Japan Plug Type: Why Most UK Devices Work Fine

Last reviewed: May 2026

When people in the UK think of Japan, they often get a bit anxious about what will go wrong on their trip - and it's not trains, language barriers or even the flight that worries them. It's often something far more mundane: charging up their devices.

People hear that Japan is a 100V country, and immediately imagine a whole world of possible problems - fried chargers, broken laptops and phones that refuse to charge properly at all. But we dug into Simify's customer feedback and traveller reports, and the reality turned out to be rather less dramatic.

In fact - and I was a bit surprised by this myself - most modern UK devices will work just fine in Japan.

There are, of course, some caveats. High-power appliances like hair dryers and older grooming tools can still cause you a few headaches.

This guide is here to help you figure out the Japan plug type, which UK devices work without a hitch, which get a bit jammed up with the lower voltage system, and the common mistakes that travellers make when trying to charge up on the go.

This article is an independent piece of advice from Simify - just for information.

What plug type does Japan use?

Japan uses a Type A plug - although Type B plugs are also used, albeit less commonly.

Type A has two flat parallel prongs, while Type B adds a grounding pin to the same layout. It's worth knowing that Type A is the most common in Japanese outlets, but you will occasionally come across Type B outlets too.

Here's a quick rundown of which countries use which plug types:

Country	Plug Type
Japan	Type A
United Kingdom	Type G

 

Because Japan uses Type A, and the UK uses Type G, and also runs on 230V / 50Hz while Japan is 100V at 50Hz or 60Hz, you're going to need an adapter - and also check that your device can handle the voltage.

You'll need:

• A UK to Japan travel adapter - or
• A universal travel adapter that supports Type A sockets.

What voltage does Japan use?

Now, here's the bit that might give you pause - Japan is a 100V country.

Electrical Standard	Japan
Voltage	100V
Frequency	50Hz / 60Hz

 

That's lower than the 110-120V used in the States, or the 220-240V that's the norm in Europe and loads of other countries.

But here's the key thing: in Japan, the frequency splits - eastern Japan uses 50Hz, while western Japan uses 60Hz.

For UK devices, the key point is that the UK runs on 50Hz nationwide, while Japan's frequency is different between the two regions. But most modern electronics are designed to cope with this automatically.

Which UK devices work fine in Japan?

We dug into Simify's customer feedback and tested a bunch of devices to see how well they worked in Japan - and the good news is that most modern devices are fine.

Here are the ones that pretty much worked without a hitch:

Device	Compatibility in Japan
iPhones	Worked perfectly
Android phones	Worked perfectly
MacBooks	Worked perfectly
Windows laptops	Usually worked fine
iPads and tablets	Worked perfectly
Camera chargers	Usually worked fine
Power banks	Worked perfectly

 

In most cases, these devices were all dual voltage - so smartphones, laptops and most phone chargers were good to go with just a physical plug adapter. But you might still need a voltage converter for high-wattage appliances.

Why dual voltage modern chargers usually work safely

Most chargers these days are designed to work on any electrical system - and they do have a label on them to prove it.

If you see something like this:

"INPUT: 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz"

...then your charger is designed for worldwide electrical systems and should be fine in Japan.

And the good news is that almost all modern Apple, Samsung, Google, Lenovo, Dell, and laptop chargers do this automatically.

That's why most travellers show up expecting problems and then realise that everything charges just fine in minutes.

Which UK devices caused problems in Japan?

The devices that caused most issues were high-power ones that were single voltage, rather than dual voltage.

This included things like:

• Hair dryers
• Hair straighteners
• Electric kettles
• Older beard trimmers
• Some electric toothbrush chargers

If an appliance is not dual voltage and is rated for a different voltage, then you will need a voltage transformer or converter to use it safely in Japan - especially if it's something that generates heat or has a motor.

And the most common complaint was:

The device turned on, but didn't do much.

Hair dryers were by far the biggest culprit.• Hair dryers ran slow as usual. • Heat output just didn't cut it. • Styling tools took an age to warm up properly. • And some appliances just upped and stopped working.

This happens because many heating appliances are designed specifically to cope with the higher UK voltage, so a UK single-voltage device such as a hairdryer is going to underperform big time on Japan's 100V supply. In reality, 230V hairdryers, hair straighteners, and kettles will hardly operate, fail to function properly, or risk damage if not used with care, which also means there's a safety risk involved.

The hair dryer problem travellers kept going on about

This was a constant theme in traveller feedback.

Loads of UK hair dryers technically worked in Japan, but they just didn't perform anywhere near as well because Japan's 100V system just can't provide the same level of power.

And you know what's interesting? Experienced Japan travellers often gave the same piece of advice:

Don't bother bringing any of those big heavy UK hair dryers with you.

Most hotels in Japan will already have some lying around.

And for anyone planning on staying longer-term, buying a local appliance is probably a better idea than trying to deal with all the voltage compatibility issues.

Do hotels in Japan have enough charging ports?

Yeah, usually they do - especially when you compare them to some older hotels in Europe.

Loads of travellers were really surprised by how handy the charging setup was in Japanese hotels.

Even the tiniest hotel rooms often came with:

• Loads of wall sockets.
• USB charging points.
• Bedside charging points.
• Desk outlets.

Business hotels in particular got great feedback for their surprisingly good charging setups, even though the rooms were pretty small.

Charging phones and using eSIM in Japan

Phone battery drain was a real problem among travellers in Japan because people were using their phones non-stop to stay connected, and for navigation and bookings.

And honestly it's not surprising at all.

People rely on their phones all day for things like:

• Using Google Maps.
• Finding train routes.
• Getting help from translation apps.
• Paying with mobile payments.
• Booking restaurants.
• Reading QR-code menus.
• Chatting with friends on WhatsApp.
• Taking photos.
• eSIM connectivity.

Long days out sightseeing in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka can really wipe out your battery faster than you'd think.

For travellers heading there: Japan eSIM plans

Loads of travellers mentioned how handy it was to arrive with an eSIM already set up, so they didn't have to waste time trying to find Wi-Fi in train stations.

Charging points can usually be found at some major train stations and other public electrical outlets, but how many power outlets are available does vary depending on the location.

Can you buy adapters easily in Japan?

Yeah, you can. Japan is great for shopping for travellers.

Adapters are widely available in:

• Airports, of course.
• Yodobashi Camera.
• Bic Camera.
• Convenience stores.
• Don Quijote branches.
• Hotel reception desks.

At these places you can also pick up a universal plug adapter, or even a basic power strip for charging loads of devices.

But travellers still said that buying one before you leave is probably easier - especially after a long flight and a late-night arrival.

What surprised travellers most about charging in Japan?

Loads of things came up time and time again.

First: travellers were really surprised at how well most modern UK electronics handled Japan's lower voltage. Visitors from the States don't need an adapter usually because Japan uses the same Type A and Type B plugs as the US, unlike places with different plug standards.

Second: people thought the charging infrastructure would be a lot more complicated than it actually is.

Third: travellers seriously underestimated how much they'd be using their phones throughout their Japan trip.

And finally: portable chargers became a lifesaver during long sightseeing days because navigating, translating, taking photos and using the train drained batteries faster than anyone expected - especially in Tokyo.

Is Japan safe for UK electronics overall?

In general, yes.

Phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and USB-powered devices just worked as expected according to traveller reports.

The only real compatibility issues were with older or high-power heating appliances.

That's why most regular travellers made sure to:

• Bring a good adapter.
• Pack a power bank.
• Avoid bringing any bulky UK appliances.
• Double-check charger voltage compatibility before they left.

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