Best VPN for Japan in 2025

Japan is a very popular tourist destination, with many sites, attractions, and an exciting culture to experience. However, while you’re in Japan, you may notice that some of the content you were able to access in your home country is now unavailable to you. Also, during your travels you’ll need to make sure your online privacy is protected and safe from prying eyes.

But don’t worry, there is a solution to all of this! By using a virtual private network, otherwise known as a VPN, you can change your virtual location and have added security to protect you while online.

There are tons of VPNs out there to choose from, and I’ve tested many of them to find out which are the best VPNs for Japan. Keep reading to learn more about my top five VPN picks and which one could be the right one for you

In a hurry? Here are the 5 best VPNs for Japan 

These are my top picks for the best Japan VPNs:

Key takeaways

1. Japan offers a lot of local content, but to watch content from outside of Japan, you will need a VPN.
2. There are always risks to your online privacy and security when using public Wi-Fi, so you want a VPN with features that can protect your data.
3. Japan has agreements with the Five-Eyes-Alliance for sharing intelligence information, and to keep your online activities private, you will need a VPN with a strict zero-logs policy.

Why you should use a VPN for Japan

There are a few reasons why a VPN is a great tool to have.

While Japan doesn’t have any strict internet censorship, there is a lot of internet surveillance. Local intelligence agencies have free reign over monitoring local internet activity, and the Japanese government has a program in place that permits the local authorities to access internet-enabled devices with minimal oversight.

A VPN can help secure your internet connection and keep your online activities and data private by providing privacy features that encrypt your traffic and ensure your activity isn’t being logged while connected to a Japan VPN server.

Another common reason to get a VPN is if you’re looking to access content outside of Japan. While you will be able to access Netflix Japan without a VPN, other content libraries on Netflix and other platforms will be blocked to you due to licensing agreements and geographic restrictions. A VPN can help you bypass these restrictions by spoofing your virtual location and changing your IP address.

Criteria for choosing the best VPN for Japan

When it comes to deciding which Japan VPN might be best for you, I recommend taking the following into consideration:

• Server network. Look for a VPN service with a broad server network so that you can access as many content libraries from around the world as you would like. I also recommend choosing a VPN that has Japanese servers so you can be secured on local platforms.
• Speed. Look for a VPN with fast speeds that won’t slow you down, whether you’re streaming, gaming, or torrenting.
• Privacy and security. It’s important to choose a VPN with robust security features that can keep you safe and secure from prying eyes.
• Unblocking abilities. Not every VPN is capable of bypassing geo-restrictions, so be sure to choose a VPN that has proven unblocking abilities.
• Pricing. Everyone has a different budget and priorities for their VPN, so choose one that best fits your price point and consider the overall value of what the VPN service includes.

5 best VPNs for Japan

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is my number one pick as the overall best VPN for Japan, with its excellent performance and user-friendly apps. It has over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, including in multiple cities in Japan.

Features: ExpressVPN offers its user unlimited bandwidth, as well as 8 simultaneous connections for your devices. It includes a split tunneling feature and a password manager. It also comes with a MediaStreamer feature, its version of Smart DNS, and the Network Lock feature, which makes P2P file sharing extra safe.

Speed: This VPN has incredibly fast speeds, utilizing its Lightway tunneling protocol, and it will make sure you have smooth internet connection speeds.

Security: ExpressVPN has all of the best privacy and security features, including AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, an ad-blocker, RAM-only servers, DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: ExpressVPN is great at bypassing geo-blocks on most of the popular streaming services, including Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, HBO Max, Hulu, Vudu, BBC iPlayer, and more.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: ExpressVPN is at the higher end price-wise, with prices starting at $6.67 per month, but it does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It does have a free trial for mobile devices only.

2. NordVPN

NordVPN is a well-rounded and reliable VPN rich in features. It has an impressive 7,000 servers located in 118 countries, including servers in Japan.

Features: NordVPN offers up to 10 simultaneous device connections and unlimited bandwidth. It also comes with split tunneling, specialty servers, a SmartPlay feature, and NordLocker, which is a file encryption tool to keep you extra secure.

Speed: This VPN has super-fast connection speeds using its proprietary NordLynx protocol, so you won’t have to worry about buffering or lag.

Security: NordVPN comes with many of the top security features, which include AES-256 encryption, a Dark Web monitor, DNS leak protection, malware protection, a kill switch, and a strict no-log policy.

Streaming: NordVPN can unblock many streaming services, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Max, Hulu, and Disney+.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with most devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for NordVPN start at $3.39 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers a 7-day free trial on all devices.

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is a great option if you’re looking to save money, but don’t want to sacrifice having premium features. This budget VPN has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries, including in Japan.

