Japan is one of the most developed nations in the world. As such, it has been at the forefront of many technological revolutions. Furthermore, it has a population that is all too familiar with the internet. Being a progressive country, Japan doesn’t ban or censor the web extensively. Hence, you must be asking why the need for a VPN. It’s because a VPN (a virtual private network) is not only a simple tool that can aid users in bypassing blocks and bans. Today, most VPN users rely on the product to help them stream their favorite global media content. Thus, if you are traveling to Japan or are a resident there, it’s beneficial to learn what the best VPNs for Japan are. Here we have included a list of potential vendors that work wonders in the country.
Disclaimer — The article is subjective and doesn’t represent an authoritative ranking. We are not biased toward any particular vendor.
Top VPNs for Japan
Given below are the leading Japanese VPNs to use:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is a well-known name in the VPN market. The VPN comes from Panama with favorable data privacy laws and strives toward making netizens more aware of privacy and data security. Furthermore, the VPN also enjoys a stellar reputation when it comes to its logging policy. It is one of the few vendors to go for back-to-back independent audits. Hence, the VPN, with a network of around 5600 VPN servers and a reach of almost 60 countries, is a market favorite. It’s laced with features, and arguably, it is the best for Japanese Netflix.
NordVPN has exclusive VPN clients for Android TVs, Fire Stick, and Smart TVs. And it also sports a sale of a pre-flashed VPN router. Moreover, it boasts advanced features geared towards streaming, including Double VPN, Tor over VPN, Smart DNS, and SOCKSv5. Thus, it is one of those rare VPNs that are good at everything. Plus, it is cheap. Henceforth, interested readers can glance at our NordVPN review.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN never fails to surprise us. It is a premium-tier service provider that hails from the land of the British Virgin Islands, making its jurisdiction favorable to data privacy. It further strengthens its commitment to privacy and security by adopting a stringent no-logging policy. That was verified by independent audits. The service has a network of over 3000 servers stretching 92 countries, making it a superb streaming VPN. Numerous locations make it easier to jump IP addresses and circumvent regional blocks.
Furthermore, features like Smart DNS and exclusive VPN clients for streaming devices like Smart TVs, Android TVs, Apple TVs, etc., make viewing global content much more effortless. Also, it has an exclusive pre-flashed VPN router that can provide an out-of-the-box VPN experience. Hence, going with ExpressVPN in Japan can’t be the wrong move if you do not mind the slightly higher prices. To know more about the service, please read our detailed ExpressVPN review.
3. CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN is a provider that has been around for more than a decade. Over the years, it has built a dedicated and loyal following by providing a quality user experience. The service comes with more than 8800 VPN servers. Hence, the vendor is quite adept at bypassing geo-blocks. Also, the 91+ locations help a lot. Thus, users can stream media from any corner of the world. CyberGhost does the stuff correctly. It has the basics down and offers enough features to keep the crowd interested, making it the right pick for our best VPNs for Japan. If you are still interested in learning more about the VPN, give our CyberGhost review a read.
4. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN comes from the makers of ProtonMail and, true to its legacy, is one of the most private and secure VPNs on the market. Yes, we will admit that the service isn’t particularly favorable to streaming. But this Swiss-based VPN is strides ahead in overall capabilities. Hence, it safely earned a spot on the best VPNs for Japan list. Furthermore, it is a fully free VPN. Although you can purchase plans for ProtonVPN, they are costly and not worth the hassle. The service comes with a network of 1700 servers in 60+ countries. And enough features to tempt the user into purchasing a premium slot. For more information on the service, check our ProtonVPN review.
5. PureVPN
PureVPN stands out for being user-friendly and straightforward. This minimalistic VPN offers a simple app user interface across platforms. Yet, it still offers enough power to tackle some heavy and advanced undertakings. The service hails from the British Virgin Islands and is popular for quick and casual use. The 15-year-old veteran has amassed a giant VPN network of 6800+ VPN servers across 78 countries. Additionally, this network is available for an inexpensive price of $1.99. If you want to give this VPN a go, we suggest reading our PureVPN review first.
6. Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN is also a good choice, considering it is an excellent freemium service provider. Although easy to use, it still has enough advanced features to give some popular VPN services a run for their money. Now, undoubtedly the attractive point for this VPN is its free version. But its paid version is also one of the cheapest on the market, unlike ProtonVPN. Furthermore, it is the only free VPN that can bypass geo-blocks and allow users to enjoy global media content.
It also surprises users with a powerful obfuscation technology and WireGuard, the best VPN protocol available on the market. Despite being a US-based provider, Atlas VPN has done more than enough to be considered a quality VPN service. Also, interested readers can visit our Atlas VPN review for more information.
7. TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear VPN is the last entry on our best VPNs for Japan list. Like the previous several services, it is a freemium VPN but catered towards beginners. The VPN prides itself on keeping things simple and unique. Moreover, despite having a very restrictive VPN network, the VPN surprisingly is capable enough of unblocking most of the streaming platforms. But it has its flaws.
There is no money-back guarantee, and the free version is limited to only 500 MB per month. Also, it lacks a live chat feature, and the subscription plans are only available in the long term. But even with all its drawbacks, this Canada-based VPN has a loyal following. Thus, those who want to know more can read our TunnelBear VPN review.