Charging the iPhone 6 when planning a trip to Japan

Instructions showing you how to power the iPhone 6 from a Japanese power outlet with the Apple USB Lightning connector with a Type A USB charger and charging the iPhone 6 using a Type B USB plug.

Japanese power outlet

If planning a vacation it's useful to know if you can use any common electronics when you get there. Without knowing which plug socket is being used you could pack the wrong power charger, leaving you having to purchase a potentially expensive charger when you need to recharge which might not be compatible and cause problems with your iPhone 6. Various combinations of frequencies and standards can all be daunting when planning to stay in a foreign country especially for the first time traveller. This page was written to stop people worrying if they'll be able to charge the iPhone 6 when they are going abroad.When you are planning a holiday to Japan these useful instructions show powering the iPhone 6 by using their standard Type B or A 100 volt 60Hz plug outlets, most Japanese typically use Type B plugs in their wall outlets. You will find power is different from region to region therefore we suggest reading the Asia page for a complete list of regions and countries. If the iPhone 6 charges slowly or does not power up when you are visiting Japan from another country check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Typically devices which come from a country which use a higher voltage (for example 240 volts) may take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check the device is a dual voltage device (you'll find these are usually marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional voltage converter to ensure proper use. These instructions assume you are running Apple iOS 7 or greater on the iPhone 6.

Charging the iPhone 6 in Japan

Can you use the iPhone 6 in Japan?

You can use the iPhone 6 in Japan by using a power adaptor.

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

When travelling with more than your iPhone 6 or visiting more than one country the best international travel adapter for Japan is a multiple USB port charger which includes compatible plugs like a 4 port USB travel charger. There are two different types of power outlets that Japanese use (B and A) and bringing this ensures that you are covered for type A.

Because these types of chargers are supplied with interchangeable plugs and handle from 100 to 240 volts will mean you can travel to multiple countries around the world just by switching the included heads. If your iPhone 6 supports Fast Charge then you'll benefit from much quicker recharging times with one of these types of travel chargers, plus additional support for more power demanding devices like tablets. Unlike other travel chargers this will allow you to power more than one device simultaneously without needing to buy individual travel chargers on your trip or using up additional power sockets. Only needing a single USB travel charger will help keep the overall weight down, making it ideal to fold up and store in hand baggage. Because of their versatility these types of chargers can be used when back at home so when you’re not travelling they can sit overnight charging multiple tablets and phones without using up an additional wall outlet.

We recommend buying an adaptable travel charger of this nature at your preferred electronics retailer. The multipurpose power adapter illustrated is the 4 Port USB Wall Charger which has been tested successfully with multiple USB devices in numerous foreign countries.

Alternative travel adapter for Japan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country who only have USB devices such as the iPhone 6, but for those also wanting to use their domestic plugs the following power converters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All 3 power converters offer surge protection which is useful for visitors of counties with unreliable power supplies. These power converters come with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs which cover both Japan and over 150 destinations:

  • BESTEK Portable International Travel Voltage Converter - The BESTEK travel converter has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the best selling compact option for travellers originating from America going to Japan using 3 pin type B plug sockets.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Also having 4 USB ports but only 2 AC power outlets the travel adapter from Orico is also aimed at travellers originating from America using type B plugs and is a cheaper alternative to the BESTEK with only one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has just 2 AC outlets but offers a more 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 ideal for most travellers from around the world visiting Japan. [8] [AD]
What is the best power adapter for the iPhone 6 in Japan?

How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Japanese power outlet

Using a Lightning connector with a Type A USB charger to charge your iPhone 6 with a Japanese power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 6 using the Japanese power outlet you will need to use a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5] - this USB cable is typically already included with the device by Apple.
  2. Start by taking the Type A USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the wall supply. This unearthed power outlet (sometimes called the Type A power outlet [3]) is identified by the 2 thin adjacent slots next to each other for live and neutral.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Apple Lightning power cable into the bottom of the USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6. You can find the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6 situated at the bottom of the iPhone 6.
  4. Turn on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 6 screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type A power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Japanese power outlet

How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Japanese power outlet

Using a Lightning connector with a Type B USB charger to charge your iPhone 6 with a Japanese power outlet.

  1. In order to supply power to the iPhone 6 using the Japanese power outlet you will need to use a Type B USB power plug adapter [7] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], typically supplied with your device by Apple.
  2. Start by taking the Type B USB power plug adapter and plugging it in the wall supply. You can recognise this power supply by the two slots adjacent to each other with a semicircle hole below for the earth pin.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the Apple Lightning cable into the mains power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 Lightning connector can be found at bottom of your iPhone 6 under the home button.
  4. Turn on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPhone 6 screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the phone is recharging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
How to use a Type B power charger for recharging your iPhone 6 from a Japanese power outlet

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..