5 Best VPNs to Watch Japanese Netflix in 2024

Netflix changes its content offering depending on your country because of its licensing agreements. That means the title selection in Japan is different than in other countries. To watch Japanese Netflix, you have to be located in Japan and signed in with a local IP address.

A VPN can technically help you change your IP address to one in Japan if you’re not physically located there, but this is against Netflix’s terms of service so I don’t condone it. Plus, it might go against copyright agreements when you watch a show that’s not licensed for streaming in your location.

If you still want to watch Netflix Japan with a VPN, you’ll find many don’t actually work. This is because Netflix actively identifies and blocks VPN IPs to protect its license. However tests conducted by my teammates in Tokyo show there are a few reliable VPNs. ExpressVPN is the best as all its Japanese servers work with Netflix. Plus, they’re very fast for lag-free streaming.

Quick Guide: Best VPNs for Japanese Netflix in 2024

Stream Japanese Netflix with ExpressVPN

The Best VPNs for Netflix Japan (Tested in 2024)

1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Streaming Netflix Japan With High Speeds

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	3,000+
📱Devices	8
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

ExpressVPN’s superfast connection speeds make it my top choice for watching Netflix Japan. I put its Japanese servers through a series of tests and was pleasantly surprised with the results.

I had minimal buffering on all of ExpressVPN’s Japanese servers, 90% of streams loaded instantly, and the longest buffering time I experienced was just 2 seconds. My speed test results showed that ExpressVPN’s servers are consistently faster than other VPNs I tested. My connection speeds only dropped 15% compared to my baseline speeds, which is highly impressive. It never dropped below 290 Mbps — far higher than Netflix’s minimum 4K streaming requirements of 25 Mbps.

Thanks to ExpressVPN’s reliable speeds, you can stream Netflix Japan in UHD without lag. Also, you get unlimited bandwidth with ExpressVPN, which means no limits on how much you can stream.

My colleagues in Tokyo tested ExpressVPN’s servers in every Japanese location, and they all worked equally well with Netflix Japan. Every server is obfuscated to ensure that your connection’s traffic looks like regular traffic, so you cna watch Netflix Japan on restrictive networks, too.

When my team and I tested it, ExpressVPN turned out to be one of the best VPNs for Netflix US, Netflix Japan, and 15+ other libraries and many other streaming services, including:

You can use ExpressVPN on up to 8 devices simultaneously, meaning you can watch on all your devices at once. I tested this and streamed on 2 Windows PCs and 2 Macs at the same time. I never noticed a difference in stream quality, no matter how many devices I connected, thus making ExpressVPN perfect for anime-watching parties.

One drawback of ExpressVPN is that at $6.67/month for a 1-year + 3 months plan, it’s slightly more expensive than the other VPNs on this list. However, considering its speeds, security features, and how reliable its Japanese servers are, I think it’s well worth the price.

You don’t have to take my word for it — you can try ExpressVPN yourself completely risk-free. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can easily get a refund during this time if you’re unsatisfied for any reason. After 28 days of testing ExpressVPN with Netflix, I requested a refund via live chat, which they approved within minutes. Afterward, the money was back in my account within 3 days.

2. CyberGhost — Servers Optimized to Stream Japanese Netflix Lag-Free

Outstanding

Outstanding

📍Servers	11,780+
📱Devices	7
💰Refund	45 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

CyberGhost offers streaming-optimized servers built specifically for Netflix Japan. These servers let my colleagues in Japan watch their favorite anime on Netflix anytime while providing fast enough speeds for lag-free streaming. To use these servers for Netflix Japan, simply open the “Streaming” tab of the server menu and connect to the Netflix-optimized server in Japan. Also, you can add the server to your favorites to instantly connect later.

CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers regularly refresh their IP addresses to evade Netflix’s anti-VPN algorithms. Plus, it offers several options to choose from, so you can avoid crowded servers.

