Voltage

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 except for lamps. Some items can be used with step-down transformer from 240V to 100V). 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. You can use such products with step-up transformers (from 100v to 120V)
Transformers are available at the duty free electrical stores and Tokyo Lease Corporation.
More information : world voltage and frequency

Wold voltage (please click here)

Plug

Japanese electrical plug have two pins similar to the US, but usually does not have electrode.
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.

A Japanese electrical plug

Frequency

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.

Converters

There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are light-weight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices.
Transformers will have a much lower maximum Watt rating, usually 50 or 100. Transformers can often be used continuously and provide better electricity for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders. However, they are heavy because they contain large iron rods and lots of copper wire.
Some companies sell combination converters that include both a resistor network and a transformer in the same package. This kind of converter will usually come with a switch that switches between the two modes. If you absolutely need both types of converter, then this is the type to buy.

* Television, Audio and DVD
* Television

Japanese color system for TV and tuners is NTSC, which is the same as the US and Korea. On the other hands, most of the European countries, Switzerland, Australia adopted PAL. France and is SECAM.

Color system (please click here)

So, adjusting the voltage and plug is not enough to use TV from other countries. You can use TV from the US or other countries from the same color system, together with Japanese tuner. The television tuner needs to cover both UHF (ultra high frequency) and VHF (very high frequency) bands. Currently Japanese TV stations broadcasts in both digital and analog system. However, from 2011, all broadcasts will be in digital.

Buying new Television in Japan- Export model and multi system

You may find duty free appliances shop in the airport, Akihabara or in Yokohama. Television with multi systems can be used outside Japan regardless the above mentioned color system. However, some small functions may not be perfect, like bi-lingual system and tuner bands. Again, you can use Japanese domestic tuners to see television programs in Japan.

Plasma or Liquid Crystal?
Plasma displays are bright, have a wide color gamut and can be produced in fairly large sizes, up to 262 cm (103 inches) diagonally. They have a very high "dark-room" contrast, creating the "perfect black" desirable for watching movies. First 2000 hours is its brightest point, however, the display gradually dims thereafter. Plasma display is fragile and difficult to ship and install.
Currently, large televisions are plasma display, and smaller ones are liquid crystal display. But technological progress of liquid crystal is advancing so fast, that larger televisions are available in liquid crystal display, which is more cost effective than plasma display.

Digital Hi-Vision
The advent of digital television enabled two ways of broadcast; one is SDTV, standard definition television, mixing several standard quality images. The other is HDTV, high definition television; broadcast only one high-quality images. Usually English speaking people watch cable TV, which supply mostly SDTV programs (lower definition). So the opportunity of watching digital Hi-vision (HDTV) is very limited. NHK (Japanese national broadcasting) provides Hi-vision program at BS (Broadcast Satellite) channels, some in English.

Multi system television manufacturers
Our best recommendation is Hitachi, because their TV supports France SECAM, as well as NTSC and PAL. Other manufacturers: Panasonic, Toshiba, JVC, Pioneer and SONY.
Audio
Multi stereo sets are available if you want to bring them home. Please note that such multi system stereo’s frequency may not be used in Japan. Japanese FM radio stations send lower frequency than that of the other countries. Stereo comes with many kinds of cables and connectors for amplifier, tuner and speakers. Please check the appliances shop if such cables come free. Home theater system is also subject to voltage and frequency changes as well as radio frequency settings.

DVD

DVD expelled VHS videos from the market. One of the most annoying problems for expats who want to see DVDs from their home countries is the Region code. Japanese region code is 2, and DVDs from other regions may not be able to play with Japanese domestic DVD.
REGION 1 -- USA, Canada
REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
REGION 3 – South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia
REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
REGION 6 -- China
REGION 7 -- Reserved for Unspecified Special Use
REGION 8 -- Reserved for Cruise Ships, Airlines, etc...
REGION 0 or REGION ALL -- Discs are un-coded and can be played Worldwide,
You may able to find region free DVD players, which can play DVD of other countries, as long as the color system is the same. However, such DVD does not support high-vision nor bi-lingual sound system. Good thing about buying such multi-system and region free appliances is that the instructions come in several languages including English.
Some DVD has recording function and can be used as a tuner. Cheap region free DVD may not have such function.
Cable Television
Most of the houses and apartments for expats already have cable television system. All you need is just plug in the cable to your DVD player or TV tuner. It is worth while to ask the real estate agent or owner to install it if there is none. In the remote area, outside Tokyo, installing satellite dish is an option.
Washer/ Dryer/ Dish washer/ Microwave
Except for microwave, these utility appliances are mostly already installed in apartments and houses for expats. However, in the local areas other than Yokohama and Tokyo, tenants may have to install such appliances, or call Tokyo Lease. Please note that most of the Japanese homes have 100v outlet only. Heating takes so much time and energy, so most of the domestic washing machine just fills cold water. Moreover, Japanese detergents are powerful enough to wash dirty shirt into bright white even with cold water.

Vacuum Cleaner

Do not bring a vacuum cleaner from your home. American vacuum cleaners may work, but in a less powerful way. Dragging a heavy transformer with a vacuum cleaner is almost impossible.
Famous DYSON vacuum cleaner is available in Japan, though expensive. Japanese domestic vacuum cleaners are powerful, clean and relatively not noisy. Most of the cheap domestic vacuum cleaners require disposable paper filter bags.