I need help with the type of home Appliances that can be used there. Does anyone have U.S appliances? Are the electric outlets different? Should I wait and purchase once I land, or bring my own. Thanks in Advance, Kori-

You do not need to bring any major appliances like washer/dryers, stove, fridge, etc. they are provided for you. Bring whatever small appliances you want; they should work on or off base. I'm not sure whether you should buy before you come or wait til you get here, since I have not done any appliance shopping here.

MKY is right about the major appiances provide for you, I brought a normal mr.coffee coffee maker, and it didn't heat up the coffee well in the japanese house. They have 100 volts 50 hz, lower voltage and frequency than the states 120volts 60 hz.
The outlets are different also, my house only had two pronged outlets, not three like the states.
As long as you have an adapter, the tvs and computers work just fine.

Ditto what everyone else has said. The only small appliance that I have that seem to not work so well is a slow cooker. Even on high setting it still takes food longer. Everything else seems to work fine. I'd be cautious about things with motors or heating/cooling (extra freezer), they may not perform as well, but most small stuff will be fine. I did have to replace my PCs power supply unit shortly after we got here, but that may have been coincidence. I just went and bought a Japanese one.

okay american outlets look like :

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Japanesse outlets look like :
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So there is no ground prong now you can get transformers and plug the surge protectors into those. I use that for my TV and Computers. My toaster oven, blender, vaccume, ect work fine in the japanesse outlets. Also check the bottom of any sterios your bringing. Some are sneaky and have a little switch in the back (or aleast mine does) and it tells the sterio to run on the japanesse current instead of american. I found that out when I first plugged it in here and it didnt work >< it took me hours of messing with it to find the little switch in the back.

Bring 3-prong to 2-prong adapters with you (79 cents at any hardware store). I utterly could not find them in Japan, on or off base. Amazon would not ship them to an FPO. I had to ask my brother-in-law to go buy some & mail them to me. Agree with everyone else. Anything that gets hot (crock pot, toaster, hair dryer) will not get as hot off base. My toaster barely toasts. Electronic equipment (TVs, etc) work just fine.

Clocks! None of my electric clocks keep time off base. None of my appliances that have a clock keep time - i.e. my coffee maker. We ended up going out and buying old fashion battery operated clocks. That being said, my Vonage seems fine.

Thanks to everyone that responded,

Great feedback-

MKY- So what make/model is your Washer and Dryer? You previously stated, they will be provided for me, will I have a choice?

japanese washer & dryer are NOTHING like American models. They are very small & mysterious. My dryer doesn't even have an outlet exhaust hose. The water condenses & drains to the floor.

mmmmm depending on your home they will give you an american modle if you have the fittings for it. I have american fittings for washer/dry and stove in my home out in town. If you live on base they will provide american models as well. And no you dont have a choice what they give you. My washer and dryer are a matching whirlpool something or other..................sorry i dont know the model and there is a huge spider im hiding from in my laundry room until my husband comes home to kill it. So ill get back to you on the model.

Thanks so much. I will be working at the Iwakuni base and living out in town. So we will be both looking for a place that accepts dogs (my 10lb. Yorkie ) and maybe american hookups for washer and dryer. Thanks everybody!

lol, didja get that spider last night, Rea? Them japanese bugs are a good topic for another discussion; they got some freaky bugs here!

Hey Kay, welcome to town! It's about time some more 'kuni people joined this forum!

Kay- don't bring an American washer and dryer. They won't work out here. They won't fit in your Japanese house, there's no hot water for the washer and there won't be an exhaust vent for the dryer. The hook ups may be all wrong (metric vs imperial) and neither appliance will perform as well with the electricity here. The base should provide you with loaner washer and dryer. The Japanese washers work fine, they're just a bit smaller but clean clothes just as well as a gigantic American one.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome ThaiGuy. I am very much looking forward to coming to Iwakuni and am also looking forward to being a regular on JapanBases.com. This is such a wonderful site!

Thanks so much Tirani. My husband keeps asking about bringing a washer and dryer and I will be happy to let him know that it is not a good idea. Thanks so much! Posted By Tirani on 05 Sep 2010 07:12 AM
Kay- don't bring an American washer and dryer. They won't work out here. They won't fit in your Japanese house, there's no hot water for the washer and there won't be an exhaust vent for the dryer. The hook ups may be all wrong (metric vs imperial) and neither appliance will perform as well with the electricity here. The base should provide you with loaner washer and dryer. The Japanese washers work fine, they're just a bit smaller but clean clothes just as well as a gigantic American one.

Keep in mind the electricity is dependent upon where in Japan you will live. 100V/50Hz is Eastern Japan while western Japan enjoys 100V/60Hz.

Hot water is available in some homes for the washing machines. Most homes are cold water only, but there are a lot out there that have both.

I would have loved to bring a full size Gas Range from the states, but I did not as I was expecting my home to be too small. It wasn't so I had to pay a consignment to get one over here. It cost me the same as the range itself.