Get your gear sorted before you fly
Heading To is for Australians travelling, whether it's a weekend in Melbourne or a month in Europe. We compare travel gear from carry-on bags to power banks, and write on airline rules and other packing tips.
Plug Finder · from Australia
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Pack a Type A adaptor
Sockets A, B · 100 V · 50 or 60 Hz
Your Australian plugs won't fit. Japan has Type A and B sockets, and a Type A adaptor (two flat pins) fits both.
The power is 100 V, lower than the 230 V at home. Check the label on each charger: if it says 100–240 V, it works there with just an adaptor. Hair dryers and straighteners made for 230 V often don't.
Japan: plugs and adaptorsBuying guides
Looking for the best travel gear? We've got you sorted. Each guide has our top 3 picks, compared side by side.
3 picks Buying guide · Luggage Checked suitcases worth buying for a long-haul trip One hard case and two soft ones, with the size and empty weight you need to check against your airline. Kate Morrison · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Luggage Best light carry-on suitcases for flying with cabin bags only Three light soft carry-ons, from under 2 kg empty, so more of your allowance goes on clothes. Kate Morrison · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Packing The best luggage scales for weighing your bag at home Three hand-held scales that hook onto your bag's handle, so you know its weight before the queue. Kate Morrison · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Packing Luggage trackers for iPhone and Android: our picks An AirTag for iPhone, plus two trackers that work with an iPhone or an Android phone. Kate Morrison · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Packing Packing cubes we recommend for any size of suitcase Three packing cube sets, from two light compression cubes to five cubes for a big suitcase. Kate Morrison · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Power and adaptors Best power banks you can fly with from Australia Three power banks well under 100 watt-hours, from a light phone top-up to one that charges a laptop. Ben Hartley · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Power and adaptors Which travel adaptor for Europe? Our picks from Australia Two earthed Korjos for three-pin chargers, and a slim one that fits Italy and Switzerland. Ben Hartley · 10 November 2026 
3 picks Buying guide · Power and adaptors Best travel adaptors for Japan from Australia Three adaptors for Japan, from a pocket-sized one to a pair with USB ports for two of you. Ben Hartley · 10 November 2026 Travel guides
What you can take on the plane, how to pack it, and other things worth knowing before you go.
Travel guide Carry-on size and weight limits on Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar The cabin bag size and weight each airline allows, by cabin, with Jetstar's 2027 change. Ben Hartley · 10 November 2026 
Travel guide Power banks on planes: what Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and CASA allow How many power banks each airline lets you fly with, and the watt-hour limits, each linked to its source. Ben Hartley · 10 November 2026