Electronics are one of the most popular things to bring or ship into Japan, and they are also where the rules trip people up. The customs duty is usually the easy part. For most consumer electronics the simplified rate is low (often treated as roughly 5 percent, and sometimes zero), so the money side rarely hurts. The real gotcha is a pair of certification marks: 技適 (giteki) for anything with a radio, and PSE for AC adapters and many electrical products. Get familiar with both before you buy.
技適 (giteki): the radio mark
Japan regulates the radio spectrum tightly. Any device that transmits wirelessly over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a cellular connection needs the giteki mark (技術基準適合証明) to be operated legally in Japan. That covers phones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, drones, wireless keyboards and mice, smart-home gadgets, and plenty more.
For residents this matters. Using a radio device that lacks giteki certification can be a legal issue, not just a customs formality. There is a narrow exception for short-term visitors: certain equipment brought in by travelers can be used for a limited period without Japanese certification, and some overseas devices qualify under a special provision. That carve-out is aimed at tourists, so do not lean on it if you are living here long term.
Practical takeaway: if you plan to settle in Japan and use a radio device daily, buy a Japan-market version with the giteki mark on it (or shown in its settings menu). A globally identical model bought abroad may not carry the certification even if the hardware looks the same.
The authority here is the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省, MIC). Check its guidance for the current list of what qualifies and how the visitor exception works.
PSE: the electrical-safety mark
PSE (電気用品安全法) is a product-safety scheme covering AC adapters, chargers, power strips, batteries, lamps, and many household electrical goods. Legally, PSE is about selling these products in Japan: a business must not sell in-scope items without the mark. If you are bringing a charger for your own personal use, PSE compliance is less of a direct legal wall than giteki, but it still signals whether the item was built for the Japanese market.
For personal imports the more immediate questions are voltage and plug fit, covered below. If you ever intend to resell gear, or you run any kind of business, PSE becomes a hard requirement and you should check scope carefully.
The authority is the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (経済産業省, METI). Its PSE pages list which product categories are in scope and which mark (round or diamond) applies.
Voltage and plugs
Japan runs on 100 V, which is lower than the 110 to 240 V many people are used to. Eastern Japan uses 50 Hz and western Japan 60 Hz. Modern chargers and laptops are usually rated 100 to 240 V and will work fine, but check the fine print printed on the adapter. A device rated only for 220 to 240 V can be damaged or become a hazard on Japanese power without a proper transformer (a simple plug adapter does not change voltage).
Plugs are Type A, the two flat parallel pins familiar from North America. Many foreign plugs fit, but grounded three-pin and other shapes may need an adapter. Buying Japan-market gear sidesteps both problems at once.
When you would rather just get compliant, giteki- and PSE-marked gear domestically instead of importing, that is often the simplest path.
The Amazon.co.jp Global Store is one way to get imported items that are already sorted for the Japanese market.
Duty and the bottom line
Import duty on consumer electronics is generally low, and consumption tax applies on top at import. Run your specific item and value through the import cost calculator to estimate the total, and use can I import this? to sanity-check whether an item is restricted before you commit. But remember: for electronics the marks, not the duty, are what decide whether your device is legal and safe to use here.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Certification rules and exceptions change, so verify with the relevant authority, 2026-09-07. For 技適 consult 総務省 (MIC); for PSE consult 経済産業省 (METI).