I never faced any streaming errors or low-quality streams on CyberGhost’s servers in Japan. Better yet, my team and I learned you can also use CyberGhost for other Netflix libraries and international platforms, like the following:

While CyberGhost’s speeds on Japanese servers were a bit slower than other VPNs, it’s still more than fast enough to stream Netflix Japan in HD. There was an average 37% drop in connection speeds, but again, this was fast enough to stream shows on Netflix Japan in HD without buffering.

There’s also an innovative Smart Rules feature in CyberGhost that lets you set rules according to the network you’re on. Smart Rules also lets you set up WiFi protection, thus keeping you secure even if you watch Netflix Japan on an unsecured public network.

You’ll find CyberGhost apps for most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android TV, Samsung TVs, Fire TV, and more. If you’re streaming Netflix Japan on an unsupported device, you can configure CyberGhost on your router and connect all your household devices to one of its servers.

Its best value plan is just $2.03 a month, but you can also try CyberGhost with Netflix Japan completely risk-free. It offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is the longest of all the VPNs on this list. It took only 5 minutes to have my refund processed over live chat, and I had my money back via PayPal in the same week.

3. Private Internet Access — 180+ Japanese Servers to Watch Netflix Japan Reliably

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	35,000+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Private Internet Access (PIA) has 180+ servers in Japan, so you can always watch Japanese Netflix and stream without slowdowns. With so many servers in the country, you can always find a low-load server for faster streaming speeds. Plus, you’ll have access to more IP addresses to watch your favorite Japanese content.

If you’re having trouble watching Netflix in Japan, you can simply disconnect and reconnect to get a new IP address and try again. Fortunately, PIA worked with most platforms, including:

PIA also has a streaming-optimized server in Japan. I noticed that the streaming-optimized server provided slightly faster connection speeds, but both servers were always fast enough for lag-free 4K-quality streaming.

Its split tunneling feature lets you safely use other apps while watching Netflix Japan. Using its advanced filters, you can set exceptions so apps that block VPNs can work even as you stream your favorite shows on Japanese Netflix. This lets you avoid issues like setting off fraud alerts while opening banking websites just because you forgot to disconnect the VPN before logging in.

I really like that PIA allows up to unlimited simultaneous connections. This is great because I often stream Netflix on my tablet, laptop, and even my smart TV, and I can easily do this without the connections dropping.

You can download PIA apps for most major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. However, it doesn’t have an app for Amazon Fire Stick or Fire TV. So, if you want to stream Netflix Japan on these devices, I suggest getting ExpressVPN — it has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV.

Its 2-year + 4 months plan offers the best value and costs just $2.03 per month. However, you can also try PIA with Netflix Japan completely risk-free. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and getting a refund is really easy. I asked for a refund via email, and an agent processed my request the same day. I had the money back in my account within a week.

4. NordVPN — Premium VPN With Cheap Prices on Long-Term Plans

Excellent

Excellent

📍Servers	6,320+
📱Devices	10
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market — and you can get super cheap prices when you sign up for a long-term subscription. One thing to note, however, is that when it’s time to renew your subscription, prices do increase quite significantly.

I was particularly impressed with the high performance of every server I tested. Just because a VPN has thousands of servers doesn’t mean they all work. Servers can still struggle to work — and some can even fail to connect completely. However, NordVPN’s servers work with Netflix for smooth, buffer-free streaming.

I did, however, have issues with using NordVPN’s native Fire TV app. Although it mostly worked with Netflix, it sometimes had issues and kept crashing. I also found that NordVPN’s user interface for desktop devices was less user-friendly than ExpressVPN and CyberGhost.

NordVPN has the following security and privacy features:

• AES 256-bit encryption
• kill switch that cuts your internet access if your connection to a VPN server drops suddenly
• built-in ad and malware blocker, so you don’t need a third-party ad blocker
• fully audited no-logs policy (audited by PwC) – NordVPN doesn’t store any personal or identifying data while you’re connected to the VPN

In addition, NordVPN includes Threat Protection that protects you from viruses, infected websites, and trackers – and it works whenever you have the NordVPN app open, even if you’re not connected to a VPN server.

