Golden Kamuy is a historical action series set in the early twentieth century, following the end of the Russo-Japanese War. The plot revolves around Saichi Sugimoto, a former soldier known as Sugimoto the Immortal, who is determined to keep a promise he made to a dying friend. He meets Asirpa, a young Ainu girl with the same goal, while searching for a large stash of Ainu gold.
The first episode of Golden Kamuy aired in 2018, and the show is now in its fourth season. The fourth season of the show premiered in October 2022, but it was canceled after the sixth episode due to the unexpected death of a key team member, and it was announced that it would return in April 2023. One of the platforms where we can watch Golden Kamuy is Netflix. The series, however, is only available on Netflix Japan due to licensing agreements.
However, there is no cause for concern. We are not entirely helpless because we are not in Japan. There is a simple way to watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix Japan, and I’ll show you how. Using a reputable VPN service, we will get a Japanese IP address. This way, we’ll be able to watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix from anywhere in the world.
Analysis: Golden Kamuy promises anime fans plenty of action, gore, destruction, and pure romanticism. However, unless you are in Japan, you will not be able to find Golden Kamuy in your Netflix library. Because of licensing agreements, the series is only available on Netflix in Japan. Golden Kamuy season 4 has yet to be released on Netflix Japan, and the first three seasons are only available in Japanese with no other audio or subtitle options.
Solution: To access Netflix Japan, you must have a Japanese IP address. We will replace our local IP address with a Japanese IP address by connecting to a VPN server. When we connect to a VPN server, our data is encrypted, and we are given a new IP address based on the location of the server. By connecting to a VPN server in Japan, we are virtually transported to Japan. This way, we will be able to watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix from anywhere in the world. In addition, we will use a third-party extension to add English subtitles to Netflix for Golden Kamuy.
A quick guide to streaming Golden Kamuy on Netflix through a VPN:
- Go to Surfshark VPN. It has servers in Tokyo, Japan.
- Click the “Get SurfShark” button in the upper right corner and choose a plan.
- Enter your email address and select a payment method to finish the transaction. (Surfshark will send you your login information via email.)
- Log in to your SurfShark account to download and install the VPN app for your device.
- Use the same login information to log in to the SurfShark app.
- Go to the “Locations” menu, type “Japan” into the search bar, and connect to an available server.
After completing these steps and connecting to SurfShark’s Japan server, you will be able to watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix Japan. But our work isn’t done yet. As previously stated, “Golden Kamuy” is only available in Japanese on Netflix Japan. We’ll be using a third-party browser extension called Substital to add English subtitles.
To add subtitles to Golden Kamuy, please follow the steps below:
- Go to the “Chrome Web Store” and search for Substital.
- Click the “Add to Chrome” button.
- Play the “Golden Kamuy” episode you want to watch.
- Launch Substital. (Substital can be found by clicking the puzzle-piece icon to the right of the search bar.)
- Search for subtitles and enjoy the episode.

By following our quick guide, you can watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix from anywhere in the world, with subtitles in any language you want. However, if you are hearing about VPNs for the first time, I understand that it can be a bit confusing. In the following sections, I will explain in detail how VPN services work, why we are subject to geo-restriction, and what you should look for when selecting a VPN service.
Understanding Netflix geo-restriction
Let’s start by trying to figure out why we can’t just kick back and watch Golden Kamuy on our already-paid Netflix account. Licensing agreements are made for each series that is broadcast on digital platforms, and different agreements can be made for different seasons of the same series. Because of these agreements, you may be unable to find the final season of a series on Netflix that you know has already begun its new season. Looking at the countries where Netflix is available, we may find a similar situation: Netflix may have the rights to a show in one country but not in another.
Returning to our original topic, Golden Kamuy, the only country where Netflix currently has broadcasting rights for the series in Japan. When we try to watch Golden Kamuy from outside of Japan, Netflix blocks our access to the content, which is known as geo-restriction.
Let’s see what comes up when we search for Golden Kamuy on Netflix outside of Japan:

As you can see, Golden Kamuy is not available in the library, and Netflix provides no warning messages about it. If you’re curious about Netflix’s stance on geo-restriction, there’s a brief explanation in clause 4.3 of the terms of service, but no solution is provided.

