Charging your iPhone 6 Plus from a power outlet in Japan

A page showing how to recharge the iPhone 6 Plus from a Japanese power outlet with a USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type A USB charger and charging the iPhone 6 Plus using a three pin Type B power charger.

Japanese power outlet

Complicated combinations of voltages and region codes can all lead to confusion when planning to stay in another country if you've never been there before. These instructions have been specifically written to prevent you having to worry if you'll be able to charge the iPhone 6 Plus when you're in staying in Japan.If planning a trip to Japan the following useful instructions show how to charge the iPhone 6 Plus by using their types B or A 100 volt 60Hz wall outlets, a majority of Japanese will normally use Type B plugs in their plug outlets. You will find power supplies are different depending on which region you are travelling to so please read the power supplies and Asia page for a full list of regions and countries. If the iPhone 6 Plus doesn't power up or recharges slowly when travelling to Japan from a different country then check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which originate from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) either take longer to charge or won't power up, check that your iPhone 6 Plus is a dual voltage device (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional converter to ensure proper use. If you plan to stay in a tourist destination like Tokyo we also suggest reading the Japan National Tourism Organization Web Site [1] for further information. These instructions assume that you have installed Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Charging the iPhone 6 Plus in Japan

Can the iPhone 6 Plus be used in Japan?

Yes, you can connect the iPhone 6 Plus to a Japanese power outlet by using the correct power adaptor.

What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 6 Plus in Japan?

If you are travelling with more than your iPhone 6 Plus the best international travel charger for Japan to buy is a multiple USB charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different standards of plug sockets in Japan (B and A) and using a power charger like this will ensure that you are covered for type A. As these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle from 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for multiple countries around the world just by switching the heads. If your model of iPhone 6 Plus is compatible with Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker charging times by using one of these USB travel chargers, plus compatibility with certain power hungry devices. Unlike other travel chargers having a 4 port adapter will allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time without needing to pack multiple travel chargers on your trip. By only packing a single USB travel charger will help keep the overall weight and size down, making it perfect to store in hand baggage. Because of their flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit under your bedside table charging multiple phones and tablets without needing an additional wall outlet.

For those travelling to Japan we recommend buying a versatile power adapter like this at your preferred electronics retailer - the travel charger illustrated here is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous countries around the world with perfect reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Japan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to recharge devices via USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power strips offer surge protection which can be useful for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies to prevent damage to any connected appliances. These travel converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover Continental Europe, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, China and over 150 countries around the world:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK international travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact power converter for travellers originating from North America visiting Japan using 3 pinned type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the Orico travel adapter is also aimed at travellers from the US using type B plugs and offers the same set of features as the BESTEK with 1 less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers a flexible 5 USB charging ports. This versatile power strip is compatible with both American plugs and popular plug types A, D,E/F, G, H, I, L and N making it perfect for most travellers from around the world visiting Japan. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 6 Plus in Japan?

Powering the iPhone 6 Plus with a Japanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

A page showing how to recharge the iPhone 6 Plus from a Japanese power outlet with a USB Lightning Apple cable and a Type A USB charger.

  1. To charge your iPhone 6 Plus using the Japanese power outlet you will need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this USB cable is normally supplied with your iPhone 6 Plus).
  2. Plug the Type A USB power plug adapter into the power outlet. You can identify the power supply by the two thin slots next to each other for live and neutral pins.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB to Apple Lightning cable into the USB mains charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 Plus Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 6 Plus under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right corner of the phone will display a charge icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking roughly 1 - 4 hours to completely recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 6 Plus with a Japanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Powering the iPhone 6 Plus with a Japanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

A guide showing how to charge your iPhone 6 Plus from a Japanese power outlet with the Apple Lightning cable and a 3 pin Type B USB charger.

  1. To power the iPhone 6 Plus using the Japanese power outlet you will need to buy a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] (this USB cable is typically supplied with your iPhone 6 Plus by Apple).
  2. Plug the Type B USB power plug adapter into the power supply. The wall outlet (sometimes called the Type B power outlet [6]) is identified by 2 slots next to each other with a single hole below for the earthed pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB Lightning cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 Plus Lightning connector is situated at bottom of your iPhone 6 Plus under the home button.
  4. Switch on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your mobile will display a charge icon to indicate that the iPhone 6 Plus is charging, typically taking between 1 to 4 hours to recharge to 100% capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPhone 6 Plus with a Japanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

See also

  1. Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization Web Site
  2. Apple - official iPhone user guide
  3. iec.ch - Type A power outlet
  4. Type A USB power plug adapter - With its two-blade, ungrounded design, the Type A USB power plug adapter offers a straightforward way to convert electrical outlets in countries like the United States and Canada into USB ports for easy device charging..
  5. USB to Apple Lightning cable - The Apple Lightning cable is a charging and syncing cable for more recent Apple devices and connects compatible iPhones and iPads to a USB port.
  6. iec.ch - Type B power outlet
  7. Type B USB power plug adapter - A Type B USB power plug adapter conforms to the NEMA 5-15 specifications, featuring 2 parallel flat blades and an extended grounding pin. Rated at 15A and 125 volts, suitable for use in the United States and Canada for converting domestic outlets to USB..
  8. 4 Port USB Wall Charger - A 4-port USB wall charger is an electrical device that provides simultaneous charging for up to four USB-compatible devices. It often includes interchangeable international plug adapters for global use..