With plans that cost as little as $3.09 per month, it's easy to find a NordVPN subscription plan that suits your needs. You can also stream, torrent, and browse for free for up to 30 days with its money-back guarantee. I tested this to ensure that you’ll really get your money back. At first, the support team tried to give me an extended trial period — but they initiated my refund right away after I told them I wasn’t interested in the extension. I got my money back in 6 business days.

Get NordVPN today

5. Surfshark — Best Value for Money with Unlimited Device Connections and Fast Speeds

Great VPN

Great VPN

📍Servers	3,200+
📱Devices	Unlimited
💰Refund	30 days
📝Keep logs	No
🔰Kill switch
📞Support 24/7	Yes

See Deals

Key Features:

Surfshark offers the best value for money out of every premium VPN on the market. You can connect an unlimited number of devices with a single subscription, which means you can use Surfshark on all your devices without getting logged out.

I tested Surfshark’s simultaneous connections on 2 PCs, 2 phones, a Fire Stick 4K, and an iPad. My connection remained reliable on all 6 devices. Even while I was actively streaming on all my devices, my average speed was 112 Mbps — fast enough for UHD quality.

When I saw the price of this service, I thought it couldn’t possibly have top-grade security features for such a low price, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Surfshark has the following security and privacy features:

• AES 256-bit encryption on all devices, with ChaCha encryption available for Android users
• Wireguard VPN protocol enabled by default
• diskless, RAM-only servers to protect your privacy (no data can be physically extracted from any servers)
• kill switch (although this isn’t enabled by default)
• IP and DNS leak protection

Surfshark offers two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. This feature requires you to enter an extra code before you can log in to ensure that only you can access your account.

While Surfshark does have slightly fewer global servers than rivals such as CyberGhost and PIA, I didn’t experience any issues during my tests. I easily connected fast working servers every time, and I had excellent speeds for streaming, downloading torrents, and browsing the internet.

You can try Surfshark for yourself with the 30-day money-back guarantee. It has plans that cost as little as $2.29. Requesting a refund is easy with Surfshark’s live chat feature. Although the support team asked why I wanted to cancel my subscription, I had no problem getting my money back (and it only took 4 days!).

Get Surfshark today

How I Tested and Ranked the Best VPNs for Netflix Japan

To find the best VPN for streaming Netflix Japan, I tested the best VPNs on the market to find providers that offered the following features:

• Fast, reliable servers in Japan so you can watch local content without buffering.
• Industry-standard encryption, a no-logs policy, and other security features keep your data and devices safe while streaming.
• Unlimited bandwidth so you can watch as much Netflix as you want without getting cut off or penalized with speed throttling.
• Money-back guarantee to test all of your preferred VPN’s features risk-free.
• User-friendly setup and installation on all devices, including native VPN apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and more.
• 24/7 live chat support and other customer support options to get help and server recommendations if you have trouble watching Netflix Japan.

3 Easy Steps: How to Watch Netflix Japan With a VPN

FAQs: Netflix Japan and VPNs

Enjoy Japanese TV Shows and Movies on Netflix

If you’re a big Japanese anime fan, you need a reliable and trustworthy VPN to stream Netflix in Japan and watch your favorite shows and movies safely. Unfortunately, most VPNs do not work with Netflix Japan at all. A few offer Japanese servers, but they aren’t fast enough to deliver lag-free high-quality streaming.

The VPNs on this list are excellent for streaming Netflix Japan because of their fast connection speeds and streaming support.

Out of the various options, ExpressVPN is my top choice. Its high-speed Japanese servers make it easy to watch Netflix Japan and enjoy lag-free streams in UHD. Best of all, you can try ExpressVPN with Netflix Japan risk-free. If you’re unsatisfied with its performance, you can easily get a refund within the 30-day period. When I tested the guarantee, my money was back in my account in 3 days.

Summary — Best VPNs for Netflix Japan in 2024

Rank

Provider name

Our score

Price

Top Ranked Top Choice

1.

9.8

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$6.67 / month Save 49%

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2.

9.6

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$2.03 / month Save 84%

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3.

9.4

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$2.03 / month Save 83%

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4.

9.4

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$3.09 / month Save 76%

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5.

9.4

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$2.29 / month Save 85%

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