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How to Watch Japanese Netflix in US in 2024 (+ 5 Best VPNs)

Last updated: August 11, 2021

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While Netflix has over 200 million subscribers, the TV show and movies that those subscribers will see when they open up their Netflix app or sign on to the Netflix website are not the same.

Because content distribution rights differ from region to region, Netflix users around the world only have access to the Netflix movies and TV series in their physical location. This means that if you want to watch your TV shows and movies on US Netflix from Japan, you will not be able; and if you want to watch the Japanese version of Netflix from the US, you will find that you are only able to watch Netflix US.

So, how does Netflix know that you are in one location instead of another?

Netflix uses geo-tracking technology to identify where users are located based on their IP addresses. For example, if someone is signing in to Netflix from Canada, Netflix automatically detects their Canadian IP address and directs them to the Canadian Netflix library.

Netflix streaming error

Whoops, something went wrong Streaming error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”

Finding a VPN that can circumvent Netflix’s geo-restrictions and allows you to change your region to gain access to Japan Netflix is becoming harder and harder. To save you from the time-consuming trial and error, we researched and tested over 3 dozen VPN services to determine which ones would successfully help users watch Netflix Japan from outside Japanese borders.

We weeded out the VPNs that do not offer Japanese servers — and the ones that simply don’t provide a reliable connection to Netflix Japan — so that we can share with you the top 5 VPNs that will help you access Netflix Japan from outside Japan.

Keep on reading as we share more tips on How to watch Japanese Netflix in 2024, and which VPNs will best help you connect to Netflix Japan from anywhere.

If you are looking for the best VPN to access Japan Netflix from anywhere in the world, here is a list of some VPNs that will help you watch Netflix Japan in no time.

  1. ExpressVPN: The best VPN to watch Netflix Japan with top-notch speeds, servers in Japan, and military-grade encryption.
  2. NordVPN: Great Netflix Japan VPN with obfuscated servers and top security and privacy features.
  3. Surfshark: Competitively-priced VPN for Japan with unlimited simultaneous connections.
  4. PrivateVPN: Fast speeds and servers located in Japan for access to Japanese Netflix from around the world.
  5. VyprVPN: Able to unblock Netflix in Japan with a user-friendly app and a very affordable 3-year plan.

All of these VPNs offer a money-back guarantee for 30 days, so you can try them out with no strings attached.

In a Hurry? Here's How to Watch Netflix Japan with a VPN

How to Choose the Best VPN for Netflix Japan

If you’re looking to find the best VPNs to help unblock the Japanese Netflix video streaming service, here are some of the important criteria to take into account:

☑️Server locations: It is important to make sure the VPN you choose has servers located in Japan if you would like to access Japanese content.

☑️Security: A reliable Netflix Japan VPN offers military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, and other top security and privacy features.

☑️Speeds: If your VPN doesn’t have good speeds, you will be experiencing a lot of buffering and lag while watching your shows on Netflix Japan.

☑️Support: A Good VPN to watch Japan Netflix should have good customer support so that you always have someone to turn to in case you have troubleshooting needs or questions about the servers that will work best for your online activities.

☑️Satisfaction: Does the VPN have a money-back guarantee in case you are unsatisfied or change your mind? This is an important element to think about before committing to a subscription.

Our number one VPN choice is ExpressVPN, which has Japanese servers, top security features, and the best speeds for watching Netflix Japan content with no buffering. On top of this, ExpressVPN offers great reliable 24/7 live-chat customer support and a money-back guarantee for 30 days.

5 Best VPNs to Stream Japanese Netflix from Anywhere

After reviews of over 3 dozen VPNs on the market, we would like to share our top 5 VPNs that will easily help you access Netflix Japan from abroad.

Devices compatible with ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our number-one choice for watching Netflix Japan from abroad.

This VPN service offers over 3,000 servers in more than 94 countries around the globe, including in Japan, ensuring that you’ll be able to get a Japanese IP when trying to watch Netflix Japan titles from the US or elsewhere.

ExpressVPN has super-fast speeds and is able to unblock popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, ITV in the USA, and more, all in HD or 4K, with no buffering or lag.

ExpressVPN is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Roku, Apple TV, Firestick/FireTV, Roku, Chromecast, Xbox One, PS4, and more, so you can watch your Netflix Japan videos on whichever device you use.

If you’re looking for a secure VPN to access Netflix Japan, ExpressVPN has all the vital features to keep you and your activity and information safe and private — like its Internet Kill Switch, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, strict no-logs policy, and its 256-bit AES military-grade encryption.

