Plug adapter for Japan from the United States
What travellers from the United States need to charge and power their devices in Japan: plugs, voltage and frequency, with the rest of the trip basics below.
Plug adapter
Needed for some plugs
Your Type A plugs fit. For Type B plugs, bring an adapter to Type A (a simple B-to-A adapter).
Voltage
Same band
The United States 120 V → Japan 100 V. No converter needed; high-power heaters and dryers run a little weaker.
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
It does fit the Type B sockets also found in Japan, but you can't count on finding one.
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 | Works with the adapter |
| Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons | single voltage | Works with the adapter |
| Kettles, irons, travel cookers | single voltage, high power | Works with the adapter |
| 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 14 h ahead of the United States right now (UTC+9 vs UTC−5, capitals).
- Money
- The Japanese Yen (JPY): 1 USD = 157.3 JPY (ECB reference rates, 2026-10-30). Everyday prices are about 69% of the United States'.
- Driving
- Switch sides: Japan drives on the left (the United States drives on the right). Look right first when crossing.
- 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