- The statement: “You may access the Netflix content primarily within the country in which you have established your account and only in geographic locations where we offer your subscription plan and have licensed such content. The content that may be available will vary by geographic location and will change from time to time.”
At the very least, we now know what we’re up against and can plan our next move.
Watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix via VPN
We’ve learned about geo-restrictions, but how does Netflix know where we are? Each device that connects to the Internet is given an IP address. This IP address can be used to determine our general geographic location. In other words, Netflix identifies our location as soon as we open it and customizes the library it offers us accordingly.
Since Golden Kamuy Netflix is available in Japan, we will need a Japanese IP address to access it. At this point, we will seek the assistance of a reputable VPN service. VPNs are online privacy and security tools. When we connect to a VPN server, our online traffic is encrypted. To ensure our privacy, we are also assigned an IP address based on the location of the VPN server. We will use this feature to get a Japanese IP address.
When we open Netflix with that Japanese IP address, the platform will recognize us as a user connecting from Japan and will direct us to the Netflix Japan catalog. This way, we’ll be able to watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix from anywhere in the world.
Choosing the best VPN for Golden Kamuy
We’ve identified the issue and determined how we’ll solve it. It’s time to pick a tool, but with so many VPN services claiming to be the best, how do we know which will work for us? The first question is whether the VPN service we intend to use has Japanese servers. We cannot get a Japanese IP address if the server we are connecting to is not located in Japanese data centers.
This criterion is met by a number of VPN services on the market. However, a simple connection will not suffice. The server to which we connect must have the technology to provide uninterrupted streaming. Of course, the cost of the service and the additional features it offers are important factors to consider.
Using these criteria, I reviewed the available VPN services and tested their connection speeds one by one. Some of them performed well, while others performed significantly better, but given all of the factors, the VPN I would recommend for watching Golden Kamuy on Netflix Japan is SurfShark. SurfShark has dedicated servers in Tokyo, Japan, and offers exceptional speed performance. My most recent speed test using SurfShark’s Japan server resulted in a download speed of 94 Mbps. Furthermore, it is one of the most affordable services on the market.
To use this service, please follow the steps below:
- Visit SurfShark VPN.
- Select a subscription plan and complete the purchase form.
- Make your payment using the method of your choice.
Your login information will be emailed to you once your payment has been processed. This could take a bit of time.
VPN app installation
In this step, we will use the login information that we received via mail to download and install SurfShark on the device we’ll be using to watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix.
- Return to the SurfShark homepage.
- Click the “Log in” button and enter your login information.
- After downloading the SurfShark app from the “Apps and Extensions” menu, install it on your device.
Note: To avoid future problems, you should grant the SurfShark VPN app all permissions during installation.
Connecting to the Japan VPN server
It is now time for us to get our Japanese IP address.
- On your device, launch the SurfShark app.
- Select the “Locations” menu.
- Enter “Japan” into the search bar and connect to an available server.

Your SurfShark icon will turn green once the connection is established. You can now watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world.
Streaming Golden Kamuy on Netflix
If you recall, we couldn’t find any results for Golden Kamuy on Netflix previously. How about repeating the search now that we have a Japanese IP address?
- Check your connection to the SurfShark Japan server.
- Launch the Netflix app or visit the Netflix website at https://www.netflix.com/.
- Search for “Golden Kamuy.”

Sugimoto the Immortal appears to have gotten wind of the gold. Golden Kamuy is now available on Netflix with three seasons. The good news is that we were able to get around the geo-restriction, but we’re not done yet because we still need to add subtitles in order to enjoy the show.
Adding subtitles to Golden Kamuy on Netflix
Unfortunately, Netflix Japan, the only catalog where we can watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix, is very limited in language options, and the only audio and subtitle options Netflix offers originally are Japanese. As a result, we must add the subtitles ourselves. To add subtitles to Netflix, I prefer to use Subsital, a third-party browser extension. There are, however, other extensions that perform the same function, and you can use any of them.
Please follow the steps below to manually add subtitles to Netflix:
- If you use Chrome, go to the Chrome Web Store; if you use another browser, visit https://substital.com/.
- Search for Substital and click the “Add to Chrome” button.
- Play the episode of Golden Kamuy that you want to watch on Netflix.
- Open the extensions by clicking on the puzzle-piece icon right next to the search bar, and launch Substital.

