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#Q&A Can I take appliances with lithium… Answer ↓

Can I take appliances with lithium batteries bought in Japan on a plane? Can power banks be checked?

Updated 4 sources

Appliances with built-in lithium batteries rated at 100Wh or less (electric toothbrushes, shavers, cordless straighteners, etc.) can go in your carry-on, and we recommend not checking them; 100–160Wh generally needs airline approval, and anything over 160Wh is banned. Power banks (portable chargers) must be carried on and can't be checked. Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) limits each passenger to two power banks from April 24, 2026, and you may not charge a power bank or use it to charge devices on board.

At a glance (as of October 2026)

Item Carry-on Checked Notes
Appliance with built-in lithium battery, ≤100Wh Yes Allowed under Japanese rules if powered off and protected from accidental activation; carry-on recommended Toothbrush and shaver batteries are usually just a few Wh
Appliance with built-in lithium battery, 100–160Wh Generally needs airline approval Per airline Rare among household appliances
Over 160Wh No No —
Power bank (portable charger) Yes, ≤160Wh, up to 2 per person Banned No charging it on board and no using it to charge devices
Spare lithium batteries (removed) Yes, protected from short circuits Banned Tape the terminals or use a protective pouch
Cordless straightener/curling iron Yes if the battery can be separated Yes if the battery can be separated (the battery itself carry-on only) If the battery can't be separated, banned from both. See Can I take a curling iron on a plane?

How to calculate Wh

Wh = rated capacity (mAh) × rated voltage (V) ÷ 1,000. For example, a 27,000mAh, 3.7V power bank is about 99.9Wh. Electric toothbrushes and shavers are usually just a few Wh, far below 100Wh.

Points to watch when departing Japan

  • New power bank rule: MLIT requires that, from April 24, 2026, each passenger carry no more than two power banks. Keep them close at hand, such as in the seat pocket, not in the overhead bin.
  • Power off checked appliances: Use the travel lock on shavers and turn toothbrushes off so they don't start up and heat in your bag.
  • If you're connecting in mainland China: Chinese domestic airlines may have extra requirements for power banks, such as CCC (3C) certification, and power banks bought in Japan usually don't carry the 3C mark. Follow the latest notices from the airline and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
  • Your airline has the final say: MLIT also notes that airlines may have rules stricter than the regulations, and international flights are also subject to foreign rules.

Conflict with the tax-free procedure

From November 1, 2026, the new tax-free system requires you to complete confirmation at an airport tax-free kiosk before checking bags. Small appliances with lithium batteries should be carried on anyway, so they aren't affected. For large items you need to check, complete the tax-free confirmation first. See checking appliances as baggage and the 2026 tax-free guide.

For shavers, see Can I take a shaver on a plane? To check whether a specific model can fly, use the compatibility checker.

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Updated 2026-10-23Prices are for reference only; check in store.Markdown