5 Best Free VPNs for Japan That Still Work in 2024 — 100% Safe
If you’re planning a trip to Japan and are looking to protect your online safety while there, it’s not a bad idea to get a free VPN. The problem is there are hundreds of free VPNs claiming to be the best for Japan. But after testing dozens, I wouldn’t recommend most of them.
Some free VPNs slow you down with large amounts of ads, others limit speed or servers so you can’t engage in your usual online activities in Japan. The worst free VPNs collect and sell your data on the black market. Fortunately, I’ve found a few free VPNs that are safe and work reliably in Japan.
However, I still recommend you get a premium VPN. ExpressVPN is my top paid choice as it’s superfast, protects your privacy, and works with all major streaming platforms. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try ExpressVPN without risk. If you don’t like it, just ask for a refund.
Quick Guide: Best Free VPNs for Japan in 2024
- ExpressVPN — The overall best VPN for Japan with the fastest speeds and best security. You can get ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- CyberGhost — Optimized servers unblock content reliably in Japan, but the Windows free trial period is shorter than with other apps.
- Proton VPN — Free version doesn’t cap your data in Japan, but it can’t reliably unblock major streaming services.
- Hotspot Shield — Catapult Hydra provides consistent speeds in Japan, but you need to watch ads after exceeding 500MB of daily data.
- hide.me — Offers free users live chat support, but the free version doesn’t include Bolt to boost speed.
The Best Free VPNs for Japan (Tested 2024)
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Japan With the Fastest and Most Secure Servers
Key Features:
- Unlimited bandwidth and no data caps for browsing and streaming in Japan
- 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, including Japan
- Military-grade AES-256 encryption, Network Lock kill switch, TrustedServer technology, and more
- Connect up to 8 devices simultaneously in Japan
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Kindle, Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, gaming consoles, select routers, and more
- Get help via 24/7 live chat, email, and online guides
Although not 100% free, ExpressVPN is on this list because it has features that free VPNs just can’t compare to. ExpressVPN is the overall best VPN for Japan because it keeps your data private, has superfast speeds, and accesses most streaming services.
Your online activities aren’t stored anywhere when you use ExpressVPN in Japan. This is because it uses RAM-based servers with TrustedServer technology instead of physical hard drives. The AES 256-bit encryption is trusted by the US military to secure data and has never been cracked. Other security features include:
- Data leak protection — prevents DNS and IP leaks that could reveal your Japanese IP address.
- Split tunneling — lets you access your Japanese accounts in one browser tab while browsing foreign sites with a different IP address in another.
- Network Lock — shuts down your internet connection in Japan to prevent any data exposure if your device’s connection to the VPN drops.
- British Virgin Islands’ jurisdiction — prioritizes privacy by being based where the authorities don’t request user data.
- Independently-audited no-logs policy — verified by reputable firms such as PwC, Cure53, and KPMG.
My speed tests confirmed that ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on this list. When I tried each of its Japanese servers — in Shibuya, Yokohama, and 2 in Tokyo — my speeds only dropped 4% to 8% from baseline. As a result, Hikakin Games videos on YouTube loaded in just 3 seconds and then played without buffering.
ExpressVPN’s network of 3,000+ servers in 105 countries is highly reliable at unblocking international content from Japan. The US servers can access American Netflix and Paramount+ without fail while the global network can also access:
| Hulu | Amazon Prime Video | Disney | Showtime | Sling TV | Crunchyroll | DAZN | Nico Nico |
| BBC iPlayer | d-anime Store | MAX | Peacock TV | ESPN | Discovery+ | WOWOW | Vudu |
All the apps that I tried for Windows, iOS, and Mac worked reliably. ExpressVPN even has a native app for Fire TV and Stick which many other VPNs don’t, so it’s easy to install. It’s also the only VPN that has dedicated firmware for several popular router models. The step-by-step guide from ExpressVPN’s website helped me install it on my Linksys router in 25 minutes.
The only downside is that even its most affordable 1-year + 3 months plan costs $6.67 monthly. But ExpressVPN is worth the price when you consider its impressive speeds and privacy features. There’s also a 7-day free trial for iOS and Android devices.
If you decide to subscribe to ExpressVPN’s premium plan, it’s entirely risk-free because you’ll be covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can contact support via 24/7 live chat. An agent responded to me in less than a minute and I had my money in 4 days.
