Looking to stay secure online and need a Japanese IP address to unblock content that is only available in Japan? Or use a lot of public Wi-Fi networks and have concerns about your privacy? A VPN can address a lot of these concerns. If you’re from Japan and on holiday to Japan, you must opt for one of the Japan best VPN that can help you unblock websites both from within and outside of Japan.
In this guide, we list the best VPNs for Japan and give you some top tips on how to unblock Japanese content from anywhere.
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Japan Best VPN (2024 Update)
Every year, millions of travelers, business ex-pats, travelers, and students make their way to Japan to enjoy the country’s bustling cities and natural beauty. But, the language barrier might be quite apparent, and most of the websites could be served in Japanese versions. If you want to avoid headaches, you definitely need a VPN if you live there or are planning on traveling there.
There is another rather valid reason why you are well-advised to protect your digital footprint. Like almost every country, the Japanese government and internet service providers take an interest in your activity. Japan’s government is closely working with the NSA in exchanging intelligence which raises more eyebrows and privacy concerns. It is also heavily restricting its cyberspace by blocking online streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, and BBC iPlayer.
Plus, Japan is also tough on copyright infringement with restrictions applied on copyrighted content, and a lot of region-restricted content is unavailable when you’re browsing with a Japanese IP.
So, whether you’re paying a visit to Japan or residents perhaps traveling abroad, a Japan VPN is a perfect tool for navigating internet safety and securing your private information online. Plus, as an added bonus, you can use some of these VPNs to access geo-blocked websites and stream unlimited anime from the Netflix Japan library, whether you’re in Japan or anywhere else in the world.
We have listed Japan best VPN services with many excellent features available below, so keep scrolling to discover the top 5 VPNs for Japan today.
The Best Japan VPN at a Glance
Short on Time? We found these to be the best VPNs for Japan:
- ExpressVPN – Japan’s best VPN with premium impressively fast servers at a price of ¥731/mo.
- NordVPN – Best VPN for Japan to unblocks most streaming content. Price starts from ¥411/mo.
- Surfshark – Best cheap VPN for Japan with a budget-friendly price of ¥273/mo.
- CyberGhost – Good beginner VPN for Japan. User-friendly with strong security.
- PureVPN – Perfect VPN for anyone looking to access blocked websites from within and outside Japan.
USD to Yen Conversion: $1 equivalent to ¥109.66 Japanese Yen.
How To Choose The Best Japan VPN
There are many factors to consider when choosing the right Japan VPNs for a certain purpose. And our selection of VPNs is based on the following factors:
- Server locations: A large network of servers with servers in strategic locations such as the USA, UK, and, of course, servers in Japan.
- Unblocks Netflix & other streaming services: Having servers in the US and UK helps you access geo-blocked content such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
- Strong encryption: A high level of encryption with advanced security protocols, such as OpenVPN, NAT firewall, and doubleVPN to secure its network.
- Privacy Features: Handy privacy features such as an internet kill switch, DNS/IPv4/IPv6/WebRTC leak protection to ensure your data will not be leaked under any circumstances.
- No usage logs: Japan is known for collecting users’ online information, such as browsing history, from ISP’s. Look for a 100% no-logging policy that doesn’t keep any logs of its users’ online activities.
- Reliability and fast speeds: Above-average speeds compared to other VPNs. It is advised always to connect to a VPN server that is closer to you for faster speed.
- English Support: We don’t recommend Japanese VPN providers as we have yet to find a consumer-oriented service with English support.
How to install and Use a VPN in Japan
It is very simple to connect to VPN in Japan. Just follow the simple steps below whenever you want to browse the internet securely:
- Subscribed to a VPN service (We recommend ExpressVPN, the most reliable VPN in Japan).
- Download and install the ExpressVPN application on your device.
- Log into the VPN using your VPN account.
- Select a VPN server from the server list and connect to it. Your public IP address will be change now to reflect the IP address from your selected server.
- Enjoy your online anonymity and freedom in Japan.