ExpressVPN has 24/7 live-chat customer service if you need any tips on the best servers or have any questions you need answered; also, a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can subscribe for the cheapest long-term plan and get your money back within 30 days, risk-free.

Pros:

  • Top security and privacy features
  • Available for most platforms
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Connect up to 5 devices simultaneously
  • 24/7 live support

Cons:

  • Not as cheap as competing providers

2. NordVPN

Devices compatible with NordVPN

NordVPN is another great option for watching Japanese Netflix from anywhere.

This VPN has over 5,200 servers in 60 countries, including Japan, so you will be able to connect to Netflix Japan to stream your favorite Japanese TV series from the US or anywhere else.

Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Go, and many other streaming services, are all easily unblocked by NordVPN with great speed and no buffering.

NordVPN offers a no-logs policy, military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, double encryption, and an Internet Kill Switch; and you can connect 6 devices simultaneously to one account.

NordVPN apps are compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, and other devices.

NordVPN has 24/7 live chat support and also offers a 30-day refund guarantee; so if you change your mind and decide to go with another VPN, you can get your money back without penalty.

Pros:

  • Top privacy and security features
  • Compatible with most platforms
  • Double encryption feature
  • Allows 6 simultaneous connections
  • Live-chat support

Cons:

  • Split tunneling only on some platforms

Devices compatible with Surfshark

Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in over 65 countries around the world, including in Japan, making it another good choice for watching Japan Netflix the United States, or anywhere else.

In terms of security and privacy features, Surfshark offers a zero-logs policy, military-grade encryption, and an Internet Kill Switch.

Surfshark is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Firestick/Fire TV, Linux, Roku, Chromecast, Xbox One, PS4, and Apple TV; and you can connect an unlimited number of simultaneous devices to a single user subscription, which tops the list in this feature.

Pros:

  • Built-in blocker for ads and malware
  • Good speeds and unlimited bandwidth
  • Unlimited simultaneous devices
  • Top security and privacy
  • Offers 24/7 live customer service
  • One of the most affordable VPNs

Cons:

  • Speeds can be slower/less consistent

With VPN servers in Japan, PrivateVPN is another good VPN service for watching your shows and movies on the Japanese version of Netflix from the United States or abroad.

Using this VPN, platforms like Netflix, US Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer can be easily unblocked from the US or elsewhere; and you can connect your VPN to lots of different devices as it is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, and routers.

In terms of security, PrivateVPN does live up to its name with its AES 256-bit encryption and a Kill Switch.

PrivateVPN gives you a 7-day free trial, but to get this trial code you have to email their customer support. If you want a bit more time to test this VPN out, you can subscribe to PrivateVPN and cancel your service without penalty with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros:

  • 30-day refund guarantee
  • 7-day trial
  • Top encryption standards
  • 6 simultaneous connections
  • Live chat service

Cons:

  • Based in a privacy-unfriendly country
  • Slower than some of its competitors
  • Live chat is sometimes unreliable

5. VyprVPN

Devices compatible with VyprVPN

VyprVPN is another good VPN service for watching Netflix in Japan. Although its server size is smaller than some of its competitors, VyprVPN has servers in Japan and is able to unblock Netflix TV shows and movies from the US or elsewhere successfully.

When we tested it out, VyprVPN was quickly able to unblock top video streaming services, like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and, of course, Netflix, Japan; and you can use up to 5 devices simultaneously with VyprVPN on any major platform.

In terms of privacy and security, VyprVPN keeps up with the standards set by the other VPN services on this list with a verified no-logging policy, a Kill Switch, and AES 256-bit encryption.

VyprVPN offers a live-chat service and a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can sign up and try to unblock Netflix for yourself and cancel at any point in the first month for a full refund.

Pros:

  • Good privacy and security features
  • 30-day refund guarantee
  • VyprVPN-owned servers
  • Server locations in Japan
  • Cheapest long-term plan of the bunch

Cons:

  • Slower connections
  • No built-in ad blocker

Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch Japanese Netflix?

While there may be some free VPNs that are successful at unblocking Netflix Japan, most won’t, so we strongly urge you not to waste your time with all of the trial and error, especially since IP addresses coming from free VPNs are the first ones to be blocked by streaming sites like Netflix.

In addition to the fact that these free services are often ineffective, it is more important to share that they can be pretty dangerous for you to use.

