Electricity in Japan
Voltage
Transformer up to 1000W
Voltage in Japan is 100 Volt
Appliances brought from Europe, Australia and other Asian countries where voltage is 220 to 240V are not able to use.
View World Voltage
Transformer up to 300W
Transformer
Some items can be used with step-up transformer from 100V to 240V.
Some of the low energy consuming appliances brought from the US (120V) can be used without transformers, though desk top computers and other sensitive items might be affected.
High powered 120V appliances like microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, dryers may not work properly in Japan.
Plugs
Japanese electrical plug have two pins similar to the US, but usually does not have electrode.
Socket
One of the US plug pins is large and the others are small, and Japanese two pins are the same size as smaller US plug pins.
However, many of the Japanese homes have wall outlet that the US plugs can fit.
You may also find extension cords for the US plugs in major Japanese electrical stores.
The combination of plug adapter, and converters may enable the usage of the appliances from other countries, except appliances with big power or subject to sensible mechanism.
Frequency
The frequency of electric current is 50 to 60 Hertz
The frequency of electric current is 50 Hertz in Eastern Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama and other northern area), 60 Hertz in Western Japan (Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and other southern area) the US is 60HZ and Europe is 50HZ.
If you are going to live in the Middle of Japan (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka, Nagano prefecture), you need to check Japanese local electric shop or power supplier, because the frequency depends on the cities, even in the same prefectures.
Some appliances can be used without adjusting the frequency.
However sensitive appliances like microwave, stereo sets, electric pianos, clocks and timers, frequency needs to be adjusted.
Electric appliances sold in Japan have frequency switch so that you can use them in both areas.
If you are bringing sensitive appliances, be sure to check the frequency.
Transformers can change voltages, plug adaptors can fit your appliances to the wall outlet, but changing frequency is almost impossible, or very costly.
