You can actually remove the third prong if you don't care about not having a 3 prong. :rolleyes:

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted some advice before I go to Japan.

Basically, I want to bring my hair straighteners, (yes I know), to Japan with me. I'm from the UK, so it has the three pronged type of plug - however when you open the UK plug, there is a European (I think) two pronged plug inside it.

So basically, it can either be:

Or:

Now, I want to be able to use it in Japan. The voltage of my hair straighteners is 110-230V. A.C is 60/50Hz, and it's 150W.

Can anyone recommend me or link me the type of plug or converter/transformer I need to be able to use them in Japan? The straighteners are very expensive so obviously I want to be careful with them :)

If all else fails, I might just buy some cheap ones in Japan, though I'd rather not as they'd be useless when I get home really. (And no I can't do without, I like to look half decent and my hair is a frizzbomb without them, hah.)

This should do the trick or you could just buy one there like you mentioned.

The plugs in Japan are the same shape as those in the US - minus the third prong (ground) in older buildings. In other words, neither of the plug shapes will even fit into a Japanese plug.

The voltage in Japan is 100V, so even with a direct adapter you may encounter problems. I would not recommend using the type of thing Polar suggested with something that is not compatible with 100V. I doubt it would damage it at all, as the voltage is lower, not higher, but it may not work so you`d be stuck with a useless item.

My best advice is to pick up an inexpensive one in Japan - you`re likely to have no trouble finding one that will be able to be used back home (with a cheap plug adapter) as Japan makes so many products for export.
Or, to pick up a voltage adapter. Be careful to find one that is approved for use with heavy electricity consuming items like hair dryers and straighteners. The cheap ones usually don`t and will short if you try to use anything like that.

In the end, the price of a cheap straightener in Japan is probably going to be similar to the price of a quality voltage adapter.

I took my straighteners to Japan with me; 220-240V 60/50Hz 35W, which plugged in with a simple plug converter and no transformer and they worked just fine. :/ Then again, mine were cheap so I didn't mind running the risk of exploding them. The only thing was i had to be careful to put the converter in the wall socket first and then plug the straighteners in or it would spark.

For a plug converter at least, you can pick up really cheap (like £3) universal converters at camping stores/travel stores/ airports, or use a uk-USA one (check it doesn't have that 3rd earth prong first). If you're going to buy a voltage transformer, get it in Japan because they're like putting hefty little bricks in your luggage.

The european fitting def. won't work; the prongs are the wrong shape.