Plug adapter for Japan from the United Kingdom
What travellers from the United Kingdom 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
The United Kingdom 230 V → Japan 100 V. 230 V-only devices need a step-up converter.
Frequency
Different
50 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 | 50 Hz | May run fast or slow on 50 Hz / 60 Hz |
The rest of the trip basics
- Time
- Japan is 9 h ahead of the United Kingdom right now (UTC+9 vs UTC+0).
- Money
- The Japanese Yen (JPY): 1 GBP = 210.7 JPY (ECB reference rates, 2026-10-30). Everyday prices are about 75% of the United Kingdom's.
- Driving
- On the left, as at home.
- Advisories
- US: Level 1 Exercise normal precautions. UK: no FCDO warnings. Details
- Next holidays
- 3 Nov Culture Day · 23 Nov Labor Thanksgiving Day · 1 Jan New Year's Day All 17
- Calling code
- +81