As you may already be aware, Netflix’s programming varies according to your location. For example, although new episodes of popular anime series such as Attack on Titan are uploaded weekly in Japan, viewers in other countries often have to wait months after the series concludes to see them. A VPN enables safe access to Netflix from any location on the planet.
So how does all of this work? In a nutshell, VPNs route your internet traffic via a server located in a foreign location. This conceals your true IP address, enhancing your privacy and creating the illusion that you are physically present at the location of your selected server. In other words, when traveling overseas, you may use a Japanese VPN server to access Japan-exclusive services. Even better, VPNs encrypt your data, protecting it from snoopers, network administrators, and your ISP.
How to access Netflix Japan from a foreign country
While this may seem complex, VPNs are a lot simpler to use than you would think. The following is a step-by-step tutorial to watching Japanese Netflix.
- Begin by registering with a reliable VPN service. We suggest NordVPN.
- Install your VPN client. Most allow for up to five simultaneous connections, so feel free to secure any other devices you may have after installing the app on the one you’d like to stream on.
- Log in and establish a connection to a Japanese server. This will automatically provide you with a Japanese IP address.
- Finally, browse Netflix and look for a title that is exclusive to Japan, such as To Your Eternity. If nothing appears, you may try deleting your cookies and restarting the page, or you can try a different server. If issues continue, contact your VPN support staff for assistance.
If you’re unfamiliar with VPNs, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of providers competing for your attention. Here’s a hint: services that promise to be the greatest at everything are seldom the best at anything. Rather than that, you’re better off with a well-rounded VPN that can do common activities reliably. With this in mind, we chose to only suggest a VPN service that met all of the following criteria:
- Has servers in Japan that are fast.
- Compatible with Netflix Japan and, in the best-case scenario, other Japanese streaming services.
- Utilize a variety of security measures to keep you protected online.
- Do not maintain any records containing personally identifying information.
- Provides applications for the majority of the main operating systems.
Best VPN for Netflix Japan
NordVPN
Our top option for Japanese Netflix is NordVPN. It provides access to thousands of servers located in several countries, including Japan. It’s one of the fastest ISPs on the market, so viewing Netflix or Amazon Prime Video should be seamless. Additionally, with multiple simultaneous connections allowed per account, you may secure all of your most frequently used devices simultaneously.
Naturally, this service includes a slew of security measures. There is 256-bit AES encryption, which prevents others from seeing your online activity, as well as security against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, as well as a kill switch. Additionally, this service can automatically block advertisements and check for viruses. Most importantly, NordVPN does not retain any logs. If you run into any difficulties, live chat is accessible 24 hours a day.
Users of NordVPN may access applications for iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Additionally, this service may be installed manually on compatible internet routers.
How to watch Japanese Netflix from abroad: FAQs
Is it possible to watch Japanese Netflix with a free VPN?
Free VPNs often advertise that they provide all of the advantages of their commercial counterparts without any of the drawbacks. In fact, there is no comparison. Free services often have a limited number of servers and frequently impose monthly bandwidth limitations, making them unsuitable for regular usage. Additionally, since they have so many customers on such a small network, Netflix can easily discover and ban their servers. When combined with the fact that this increased network load results in very sluggish speeds, it’s obvious that free VPNs cannot be depended upon to function with Netflix Japan.
Additionally, these providers leave much to be desired in terms of security. Indeed, many of them are not privacy tools, as research has shown that almost 40% of studied free VPN applications come packed with viruses, and another 18% fail to encrypt their users’ data. To be secure online, we suggest that you consider a service’s reputation, logging policy, and security features rather than just utilizing whatever is free.
Is it legal to use a VPN to access Japanese Netflix?
Contrary to popular belief, most nations do not have laws prohibiting the use of a VPN to access region-locked content. As such, unless you live in a country like Iraq or China, where VPN use is strictly controlled or prohibited entirely, there is no reason to believe you will run afoul of the law.
This is technically against Netflix’s terms of service. Even if the service recognizes that you’re connected to a VPN, it will display a restricted selection of content until you quit. There are no reliable instances of anybody getting banned from Netflix just for using a VPN to access the service.
What content is available on Netflix Japan?
While Netflix Japan’s primary selling point is its continuously growing library of currently showing anime, the service also offers a slew of other programs and films that are not accessible elsewhere. Here is a brief overview of some of the content available only in the Japanese library:
- I Will Do It In the Next Life
- One Piece Stampede
- Ride Your Wave
- So I’m a Spider, So What?
- Horimiya
- More than a dozen Godzilla movies
- Coffee and Vanilla
- Path of the Dragons
- Terrace House (2014)
- The Back of Shadow