Japan Best VPN: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is highly recommended for those who seek privacy and security online when you’re in Japan. ExpressVPN ranks highly on our list of the top VPN services for most countries, including Japan, because of its reliable speed, excellent unblocking capabilities, and powerful encryption.
The extensive server network that ExpressVPN has is truly word-class grade, with over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. Many ExpressVPNs servers are located in Japan, such as Tokyo and Yokohama, making the VPN provider a good choice for Japanese users. It is also one of the best streaming VPNs for japan with this number of servers which had great unblocking capabilities to stream popular Japanese local channels such as; NHK BS1, NHK BS Premium, BS Nittere, BS12 TwellV, and more.
Being situated in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN guarantees full protection of your online privacy without keeping tabs on your online activities. Plus, equipped with 256-bit encryption and strong OpenVPN encryption, such a large network’s reliability is also well protected. An internet kill switch temporarily halts all web traffic if the connection drops unexpectedly.
On top of that, a 24/7 help desk is available for any questions, comments, or concerns. ExpressVPN download apps are available in macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Firestick, Linux, Android TV, Roku, Play Station, and Xbox. The one-click connections are highly preferable which is simple.
What really makes ExpressVPN the Japan best VPN is the combination of pretty much every feature you could ask for in a super-simple package. The no-logging policy, extensive server network, unbeatable streaming power plus excellent privacy features, make this VPN very popular in the market today.
Plus, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee and three months free on a 12-months plan, which makes the VPN free if you want to use this guarantee. Check out the ExpressVPN download today.
Japan Best VPN: NordVPN
NordVPN is an extraordinarily popular VPN and a great choice for nearly any internet user in any country, including Japan. NordVPN is consistently one of if not the most trustworthy and secure VPN on the market. The company is headquartered in Panama since 2005, which has no mandatory data retention laws. Users in Japan will be happy to know that NordVPN is not subject to any of the three international surveillance bodies (Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes) so they’ll never have to worry about the company handing over their data to authorities.
NordVPN has a massive server network of over 5,500+ servers located in 59 countries. With so many servers, accessing Netflix, YouTube TV, BBC iPlayer, ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu, Hotstar, and other international streaming giants, would be very easy for our Japanese friends. For concern on using NordVPN to access Netflix, NordVPN can access Netflix from many of its servers and have been proven by many users.
Plus, NordVPN also has multiple servers, up to 80 VPNs in Japan, which’s great news for people residing outside of Japan to access some local TV stations such as Mnet Japan, BS Animax, BS Tsuri Vision, BS Sky PerfecTV!
There are also servers optimized for anti-DDoS, video streaming networks, double VPN, Tor over VPN, and Japanese dedicated IP. Some other amazing security features like a kill switch, leak protection, no logs, and CyberSec, which can help you protect against malware and advertisements.
Like any other best VPN for Japan, it also supports all popular operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Firestick, and Android TVs. A single subscription grants access to six devices.
In short, NordVPN is a solid choice for your Japan VPN. Signing up and setting up the program on your device is easy as pie. All subscriptions come with unlimited bandwidth and a 30-day money-back guarantee on NordVPN download here.
Japan Best VPN: SurfShark
If you’re looking for a fully functioning Japan VPN for a price as low as possible, SurfShark is your choice. It is one of the fastest VPN with excellent features that can be unblocking pretty any geo-blocked website on the globe, including Japan.
Backed by 3,200+ servers in 65 countries, SurfShark is the perfect VPN for anyone in Japan looking to access international content securely. Besides, you can easily access local Japanese content without any restrictions by connected to SurfShark’s server in Tokyo. All major international and local streaming sides including Netflix USA, Hulu, Channel4, NBC, HBO US, BBC iPlayer, TV Tokyo, Fuji TV, Wowow TV, and Showtime can be stream by connected to SurShark. Its fast connection times are ideal for lag-free streaming, even at high resolutions.
SurfShark offers 256-bit encryption, protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, and a kill switch, as well as a NoBorders feature that allows you to bypass country-wide internet blocking. This gives much-needed reassurance to SurfShark’s customer base that they can browse and breathe freely.
