Plug adapter for Japan from South Korea
What travellers from South Korea need to charge and power their devices in Japan: plugs, voltage and frequency, with the rest of the trip basics below.
Plug adapter
Needed
Bring a Type A adapter.
Voltage
Lower: 100 V
South Korea 220 V → Japan 100 V. 230 V-only devices need a step-up converter.
Frequency
Different
60 Hz → 50 Hz / 60 Hz. Chargers don't mind; mains-timed clocks and some motors may run fast or slow.
Your plug, their socket
In Japan: Most sockets accept only two-pin Type A plugs: a three-pin US plug (Type B) needs a cheap two-pin adapter. Eastern Japan (Tokyo, Sendai, Sapporo) runs at 50 Hz and western Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Hiroshima) at 60 Hz.
Your devices in Japan
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 Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Phone, tablet and laptop chargers | 100–240 V | Plug adapter only |
| Camera and power-bank chargers, e-readers | 100–240 V | Plug adapter only |
| Electric shavers, toothbrushes | often 100–240 V; check | Check the label: single-voltage ones need a converter |
| Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons | single voltage | Weak or won't run on 100 V: 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 | 60 Hz | May run fast or slow on 50 Hz / 60 Hz |
The rest of the trip basics
- Time
- Japan is same time of South Korea right now (UTC+9 vs UTC+9).
- Money
- The Japanese Yen (JPY): 1 KRW = 0.1178 JPY (ECB reference rates, 2026-10-30). Everyday prices are about 111% of South Korea's.
- Driving
- Switch sides: Japan drives on the left (South Korea drives on the right). Look right first when crossing.
- Advisories
- US: Level 1 Exercise normal precautions. UK: no FCDO warnings. Details
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- Calling code
- +81