What this guide covers
- The shapes of plug types A to N
- Countries and regions that use the same types as Japan
- Which plug adapter you need at major destinations
A plug adapter only matches the socket shape; it does not change the voltage. For voltage, see Using electrical products from Japan abroad.
1. List of types
| Type | Shape |
|---|---|
| A | two flat pins (same shape as Japan) |
| B | two flat pins + round earth pin |
| C | two round pins |
| D | three thick round pins (in a triangle) |
| E | two round pins (earth pin on the socket side) |
| F | two round pins (earth clips on the sides) |
| G | three rectangular pins |
| H | three pins in a V shape with earth |
| I | two flat pins in a V shape (+ earth) |
| J | three round pins (Swiss type) |
| K | two round pins + earth (Danish type) |
| L | three round pins in a line |
| M | three thick round pins (large) |
| N | three round pins (Brazilian type) |
In the IEC list, Japan's plug types are A and B. According to the IEC, the American type A plug has one wider pin, while the Japanese type A plug has two pins of the same size. As a result, Japanese plugs can be used in the US but often not the other way around.
Source: IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) World Plugs country list (as of June 2025). The IEC no longer publishes this list, so a copy is kept on this site (retrieved 2026-09-27)
2. Countries and regions whose list shows only the same types as Japan (A, B)
In the IEC list, 32 countries and regions use only types A and B.
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Palau, Panama, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, United States, Venezuela
In addition, 20 countries and regions use type A along with other types, and 163 countries and regions do not have type A in the list (per the IEC list, excluding Japan).
Source: IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) World Plugs country list (as of June 2025). The IEC no longer publishes this list, so a copy is kept on this site (retrieved 2026-09-27)
3. Plug types at major destinations
| Country / region | Types | Type A in the list |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | C, F | No |
| Taiwan | A, B | Yes (only the same types as Japan) |
| United States | A, B | Yes (only the same types as Japan) |
| Guam | A, B | Yes (only the same types as Japan) |
| Thailand | A, B, C, F | Yes (with other types) |
| Hong Kong | D, G | No |
| China | A, I | Yes (with other types) |
| Vietnam | A, B, C | Yes (with other types) |
| Singapore | C, G, M | No |
| Philippines | A, B, C | Yes (with other types) |
| France | C, E | No |
| United Kingdom | G | No |
| Italy | C, F, L | No |
| Germany | C, F | No |
| Spain | C, F | No |
| Australia | I | No |
| Canada | A, B | Yes (only the same types as Japan) |
In countries with "other types", sockets differ by building. They may also differ by region or building within the same country.
Source: IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) World Plugs country list (as of June 2025). The IEC no longer publishes this list, so a copy is kept on this site (retrieved 2026-09-27)
For other countries, see the list by country and region.
→ Check plug types and voltage for your destination in the checker