Because free VPNs are not charging a subscription fee for their services, they have to find another way to make a profit, which often comes at your expense. Many of these free providers actually sell user data and IP addresses to third parties to make ends meet. If you are using a VPN to ensure your privacy and anonymity online, the fact that they share your private details serves the exact opposite purpose.

If these reasons are not enough to deter you from using a free service, you are more likely to encounter annoying ads when using a free VPN, some of which may contain malware.

If you want to connect to the Japanese version of Netflix from abroad safely and effectively, the smartest option is to use a reliable paid provider, like ExpressVPN.

List of VPNs That Don’t Work with Japanese Netflix

Here are some VPN providers that we have tested and found unable to unblock titles on Netflix Japan:

☑️ CactusVPN
☑️ CyberGhost
☑️ HideMyAss
☑️ Hola
☑️ Hotspot Shield
☑️ PIA (Private Internet Access)
☑️ PureVPN
☑️ SaferVPN
☑️ Tunnelbear
☑️ Zenmate

Fixing Netflix Proxy Error

If you think you did everything right but are still seeing a Netflix proxy error anytime you try to stream a show or movie on Netflix, try following these steps:

  1. First, because Google may remember your IP address and reveal this to Netflix, you will need to sign out of your Google account and Chrome Browser.
  2. Next, disable any location tracking service or GPS on your browser or on your device, and make sure Netflix doesn’t have permission to use your location. You can check your browser settings to confirm this.
  3. Clear your cache and cookies in your browser.
  4. If you are using Windows 10, you will want to disable IPv6 in the Wi-Fi properties settings. It is possible you will also need to do this for other OS.
  5. Open your Command Prompt in Windows as an admin, then enter command ipconfig/flushdns to flush your cache for your DNS.
  6. You can try to change the time zone on your device to match the country you are trying to access. (Japan is UTC+9)
  7. You may need to rename your SSID or Wi-Fi network if you are able to access your router. To do this, add nomap at the end of your network name in order to opt out of the Google geo-location service. To gain access to the Internet again, connect your device to this updated network.
  8. Try disconnecting from and reconnecting to the server country again. Sometimes this will give you a new IP address.

Shows and Movies to Watch on Netflix Japan

Here are some of the movies and shows you can watch on Netflix Japan:

☑️ Arakawa Under the Bridge
☑️ Blame
☑️ Cowboy Bebop
☑️ Crayon Shin-Chan
☑️ Digimon Adventure
☑️ Dragon Ball Z
☑️ Gunslinger Girls
☑️ Indefinite Dendrogram
☑️ Mushishi
☑️ My Moochy Boyfriend
☑️ Plunderer
☑️ Sagrada Reset
☑️ Shoplifters
☑️ The Millionaire Detective
☑️ Time Limit Investigator
☑️ Ultraman Z
☑️ Vigilante
☑️ Violet Evergarden

FAQs

Is it legal to use VPNs to access Japanese Netflix?
Definitely. It is completely legal to watch Japanese Netflix using a VPN.

If you are downloading or streaming content that is copyrighted or pirated while using any VPN, this is illegal, but using a VPN to watch shows on a platform like Netflix that only streams legal content is perfectly legal.

Does all content on Japanese Netflix have English subtitles?
Mostly, but not 100%. While you will find that almost all of the video content on Japanese Netflix does have English subtitles, there are a few shows that do not offer this. Certain anime, for instance, is only offered in Japanese.
Do I need to change my region to watch Japanese Netflix?
If you are located outside of Japan and trying to figure out how to watch Japanese Netflix, then yes, you will need to change your region.

To do this, you will need to use a VPN with servers in Japan. When you connect to your Japanese VPN server and then sign in to your Netflix account, you will appear to be in Japan, and automatically access the Japanese Netflix library.

If you are trying to access Netflix from within Japan, you do not need to do anything. You will automatically be connected to Japanese Netflix any time you sign in to your Netflix account.

Conclusion

If you are wondering how to watch Japanese Netflix from outside of Japan, you are in luck. Even though this Japanese website content is blocked outside of Japan, you can bypass Netflix geo-restrictions if you use a reputable VPN service on any of your devices.

Not only do VPNs bypass geo-restrictions and unblock Japanese shows outside of Japan, but they also offer users top privacy and security features to protect their devices and their identities online.

Our top choice for accessing thousands of geo-blocked sites on the web is ExpressVPN. Though this premium provider is more expensive than its peers, its most affordable plan is only $6.67/month for a one-year plan, and you get 3 months free, making it 15 months.

We hope you enjoyed this review! Thanks for reading!

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