2024 Update! ExpressVPN has dropped prices for a limited time to a crazy $6.67 per month for the 1-year plan + 3 months free (you can save up to 49%)! This is a limited offer so be sure to grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers Offer Reliable, Private Streaming from Japan
Key Features:
- Unlimited bandwidth for using the internet in Japan
- 11,800+ servers in 100 countries, including at least 105 in Japan
- Military-grade 256-bit encryption, data leak protection, and NoSpy servers
- Allows you to connect 7 devices at the same time
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, Amazon Kindle, gaming consoles, select routers, and more
- Offers 24/7 live chat, email support, and online troubleshooting guides
CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers access content reliably in Japan. They’re regularly updated so that blacklisted IP addresses are removed, so you’re unlikely to be denied access to your home accounts like Netflix US, Hulu, and more while visiting Japan. Between CyberGhost’s regular and optimized servers, it unblocked:
| Sling TV | Amazon Prime Video | Disney+ | ITVx | Paramount+ | Crunchyroll | DAZN |
| BBC iPlayer | d-anime Store | MAX | Vudu | ESPN | Discovery+ | WOWOW |
For security, CyberGhost has DNS and IP leak protection to make sure your data isn’t accidentally exposed. It also secures your data with military-grade 256-bit encryption while you’re online in Japan. There are also plenty of other features like:
- WiFi protection — connects to servers automatically when you connect to unsecured networks like the Japanese public WiFi.
- P2P-optimized servers — designed for secure torrenting from Japan. However, remember not to download or upload any copyrighted or illegal files.
- No-logs policy — verified by Deloitte that CyberGhost doesn’t record or store your online activities.
- Privacy-friendly jurisdiction — CyberGhost is based in Romania, which doesn’t have internet surveillance programs or data-sharing agreements with other countries.
During my tests, CyberGhost’s nearby servers were extremely fast. Quite fortunately, CyberGhost has at least 105 servers in Japan, so it’s unlikely that the server you choose will become overcrowded and slow. I ran a video call on Skype with a local server, watched a UHD YouTube video, and downloaded a 2GB email attachment simultaneously, and noticed no lags.
One drawback of CyberGhost is that the Windows free trial period is only 24 hours, which is much shorter than other VPN free trials available. However, the Android app’s free trial lasts 3 days, and the iOS app 7 days. What’s more, CyberGhost’s premium plans include a generous 45-day refund period that you can take advantage of.
This is also one of the best monthly VPNs if you’re looking for a short-term plan. But, for the best value, get the 2-year + 2 months plan, which only costs $2.19 a month. I even tested its refund policy by messaging support via 24/7 live chat and my money was returned in less than a week.
2024 Update! You can subscribe to CyberGhost for as low as $2.19 per month + get an extra 2 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 83%)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.
3. Proton VPN — Free Version Doesn’t Limit How Much Data You Can Use in Japan
Key Features:
- No data limits on the free version
- At least 14 free servers in Japan and more in the US and the Netherlands
- 256-bit encryption, data leak protection, and an audited no-logs policy
- Lets you connect 1 device at a time on the free plan
- Works with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire Stick, select routers, and more
- Online support center answers many common troubleshooting questions
Proton VPN is truly free and it doesn’t limit your data in Japan, so you can enjoy unrestricted browsing, streaming, and downloading. Most free VPNs impose data caps, so I was impressed to find that Proton VPN doesn’t, and I encountered no annoying restrictions to my browsing time.
I tested 5 Japanese servers and they were all fast enough to watch Twitch streams without lags. The handy VPN Accelerator feature can also boost speeds by up to 400% if you connect to faraway servers from Japan. I connected to a US server and my slowdown was only 10% despite the 4,000+ miles distance.
To keep you secure and anonymous while you surf the web in Japan, Proton VPN’s free version encrypts your data with the 256-bit cipher and keeps it safe with leak protection. The free plan also includes these features:
- Smart protocol — automatically identifies the most suitable protocol configuration for optimal performance or bypassing firewalls.
- Alternative routing — enables connection routing through third-party networks like AWS to overcome blocks of Proton VPN’s own servers.
- Strict no-logs policy — ensures that none of your data is stored, and has been audited and verified by a Swiss security firm.
The free version also includes 14 servers in Japan, which is great if you want to keep your data and identity private while accessing local content. Since it also has free servers in the US and Netherlands, you can access your home accounts if you’re visiting from these countries.
Unfortunately, the free version couldn’t unblock most major streaming platforms from Japan during tests. However, Proton VPN accessed Netflix’s global library, Disney+, Crackle, and Crunchyroll.