What I particularly love about Surfshark is that it offers unlimited simultaneous VPN connections. The apps are supported for macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, and Routers, to protect all of your devices with a single Surfshark account. It is also designed for an easy-user interface so that anyone of any experience can get up and running in seconds.
Last but not least, Surfshark is the most affordable Japan best cheap VPN you’ll come across in the industry. It is a good quality service for Japan available at just $2.49/mo which including a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free.
Japan Best VPN: CyberGhost
Based in Romania, CyberGhost is one of the most secure VPNs with a complete no-log policy to protect your online activities, no matter where you are in the world. With CyberGhost, you can use VPN to bypass any form of geo-block and surveillance in Japan.
When we were searching among different VPN services to meet your requirements in Japan, CyberGhost met our every need. There are over 7,100+ servers spread across 90+ countries including 71 servers in Japan alone. The huge server networks make CyberGhost is very ideal for unblocking streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Spotify, EuroSports, Vudu, ABC Go, and others. It’s also easy to maintain either one specific location or surf the web from somewhere else.
All these super-fast servers are included with military-grade encryption, DNS leak protection, kill switch, and numerous others. Ad Blocking allowing users to access any web content anywhere without any restrictions. Very few VPNs offer this volume at such a fair price.
Cyberghost apps are offers in Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Android TV, Linux, Roku, and Firestick device. And you can connect 7 devices at a time, using one subscription. In terms of customer support, CyberGhost cuts out all of that hassle with their ultra-responsive 24/7 live chat. This vaulted CyberGhost to one of our top VPNs.
From a network of servers spanning across the globe to the most advanced features in the field of online security, privacy, and freedom, CyberGhost is rated as one of the best Japan VPN. It recently reportedly has 7.5 million customers worldwide and is proud to be one of the lowest cost providers. The Cyberghost’s premium plan works out to $2.25/month when paid annually.
Japan Best VPN: PureVPN
Next up on this list of Japan’s best VPN is PureVPN, one of the perfect choices for anyone looking to access blocked websites from within and outside Japan.
Being one the biggest networks among VPN providers, PureVPN is boosted with 6,500+ servers in 140+countries throughout the world. These are great numbers and handy if you want to check geo-blocked websites from many different countries. The servers are capable of granting you access to Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Hotstar, Zee5, Sony Liv, ESPN+, Voot, NBC Live, Foxtel, and Fox-Sports if you are visiting Japan for Vacations. Plus, with its 6 servers located in Tokyo, you can also access local Japanese TV stations when you are away from Japan.
It’s important to note that PureVPN isn’t just for streaming; they have high marks in both security and privacy protection. PureVPN comes with the NAT Firewall add-on so that all possible hacking loopholes are secured. Besides, the kill-switch feature helps to prevent web activity from being leaked even if the VPN fails.
PureVPN apps are compatible with all major platforms like macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Android TV, Firestick, Roku, and Routers.
If you’re looking for the best Japan VPN with a Netflix solution, check out PureVPN. It offers 10 simultaneous connections with a price as low as $2.88/month if you pay for 24 months annually.
Why Need to Use VPN in Japan
In fact, Japan has very little censorship when it comes to the internet world. But, the Japanese government and ISPs still track user activity. Using a VPN in Japan is comes with benefits, whether to access geo-blocked content, accessing copyrighted content, or protecting your online privacy and security from unwanted luring parties.
The following are the benefits of using one of the best VPN for Japan:
- Access to Japanese media: Many people use a Japan VPN to access Japanese media outside of Japan, such as local TV networks, like AbemaTV, Dazn, Amazon Prime, DMM, DTV. Gyao, Radiko and so on.
- Access to Japan Netflix: Netflix content is varied by a different country. Many people love access to Netflix Japan, which carries tons of anime not found anywhere else in the world.
- Access to the blocked website: Using a VPN is able to bypass most of the snooping and geo-specific restrictions content. This will be especially useful if you are visiting nearby countries such as China or Russia.
