How to watch Netflix Japan with a VPN

Netflix Japan has one of the most unique content libraries the platform has to offer. According to Uswitch, Japan received the best Netflix catalog score of “100” in 2021, with a total IMDB score of 86,961. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Netflix Japan, especially if you like anime. Sadly, despite all the benefits, we are unable to use our local internet connection to access Netflix Japan.

Instead of paying for a second platform to watch anime, you can take advantage of Netflix Japan’s extensive anime catalog. Netflix Japan has almost every popular anime, both old and new, available to watch. Also, for those who are tired of watching the same things over and over, Japanese dramas and films can be a refreshing change. But how do we get around geo-restrictions?

Don’t be concerned. You can watch Netflix Japan even if you are not in Japan. I’ll show you how to get a Japanese IP address by using a reputable VPN service. This method will allow you to access Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world.


Analysis: Netflix Japan provides us with a wide range of content that we would not normally be able to access through our Netflix account. However, due to licensing agreements, Netflix’s Japan catalog is only available if you are physically located in Japan. When we launch Netflix, it analyzes our IP address and displays the appropriate content library. If we search for content for which Netflix does not have licensing rights in our country, it will not appear in the search results.

Solution: To access Netflix Japan, we must have a Japanese IP address. To replace our local IP address with a Japanese IP address, we will use a professional VPN service. Our internet traffic is rerouted and our IP address is hidden when we connect to a VPN server in another country. This connection encrypts our data and assigns us a new IP address based on the server’s location. In short, by connecting to a VPN server in Japanese data centers, we will be able to watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world.

A quick guide to streaming Netflix Japan through a VPN:

  1. Go to Surfshark VPN. It has servers in Tokyo, Japan.
  2. Select a plan by clicking the “Get SurfShark” button in the upper right corner.
  3. To complete the transaction, enter your email address and choose a payment method. (Surfshark will email you your login information.)
  4. Log in to your SurfShark account to download and install the VPN app for your device.
  5. Log in to the SurfShark app with the same credentials.
  6. Go to the “Locations” menu, type “Japan” into the search bar, and connect to a server that is available.

When the connection is established, your local IP address will be replaced by a Japanese IP address. With that new IP, you can watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world.

You can watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world by connecting to SurfShark's Japan servers.

If you are familiar with VPNs and have previously used one, this quick guide should be sufficient to gain access to Netflix Japan. However, I am aware that this guide may be confusing to someone who is using a VPN service for the first time. In the following sections, I will go over each step of the guide in detail for you.

Understanding Netflix geo-restriction

Let us first define geo-restriction and how it can prevent us from watching the content we want on a paid service. Except for Netflix Original productions, each piece of content available on Netflix is subject to a separate licensing agreement, and the scope of these agreements is typically limited to a specific region or country. Even if you have a Netflix subscription, if the license agreement for the content you want to watch does not cover the country you are in, you will be unable to access it. This is referred to as geo-restriction.

We will gain a better understanding of the situation if we talk through an example. Assume we want to stream the anime “Chainsaw Man” from Netflix. The show is available on Netflix in Japan and Korea, but when I look for it in my Netflix library, I get the following result:

If you know a piece of content is on Netflix but can't find it when you search for it, it's because Netflix does not have the license rights to the content in your country.

Note: If you’re curious, you can read about Chainsaw Man on Netflix here.

In short, the country we live in is at the heart of the problem. Naturally, you may be wondering if Netflix has issued a statement on the subject. To assist you, I searched the platform’s legal texts and discovered an article in the “terms of service” that summarizes the situation in a few sentences.

Article 4.3 of Netflix's Terms of Service contains an explanation of geo-restriction.
  • 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.”

Even if Netflix does not provide any solutions, we now know the source of the problem and can begin working on a solution.

Watch Netflix Japan with a VPN

We discovered that Netflix’s content library differs by country, but how does Netflix determine which country a user is in? Netflix uses the IP addresses that are automatically assigned to our devices when we connect to the internet to determine our general geographic location and display the corresponding catalog. We will use this feature to gain access to Netflix Japan.

We will obtain a Japanese IP address by using a reputable VPN service. As a result, when we open Netflix, we will be greeted with Netflix Japan’s library. VPNs are useful internet security and privacy tools. When we connect to a VPN server, we encrypt our online traffic and hide our local IP address by replacing it with one from the server’s location.

To watch Netflix Japan, we simply need to connect to a VPN server in Japan. This allows us to watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world.

