I have taken charging setups to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Australia, and eight other countries over the past two years. Each trip taught me something about what works and what fails when you are far from home with dying devices.
The Osaka Disaster
My first major trip with electronics ended badly. My laptop charger failed on day three in Osaka. The replacement from a convenience store overheated within a week. I spent the rest of that trip nursing devices on a borrowed phone charger.
That experience made me obsessive about travel charging. I have tested probably fifteen different travel setups since then. Most were disappointing. A few were genuinely excellent.
What I Carry Now
After all that testing, my travel kit has stabilized to three items:
A 100W GaN charger with multiple ports. GaN technology made a huge difference. These chargers are half the size of older designs with the same power. I can charge my laptop, phone, and tablet simultaneously from one brick.
A universal wall adapter without built-in USB. I learned this the hard way: all-in-one adapters break constantly. The mechanical parts that switch between plug types wear out. A simple, solid adapter lasts longer.
A braided USB-C cable. Cheap cables fray at the ends. After losing two cables mid-trip, I switched to reinforced options. They cost more but survive actual travel.
Country-Specific Notes
Japan has excellent outlets everywhere, including trains and cafes. Power was never an issue there once I had a working charger.
Germany and most of Europe use Type C outlets. The universal adapter worked perfectly. Hotel rooms often had USB ports built into nightstands, which was convenient for phones overnight.
Thailand surprised me. Many budget hotels had weak electrical systems. My high-wattage charger sometimes tripped circuits. I learned to start with lower-power devices and add more gradually.
Australia felt like home electrically. Similar power quality to the US. The only issue was the plug type, easily solved with the adapter.
Airport Charging Strategy
Airport outlets are competitive resources. I developed a routine: find an outlet early, charge the most critical device first, and always carry a power bank as backup.
The power bank deserves mention. I use a 20,000mAh capacity bank that supports pass-through charging. This means I can charge the bank while also charging my phone through it. One outlet, two devices getting power.
What To Avoid
Anything with built-in cables. They always break at the stress point where the cable meets the body. I have seen this fail multiple times.
Extremely cheap chargers from airport shops. They work short-term but fail quickly. If you must buy emergency equipment, expect to replace it soon.
Chargers without proper certifications. The UL certification mark matters for safety. Uncertified chargers can damage devices or cause fires.