Charging the iPad 4 when planning a trip to Japan

A page showing how to charge your iPad 4 with a Japanese power outlet using a Lightning cable and a two pin Type A power adapter and charging the iPad 4 using a Type B USB charger.

Japanese power outlet

Varying complicated standards and plug types can often be confusing when planning on visiting another country especially if you've never been there before. This guide was written to stop people worrying if they'll be able to charge the iPad 4 when they are going abroad.If travelling to Japan these useful instructions show powering the iPad 4 by using their standard B or A type Japanese 100 volt 60Hz power outlets, a majority of Japanese will normally use the Type B sockets in their plug outlets. If your iPad 4 slowly recharges or doesn't turn on when visiting Japan from a different region please check that it is compatible with a 110 volt power supply. Normally electrical devices which originate from a different country which use a higher voltage (for example 220 volts) may take longer to charge or won't turn on, so check the device is a dual voltage device (marked with a 100-240 volt notation) else you may need to use an additional power converter to ensure proper use. If you're planning on visiting a Japanese city like Tokyo read 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 iPad 4.

Charging the iPad 4 in Japan

Can you use the iPad 4 in Japan?

You can connect the iPad 4 to a Japanese power outlet.

What is the best power adapter for the iPad 4 in Japan?

When travelling to multiple countries and bringing along more than your iPad 4 then the best travel power 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 come with interchangeable pins and can handle 100 volts - 240 volts it makes them ideal for over 100 countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa simply by changing the heads. If your iPad 4 supports Fast Charge (note that not all USB devices will) then you'll benefit from faster charging times by using one of these USB power adapters along with compatibility with certain power hungry devices.

Unlike other adapters this will allow you to power more than one device at once without needing to bring seperate travel chargers or using up additional power sockets. Because you are 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 and convenient for charging your iPad 4 at the airport or on the flight. Due to their space saving flexibility these types of power adapters can be used at home not just abroad so when you’re not on holiday they can be used under your bedside table charging multiple tablets and smartphones with just a single power outlet.

For those travelling to Japan we suggest searching for a flexible power charger like this 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 with good reliably.

Alternative travel adapter for Japan

The 4 port USB travel charger is the most compact option for travellers from any country wanting to charge devices using USB, however for visitors also wishing to use their domestic plugs these power adapters provide larger but more versatile solutions. All three power adapters offer surge protection which is necessary for travellers to counties with unstable power supplies. These power converters are supplied with interchangeable type C, I and G plugs covering 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 adaptor has 4 USB charging ports with 3 AC power outlets and is the most popular portable power adapter for travellers originating from North America visiting Japan.
  • ORICO Traveling Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip - Likewise 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 just one less AC outlet at almost half price.
  • BESTEK International USB Travel Power Strip - This power strip has 2 AC outlets but offers 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 iPad 4 in Japan?

Powering the iPad 4 with a Japanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

A page showing how to charge your iPad 4 with a Japanese power outlet using a Lightning cable and a two pin Type A power adapter.

  1. To charge the iPad 4 from a Japanese power outlet you'll need to buy a Type A USB power plug adapter [4] and a USB to Apple Lightning cable [5], the USB cable is typically already included with the device by Apple.
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type A USB power plug adapter into the Japanese power outlet. You can recognise this plug supply by the two thin adjacent slots next to each other for live and neutral.
  3. Then connect the USB end of the USB Lightning cable into the bottom of the USB charger and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector can be found at the bottom of the iPad 4.
  4. Switch on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon which appears in the top right corner of your iPad screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging, typically taking between 60 to 240 minutes to fully recharge to full capacity. [AD]
Powering the iPad 4 with a Japanese power outlet by using a 2 pinned Type A USB adapter

Charging the iPad 4 from a Japanese power outlet by using a 3 pinned Type B USB adapter

Instructions on how to recharge the iPad 4 from a Japanese power outlet with the USB Lightning Apple cable and a 3 pin Type B power adapter.

  1. If you want to power your iPad 4 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] (usually supplied with your iPad 4).
  2. Begin the process by plugging the Type B USB power plug adapter into the wall supply. You can identify the power outlet by the two slots adjacent to each other with a semicircle hole below for the slightly long grounded pin.
  3. Plug in one end of the USB charging cord into the bottom of the USB power adapter and the other end into the Lightning connector on the iPad 4. The iPad 4 lightning connector is situated at the base of the iPad 4.
  4. Turn on the Japanese power outlet.
  5. The battery icon that you'll find in the top right hand corner of your iPad 4 screen will display a charging icon to indicate that the tablet is recharging which takes roughly one-four hours to completely recharge. [AD]
Charging the iPad 4 from 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 iPad 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..