Features: In addition to unlimited bandwidth, Surfshark stands out by offering unlimited simultaneous connections, meaning you can connect to as many devices as you want under one account. It also offers split tunneling, a double VPN feature for an additional encrypted tunnel, and P2P-optimized servers.

Speed: While it might not be as fast as Express or NordVPN, Surfshark is still a very fast VPN that uses WireGuard protocol and will provide smooth connections.

Security: Surfshark has excellent security features, including AES-256 encryption, an ad-blocker, a cookie pop-up blocker, obfuscated servers, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy.

Streaming: Surfshark works great for getting around geo-blocking and can access streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, and Disney+.

Compatibility: Surfshark is compatible with many devices, including Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for Surfshark start at just $1.99 per month and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also has a 7-day free trial available.

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a good VPN if you’re looking for an inexpensive VPN primarily for streaming. Its massive server network has over 11,500 servers in 100 countries, including Japanese servers.

Features: CyberGhost lets you use up to seven devices simultaneously and has unlimited bandwidth. It also has split tunneling and specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

Speed: CyberGhost is not the fastest on this list, but it generally has fast speeds using the WireGuard protocol.

Security: CyberGhost has many of the standard features that include AES-256 encryption, an ad-blocker, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy.

Streaming: CyberGhost is able to unblock streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube, Disney+, and HBO Max.

Compatibility: This VPN is compatible with many popular devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, some Smart TVs, and routers.

Pricing: Prices for CyberGhost start at $2.03 and come with an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee. Free trials are available as follows: a 1-day trial for desktops, a 3-day trial for Android, and a 7-day trial for iOS users.

5. Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the best free VPN option, but it also has a premium version. However, be aware that with the free service, you’ll only have access to servers in 5 countries, one of which includes Japan. However, with their premium plan, you have access to 8,600 servers in 112 countries.

Features: Proton offers an unlimited free version. However, with this free version, you can only use it on one device and have limited access to features. With a paid premium account, you will be able to use it on up to 10 devices and have access to premium features.

Speed: Proton’s free version offers decent speeds compared to others but might have slow download speeds because of traffic. Its premium version offers fast speeds and connections.

Security: Both the free and premium versions offer strong encryption, as well as a kill switch and a strict no-logs policy to protect your online privacy. With the premium version, you will also get secure core servers and a NetShield ad-blocker.

Streaming: Proton VPN’s premium version works well at unblocking many streaming sites, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Max, Hulu, and Disney+.

Compatibility: Proton VPN is compatible with Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Fire TV stick, and Android TV.

Pricing: Proton offers an unlimited free version, but for its premium service, prices start at $4.99 per month. And it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

How I picked and tested the best VPNs for Japan

When analyzing and testing which VPNs are the best ones for you in Japan, I took several factors into account:

• Server network. I only chose VPNs with Japanese servers so you can get a Japan IP address, as well as servers in many other countries for streaming content.
• Speed. I performed speed tests on many VPNs and picked from among the fastest on the market.
• Security and privacy. I made sure to choose VPNs with robust security features such as strong encryption, a kill switch, and a zero logs policy.
• Unblocking. I only choose VPNs with strong unblocking abilities.
• User-friendly. I made sure to choose VPNs with user-friendly platforms and good customer support.

VPNs to avoid using in Japan

Not all VPNs are created equal. I recommend avoiding VPNs like these:

• Hola. Known to sell user data to third parties.
• HideMyAss. Have given logs to governments and third parties.
• Zenmate. Tends to suffer from IP leaks

Useful tips before using a VPN in Japan

• Secure public Wi-Fi usage. Before using public Wi-Fi services in airports, cafes, or hotels, make sure your VPN is on to protect your privacy online.
• Experiment with servers. Try out different VPN servers to determine which works best for you.
• Protocols. Try out different protocols for optimal speeds.
• Troubleshooting. Make sure you’re familiar with basic troubleshooting for your VPN usage.

Should I use a free VPN for Japan?

While using a free VPN might sound tempting, it is not something I recommend. Many free VPNs tend to have poor performance and slow speeds, overall lacking the ability to bypass geo-blocks and get past restrictions.

Additionally, many free VPN companies have reputations for selling their user’s data to third parties and having other security issues. This is why I recommend sticking to premium VPNs.

FAQ

What is the best VPN for Japan?

All of the VPNs on my list are great, but from my experience, ExpressVPN is the best Japan VPN you could get.

Is it legal to use a VPN in Japan?

Are VPNs legal in Japan? The answer is that, yes, VPNs are completely legal to use in Japan.

Which VPN has servers in Japan?

Every VPN provider on this list has servers in Japan that you can use to get a secured Japan IP address.

Conclusion

When traveling in Japan, the last thing you want to worry about is your sensitive data being at risk or being unable to access the streaming platforms that you love. However, with a quality VPN provider, you can protect yourself online and bypass any geographical restrictions standing in your way.