- Online Privacy: Use a VPN to stops ISPs and the government from being able to intercept web browsing data and communications. It is able to anonymize your IP and activity, giving you true web privacy.
- Security risks in Japan: Public Wi-Fi networks in Japan are hotspots for anyone trying to track your online activity and steal your unencrypted data. It is risky that a third party will package up and selling this data as a source of revenue.
How To Get a Japanese IP Address
Another consideration when looking for the Best Japan VPN is to get a fixed Japan IP address. The easiest way to get a Japanese IP is to connect to a VPN server based in Japan.
To do this, simply follow the steps below:
- Sign up for a VPN service with servers based in Japan. NordVPN is a good choice with up to 80 Japanese VPN servers.
- Download and install the VPNs software from their website.
- Open the VPN software using your VPN account.
- Navigate to the server list, and select on the Japanese server.
- Your public IP address will be change now to reflect the IP address from your selected server. In this case, your IP address will change to a Japanese IP address.
- You will now appear to be in Japan and can go to the website you want to unblock.
That’s just simple as it is by using VPN to change your IP address to a Japanese IP address.
Is VPN legal in Japan?
Yes, having a VPN in Japan is perfectly legal and you can use it without any trouble unless you’re using it for illegal purposes. With any of the best Japanese VPNs, you can access US Netflix, Hulu, and all of the blocked websites in Japan or even outside the country.
However, a VPN doesn’t make activities that are against the law legal.
In Japan, access to free copyright material Japan using torrents and illegal file copying consider violent law. Plus, certain torrent websites where manga and anime content is distributed for free are considered illegal and banned. Japanese government strictly prohibits downloading free copyright material and harsh punishment with hefty amounts of fines if you download pirated software. It’s also a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison.
The VPNs are only recommended for their use for legal activities in Japan.
Using VPN for Netflix in Japan
If you are a traveler or ex-pat in Japan, you might want to continue to watch movies and television shows via streaming with Netflix. Even if you are from Japan, it could be fun to jump onto Netflix from a US server to see what they have to offer. All you have to do is connect to one of your VPN’s US and Japanese servers to continue access Netflix.
If you’re having difficulty, we recommend ExpressVPN and NordVPN that proven with reliable access to Netflix content stationed in other countries. You may check out Best VPN for US Netflix Guide for more detail.
Using Free VPN in Japan
We do not recommend using free VPNs in Japan. Everything has its limitations, and free VPNs in Japan are no exception. Whether it be logging policies, speed of the server, nature of traffic, or anything else really, unfortunately, limitations are the nature of free VPNs.
Plus, some of the bad reputation Japan free VPN will sell your online data to third-party authorities to earn revenue. They also have critical leaks, weak encryption, and even contain spyware and adware. This kind of VPN service is not going to provide the level of protection you need.
For these reasons, you must avoid Japan-free VPN at all costs. The price of the cheap Japan VPN such as SurfShark only costs you $2.49/mo, but well prove for privacy, anonymity, and security.
Our Verdict: Choosing The Best VPN for Japan
Privacy, anonymity, and security are our biggest concerns in Japan. With the global surveillance state becoming ever more present, people will find it even more important to stay private. A Japan Best VPN will help you with all these concerns.
There are several good options out there for good VPNs for Japan, depending on what your needs are. We recommended ExpressVPN and NordVPN if you are looking for the Japan Best VPN to stay secure and private. This great VPN will protect your online privacy as well as providing complete online freedom.
Quick Comparison Table of Japan Best VPN:
| VPN |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit | AES 256-bit |
| Server | 3,000+ in 94 Countries | 5,500+ in 59+ Countries | 3,200+ in 63+ Countries | 7,200+ in 69+ Countries | 6,500+ in 140+ Countries |
| Connection | 5 Devices | 6 Devices | Unlimited | 7 Devices | 10 Devices |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers |
| Best Price | $6.67/month | $3.30/month | $2.49/month | $2.25/month | $2.45/month |
| More Info | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| Read Review | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | SurfShark | CyberGhost | PureVPN |