Japan vs Mexico: plugs, voltage and frequency compared

Japan runs on 100V and Mexico on 120V. It depends on the socket. The Mexico City Government describes Type B plugs with flat pins for Mexico. Japan's outlets take Type A plugs (JNTO), with two flat pins and no earth pin. A Type B plug, with its round earth pin, needs a socket with the third hole; Panasonic lists Type A and B for Japan.

Updated October 3, 2026

120Vin Mexico

60Hzin Mexico

200,395visitors from Mexico in 2025

Type B: needs a third hole

Mexico and Japan side by side

Mexico: 120V and 60Hz. Japan: 100V, 50Hz in the east and 60Hz in the west.

Voltage, frequency and plug in Japan and Mexico (official pages, checked 2026-10-03)
	Japan	Mexico
Voltage	100V JNTO	120VAlso written: 127V (NOM-001-SEDE-2012: '120 ó 127 volts') Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE)
Frequency	50Hz east, 60Hz west JNTO	60Hz Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE)
Plug	Type A, two flat pinsPanasonic lists Type A and B JNTO	Two flat pins and a round earth pin (Type B) Mexico City Government

Official pages for Mexico do not all give the same figure: 127V (NOM-001-SEDE-2012: '120 ó 127 volts'). This page uses 120V, the value from Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE).

Who says what about electricity in Mexico

Official sources for voltage, frequency and plug in Mexico, and what each one states
Source	What it states	Kind
Secretaría de Energía (Diario Oficial de la Federación)NOM-001-SEDE-2012, 29 November 2012 (archived copy)	Voltage: 120V/127V; 120/240V or 220Y/127V Source	Government (archived copy)
Mexico City GovernmentBasics for Mexico City travel (city tourism portal)	Plug: Type B, flat pins (identical to USA/Canada) Source	Government
Mexico City GovernmentBasics for Mexico City travel, Spanish (city tourism portal)	Plug: tipo B, clavijas planas (idénticos a EEUU/Canadá) Source	Government
INIFED (National Institute of Educational Physical Infrastructure)Standards and specifications, Vol. 5: electrical installations	Plug: NEMA 5-15R grounding-type duplex receptacle (designation only) Source	Government
Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE)Model contract for prepaid low-voltage supply (archived copy)	Voltage: 120V; frequency: 60Hz Source	Power company (archived copy)

What to pack in Mexico for Japan

Type B plugs from Mexico need a Japanese socket with the third hole.

Type B plugs: the round earth pin needs a socket with the third hole. JNTO names Type A for Japan's outlets; Panasonic lists Type A and B. Source for Mexico: Mexico City Government.
Each device from Mexico: read INPUT. Japan's 100V has to be inside the range.
Mexico: 60Hz. Tokyo: 50Hz. Osaka: 60Hz. A 50/60Hz label covers all three.

Flow chart for travellers from Mexico: does the plug have two flat pins, and does INPUT include 100V? If not, bring a plug adapter or a voltage converter.

Figure by japan-japan.com from JNTO: Plugs and Electricity.

What official pages in Mexico say

7 statements from Secretaría de Energía (Diario Oficial de la Federación), the Mexico City Government, INIFED (National Institute of Educational Physical Infrastructure) and Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE).

Secretaría de Energía (Diario Oficial de la Federación)NOTA: Donde se lea 120 volts, podrá ser 120 ó 127 volts.NOM-001-SEDE-2012, 29 November 2012 (archived copy)

In English: NOTE: Where 120 volts is read, it may be 120 or 127 volts.

Secretaría de Energía (Diario Oficial de la Federación)a 120/240 ó 220Y/127 voltsNOM-001-SEDE-2012, 29 November 2012 (archived copy)

In English: at 120/240 or 220Y/127 volts (dwelling-unit service)

Mexico City GovernmentPlugs are Type B, with flat pins, identical to those used in the USA, Canada and the Americas.Basics for Mexico City travel (city tourism portal)

Mexico City GovernmentLos enchufes son tipo B, con clavijas planas, idénticos a los usados en EEUU, Canadá y casi toda América.Basics for Mexico City travel, Spanish (city tourism portal)

In English: Plugs are Type B, with flat pins, identical to those used in the USA, Canada and most of the Americas.

INIFED (National Institute of Educational Physical Infrastructure)Contacto monofásico duplex en muro, nema 5-15R, 15ª-125 volts del tipo de puesta a tierraStandards and specifications, Vol. 5: electrical installations

In English: Single-phase duplex receptacle in wall, NEMA 5-15R, 15 A-125 volts, grounding type

Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE)( ) 120 V tolerancia: ±10% ( ) 220V tolerancia: ±10%Model contract for prepaid low-voltage supply (archived copy)

In English: Nominal voltage: ( ) 120 V tolerance ±10% ( ) 220 V tolerance ±10%

Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE)60 Hz tolerancia: ±0.8%Model contract for prepaid low-voltage supply (archived copy)

In English: Frequency: 60 Hz tolerance ±0.8%

Visitors from Mexico in 2025

Mexico ranked 20th among countries and regions, with 200,395 visitors to Japan in 2025 (JNTO, final figures).

Visitors in 2025: 200,395
Rank: 20th
Share of all visitors: 0.5%
Change from 2024: +32.0%

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a plug adapter in Japan from Mexico?

It depends on the socket. The Mexico City Government describes Type B plugs with flat pins for Mexico. Japan's outlets take Type A plugs (JNTO), with two flat pins and no earth pin. A Type B plug, with its round earth pin, needs a socket with the third hole; Panasonic lists Type A and B for Japan.

Is Japan's voltage the same as Mexico's?

No. Japan uses 100V (JNTO); Mexico uses 120V, according to Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE).

Do I need a voltage converter in Japan from Mexico?

Not when INPUT on a device from Mexico includes 100V. JNTO says devices that are not dual-voltage need one.