vs UTC+9, capitals).
- Money
- The Chinese Yuan (CNY): 1 JPY = 0.04231 CNY (ECB reference rates, 2026-10-30). Everyday prices are about 70% of Japan's.
- Driving
- Switch sides: China drives on the right (Japan drives on the left). Look left first when crossing.
- Advisories
- US: Level 2 Exercise increased caution. UK: no FCDO warnings. Details
- Next holidays
- 1 Jan New Year's Day · 5 Feb Chinese New Year's Eve · 6 Feb Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) All 19
- Calling code
- +86