The 2-year + 6 months plan is the most cost-effective premium plan and it costs $4.49 a month. Proton VPN’s premium plans include a 30-day refund policy but you can only claim the remaining portion of your subscription. I tested this by logging into my account on the Proton VPN website and sending a support ticket. I had my money back within the week.
4. Hotspot Shield — Catapult Hydra Provides Consistent Speeds in Japan
Key Features:
- Get unlimited data by watching ads after exceeding the 500MB per day data limit
- Connect to a free server in the US, UK, or Singapore
- Military-grade encryption, no-log policy, and IP leak protection
- Free plan lets you connect 1 device at a time
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire Stick, and more
- Free users can submit a support ticket or refer to its online knowledge base
Hotspot Shield has its own Catapult Hydra protocol that optimizes speed. This is useful since it has limited servers that can become laggy when they’re overcrowded. With Catapult Hydra, I had consistent speeds on all the free servers. As a result, I watched Bayashi TV on YouTube with no lag at all, and there was only 10 seconds of initial buffering.
The free version was recently upgraded to include servers in the US, UK, and Singapore. Although Hotspot Shield Basic couldn’t unblock streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu, it can access your home news sites and banking apps from Japan.
Even though free, Hotspot Shield uses military-grade encryption to keep your data safe and your identity private in Japan. Data leak protection also worked flawlessly when I tested it out with the free version. If you upgrade to the premium version, you’ll also have:
- Automatic kill switch — immediately shuts down your connection if your device disconnects from the VPN.
- Malware and phishing protection — built-in protection against viruses, phishing attempts, and malicious websites.
Sadly, Hotspot Shield Basic imposes a daily data limit of 500MB. However, you’ll get an extra hour of connection each time you watch its ads. I recommend getting Hotspot Shield’s 7-day free trial of the premium version if you’re in Japan for less than a week. For longer use, the 3-year plan is better at $2.99 a month and there’s a 45-day refund policy. I requested a refund via email and had my money back in 2 days.
5. hide.me — Bolt Feature Increases Windows Speeds for Browsing in Japan
Key Features:
- 10GB a month of data before limiting you to randomly-selected servers
- Free servers in 8 locations
- 256-bit encryption, no-logs policy, and split tunneling on the free version
- Use hide.me on 1 device at a time with the free version
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more
- Free users can access support via 24/7 live chat, email, and online guides
hide.me is the only VPN on this list that offers 24/7 live chat support to free users. The support agent I spoke to was knowledgeable and responded in less than a minute. I also wasn’t asked to provide an email address or talk to a chatbot first.
The free version has servers in 8 countries: the US, Canada, the UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Singapore. Though streaming servers are not part of the free plan, hide.me’s US servers managed to access Netflix’s global library from Japan.
Even with the free plan, hide.me secures your data in Japan using military-grade encryption and has a strict no-logs policy verified by independent audits. Unlike many free VPNs, hide.me also publishes yearly transparency reports on its website, which list any requests for user data.
The only problem with hide.me is that the free version doesn’t include Bolt. The feature increases speeds on Windows devices by routing their traffic through TCP instead of UDP in Japan. However, I still had speeds fast enough for clear VoIP calls on Whatsapp when I connected to hide.me’s free server near me in the UK.
You can also try hide.me’s premium version (which costs $2.69 for the 2-year + 2 months subscription) and get your money back within 30 days. I tested this using the 24/7 live chat and had a refund within a week.
Easy Comparison Table: 2024’s Best Free VPNs for Japan
| VPN | 100% Free | Bandwidth With Free Plan | Free Server Countries | Device Limit With the Free Plan | Price of Best Premium Plan |
| ExpressVPN | ✘ | Unlimited | 105 | 8 | $6.67 monthly |
| CyberGhost | ✘ | Unlimited | 100 | 7 | $2.19 monthly |
| Proton VPN | ✔ | Unlimited | 3 | 1 | $4.49 monthly |
| Hotspot Shield | ✔ | Unlimited (with ads) | 3 | 1 | $2.99 monthly |
| hide.me | ✔ | Unlimited (after 10GB a month it chooses servers randomly) | 3 | 1 | $2.69 monthly |
How to Set Up a Free VPN for Japan in 3 Easy Steps
- Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because, despite not being free, it’s the best VPN for Japan and every plan is backed by a money-back guarantee.
- Connect to a server. Choose a server from the list or let the VPN find the fastest one for you.
