Japan
Asia · 20 specs
Direct Answer
Japan (JP / JPN / 392) operates on a 100 V electrical grid with a famous 50 Hz (East / Tokyo) and 60 Hz (West / Osaka) frequency split using JIS C 8303 (Type A/B) sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT). The official currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥), country calling code is +81, emergency dispatch is 110 (Police) / 119 (Fire/Ambulance), and standard paper format is JIS/ISO A4.
Source: JSA (Japanese Standards Association) / JIS C 8303 / MIC / METI / ISO 3166-1 / Japan Post · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Japan ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | 日本国 (Nihon-koku / Nippon-koku) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | JP |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | JPN |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 392 UN M49 (Code 142) |
| Country Calling Code | +81 MIC (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 010 (or 001/0033 carrier prefix) dial prefix for international calls |
| Internet ccTLD | .jp JPRS Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | J UNECE Standard |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥ / 円) 100 Sen (subunits obsolete since 1953) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 100 V (±10%), 50 Hz (East) / 60 Hz (West) JIS C 8303 / Denki Jigyō Hō |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type A (JIS C 8303 Class II) & Type B (Class I Grounded) 15 A / 125 V (Equal width unpolarized blades) |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) Road Traffic Act (Dōro Kōtsū Hō) |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) Measurement Act (Keiryō Hō) |
| Standard Office Paper Format | JIS P 0138 A4 (210 × 297 mm) & JIS B5 (182 × 257 mm) JIS Standard |
| Standard Business Envelope | Chōgata 3 (120 × 235 mm) & Kakugata 2 (240 × 332 mm) JIS S 5502 |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 110 (Police) / 119 (Fire & Ambulance) / 118 (Coast Guard) Direct Service Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 7 Digits (〒NNN-NNNN, e.g. 〒100-8994 Tokyo) Japan Post Standard |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+9 (JST–Japan Standard Time) Fixed standard (No DST) |
| Date Format Standard | YYYY年MM月DD日 (or Reiwa era: R8.08.23) JIS X 0301 / Gengō Calendar |
The 2019 Imperial Era Transition & Name Order Shift
- The Reiwa Era (令和): On May 1, 2019, Japan transitioned from the Heisei era to the Reiwa era upon the accession of Emperor Naruhito, resetting the official Japanese Gengō calendar (Reiwa 1 / 令和元年).
- Western Name Order Policy: In 2020, the Japanese government officially requested international media and diplomatic protocols to write Japanese names in traditional East Asian order (Family Name First, e.g., Kishida Fumio rather than Fumio Kishida), matching Chinese and Korean standards.
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 100 V (±10%), 50 Hz (East) / 60 Hz (West).
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type A (JIS C 8303 Class II) & Type B (Class I Grounded). Uses North American style Type A (2-blade ungrounded) and Type B (3-prong grounded) receptacles.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +81. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 010 (or 001/0033 carrier prefix) followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 110 (Police) / 119 (Fire & Ambulance) / 118 (Coast Guard). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Japanese Yen (JPY, ¥ / 円).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize JIS P 0138 A4 (210 × 297 mm) & JIS B5 (182 × 257 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+9 (JST–Japan Standard Time).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 7 Digits (〒NNN-NNNN, e.g. 〒100-8994 Tokyo).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Japan.