If everything goes as planned, Substital should recognize the title of the episode you’re watching. When you click on that title, you will be greeted with a search bar where you can search for the episode’s subtitles in any language.

You can try searching for “Golden Kamuy Ep. x,” but I usually download the subtitles I need from other websites like Subscene because I can’t find them here.
Note: When manually adding subtitles, Substital only accepts the “.srt” file format. If the file you downloaded has a different format, make sure to convert it to “.srt” format.

As you can see, we can watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix with subtitles in any language we want by using SurfShark and a browser extension.
VPNs for streaming Golden Kamuy on Netflix (3 Alternatives)
We were able to bypass geo-restriction thanks to SurfShark VPN, and we can now watch Golden Kamuy on Netflix from anywhere in the world. However, it is important to remember that platforms and ISPs are constantly experimenting with new ways to block VPN traffic. As a result, even if a VPN service is currently working flawlessly, there is no guarantee that it will remain so. Just in case, I compiled a list of VPN services that you can use if SurfShark ever stops working or if you want to know what your other options are before deciding on one.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a VPN service based in Romania. When it comes to streaming, CyberGhost is always a good option to consider, and it is very similar to SurfShark in terms of both performance and price. CyberGhost provides worldwide coverage with over 9000 servers in 91 countries. Moreover, 109 of these servers are located in Tokyo, Japan.
Another advantage of CyberGhost is that you can easily find dedicated servers for Netflix in the application’s “For Streaming” tab. My most recent speed test using CyberGhost’s Tokyo server yielded a download speed of 43 Mbps, which is sufficient for a smooth streaming experience.
Finally, CyberGhost’s pricing is reasonable. A single CyberGhost account can support up to seven simultaneous connections, and the most basic plan costs only $2.29 per month.
AtlasVPN
AtlasVPN is the newest VPN service on our list, but its server coverage has steadily expanded since its acquisition by Nord Security in 2021. AtlasVPN currently has over 750 servers spread across 42 different locations. Japan, of course, is one of these locations.
I received 34 Mbps of download speed from AtlasVPN’s Tokyo server. This performance places AtlasVPN at the bottom of our list, but it is sufficient for us. To watch Netflix in HD quality, all we need is a 25 Mbps download speed.
AtlasVPN is ideal if you want to spend as little money as possible on a VPN service. A single AtlasVPN account supports an unlimited number of simultaneous connections and costs only $2.05 per month.
ExpressVPN
If you’ve ever dealt with the VPN industry, you’ve probably heard of ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is one of the largest VPN companies, with over thirteen years of experience in the field and server coverage of thousands of servers in 94 countries. Furthermore, you can connect to ExpressVPN’s Shibuya, Yokohama, or Tokyo servers to get a Japanese IP address.
My most recent speed test with ExpressVPN’s Tokyo server resulted in a 72 Mbps download speed. With such performance, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN service on our list of alternatives.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN is not one of the most affordable services available. The basic plan of ExpressVPN costs $6.67 per month and allows for 5 simultaneous connections.
Summing up to Golden Kamuy on Netflix article
Golden Kamuy appeals to fans of themes such as wilderness survival, sharpshooting, prison escapes, and massive bears. Furthermore, I found each episode of the series to be culturally enriching. Though it is a bit of a hassle, it is possible to watch Golden Kamuy with your Netflix subscription.
Golden Kamuy is currently only available on Netflix’s Japanese catalog, and our access to Golden Kamuy on Netflix is restricted outside of Japan due to licensing agreements. However, even if you are not located in Japan, you can watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world by using a VPN service.
SurfShark, CyberGhost, AtlasVPN, and ExpressVPN are all good options for watching Golden Kamuy on Netflix Japan, as we discussed in detail in the article. It should also be noted that Netflix does not offer any other audio or subtitle options for Golden Kamuy besides Japanese. To watch the series on Netflix, we need to manually add subtitles with the help of a browser extension.

I’ve been a translator for many years. During this time, geo-restriction has always been the most problematic issue in the many countries I’ve visited. I’m here to tell you about my experience.