- That’s it! Now you can use the internet safely and anonymously in Japan.
Warning! Hidden Risks of Free VPNs for Japan
Unfortunately, not all free VPNs are as reliable or safe as the ones on this list. Here are just a few of the many free VPNs with significant risks.
Betternet
Betternet has a history of logging and sharing user data. It also lacks many of the advanced security features of premium VPNs like kill switches, and DNS leak protection. What’s more, there are limited server options so speeds are typically slow.
CrossVPN
CrossVPN lacks transparency regarding its logging policy and data handling practices. Not only does it not use encryption, but the Australian government research body CSIRO claims that CrossVPN tracks your online activity and collects your data.
OperaVPN
OperaVPN also has a highly limited server range, and they’re too slow for reliable streaming or gaming. The company’s logging policy is confusing, and a 2016 breach exposed the personal information of over 1.7 million users. The free version also tracks your activity in order to show you targeted ads.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best Free VPNs for Japan
To find the best VPNs for Japan, I tested each one for:
- Strong security and privacy features — The best VPNs keep your data and online activity in Japan private with advanced security features. Any VPN without 256-bit encryption and other features such as a kill switch didn’t make my final list.
- Global server network — To access global content in Japan, a VPN needs servers in other countries. All the VPNs on this list have servers in at least one major location.
- Fast speeds — To stream your favorite movies and shows without lag, you need a VPN with high connection speeds. I only selected the fastest VPNs for Japan.
- Data allowance — Many free VPNs impose data limits, which is fair but the VPNs on this list have generous data allocations for Japan.
- Apps for popular devices — I only included VPNs with apps for multiple devices in the final list, as you’ll likely use it on multiple devices in Japan.
- Customer support — Every VPN on the list offers customer support options such as 24/7 live chat features.
FAQs
Is it legal to use a VPN in Japan?
Yes, it is legal to set up and use a VPN in Japan. However, it is important to note that while using a VPN itself isn’t illegal, breaking any laws while using a VPN can lead to legal consequences.
I don’t condone using a VPN for any illegal purposes. These include committing fraud, violating copyright laws, purchasing prohibited goods, and more. If you’re in doubt about the laws in Japan, I recommend researching them before you visit.
Can I use a free VPN for Japan?
Yes, but I only recommend the ones on this list. There are many dangerous free VPNs to avoid in Japan as they don’t encrypt your data properly, leaving you vulnerable to hackers and surveillance. Some even harvest your data to sell to advertisers or other unauthorized third parties.
As well as being unsafe, most free VPNs simply don’t work as well as premium options. They usually have extremely limited server selections so can’t unblock most overseas content from Japan. Most free VPNs are also typically much slower than premium options like ExpressVPN, so they’re not much use for streaming or gaming.
How do I get a Japan VPN for free?
There are just 3 steps to getting a free VPN for Japan. You can choose to get a 100% free VPN for Japan like Proton VPN, or try a premium VPN such as CyberGhost and get a refund within 45 days in case you don’t like it.
Is using a proxy server better than a VPN for Japan?
No, I wouldn’t suggest using a proxy in Japan. Proxies are not as safe or dependable as the top VPNs for Japan. They can track your actions and don’t encrypt your data, which makes it easy for others to intercept. Streaming sites also often block proxies, so they’re less likely to work reliably for unblocking content.
VPNs also provide faster speeds and are less likely to cause buffering while you watch shows or movies. Using a VPN in Japan is a better choice for accessing content while maintaining online security and privacy.
Can a free VPN unblock Netflix Japan?
Yes, some free VPNs as well as free trials of premium VPNs can let you access Netflix Japan. You can connect to 3 Japanese servers if you get CyberGhost’s free trial. Proton VPN has 14 servers there, while Hotspot Shield and hide.me have servers in Tokyo accessible via a free trial. For the most reliable access to Netflix Japan, I recommend ExpressVPN as it never failed to unblock it even once in tests.
Get a Free VPN for Japan Today!
Using the internet in Japan can leave you vulnerable to cybercrime and unable to access your accounts from back home. Whether you live in Japan or are just visiting for a holiday, a high-quality VPN is the best way to securely access your regular accounts while avoiding hacking and spying.
Out of all the VPNs I’ve tried, ExpressVPN is the best for Japan. It’s the fastest and most secure and can access content reliably. You can also try ExpressVPN in Japan with peace of mind, as there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you want to go with a different VPN instead.