Choosing the best VPN for Netflix Japan

Now that we’ve determined the problem and the solution method, the most important step is to select the tool that we’ll use. There are numerous paid and free VPN services on the market, all claiming to be the best. Unfortunately, the majority of them are unable to assist us in getting a Japanese IP address.

To get a Japanese IP address, the VPN service we select must have servers in Japan’s data centers. In addition, a simple connection will not suffice. If we quickly list the features we want in a VPN service, servers in Japan’s data centers, cutting-edge servers, and an affordable subscription fee are the most important criteria for us. Of course, we wouldn’t turn down the additional features that will come with them.

When I evaluate the market options based on these criteria, SurfShark VPN is the first option I would recommend for streaming Netflix Japan. SurfShark has all of the features we’re looking for and connecting to SurfShark’s Tokyo server provided me with a stellar performance of 94 Mbps in my speed test. With such a performance, it goes without saying that we can watch Netflix Japan in the highest possible quality.

To use this service, please follow the steps below:

  • Visit SurfShark VPN.
  • Choose a subscription plan and fill out the purchase form. (You can save up to 80% on monthly payments by choosing a longer term.)
  • Complete the payment using your preferred method.

Once your payment has been processed, your login information will be emailed to you. Please be patient as this may take a few minutes.

VPN app installation

Now we’ll sign into our SurfShark account and download the VPN app for our device.

  • Return to the SurfShark website.
  • In the upper right corner of the page, click “Log in” and enter your login information.
  • Download the VPN app that works with your device from the “Apps and Extensions” menu and install it.

To avoid future issues, make sure to grant the SurfShark VPN app all of the permissions it requires.

Connecting to the Japan VPN server

After all that work, it’s finally time to connect to SurfShark’s Japan server and get a Japanese IP address.

  • On your device, open the SurfShark app.
  • From the app’s interface, select the “Locations” menu.
  • Enter “Japan” into the search bar and connect to a server that is available.
To get a Japanese IP address, simply search for Japan in the SurfShark app and then connect to an available server.

When the connection is established, the SurfShark icon turns green, indicating that you are now virtually in Japan.

Streaming Netflix Japan

Now that we have a Japanese IP address, we are ready to watch Netflix Japan. Let’s see how Netflix reacts to our new IP address.

  • Ascertain whether you are still connected to SurfShark’s Japan server.
  • Launch the Netflix app or visit https://www.netflix.com/.
When you access Netflix with a Japanese IP address, Netflix will automatically display its Japanese catalog to you.

As you can see, we can now choose content from the Netflix Japan catalog and stream it in high quality from anywhere in the world.

Note: If Netflix Japan does not provide original English audio or subtitles for the content you want to watch, you can use a third-party browser extension to add subtitles yourself. This article contains a thorough explanation of the subject.

VPNs for Netflix Japan (3 Alternatives)

I demonstrated how to connect to SurfShark’s Japan server and watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world. However, you should be aware that even a perfectly functioning VPN may be blocked at some point. Why? It’s no secret that Netflix and local internet providers are unwelcoming to VPN traffic.

I’ve compiled a list of alternative VPNs with servers in Japan so that you’re not caught off guard if this happens, and that you’re aware of other options. I verified that all three VPN services on the list provide the necessary performance for an uninterrupted streaming experience.

It is up to you to compare the speed values of these VPN services, as well as the additional features and subscription fees, and select the VPN that best meets your needs.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a good option if you’re looking for a VPN service for streaming. CyberGhost, based in Romania, provides worldwide coverage with nearly 10,000 servers in 91 countries. Naturally, Japan, the subject of our article, is among these countries, and CyberGhost has 109 servers in Tokyo.

CyberGhost’s dedicated servers, which are grouped by platform and located in the “For Streaming” tab of the application, distinguish it from other VPN services. This feature makes getting a Japanese IP address very simple. As for numbers, my latest test with CyberGhost’s Tokyo servers yielded a download speed of 43 Mbps. This may appear to be inferior to SurfShark’s performance, but keep in mind that all we need to watch Netflix in HD quality is a connection speed of 25 Mbps.

Finally, CyberGhost’s subscription plans are quite appealing. CyberGhost offers all of its features for only $2.29 per month. You can use your CyberGhost account on up to seven devices simultaneously if you subscribe to the service, which offers a 45-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.

ExpressVPN

You can’t go wrong with ExpressVPN if you don’t like to take chances. ExpressVPN is one of the market’s leading brands, with over thirteen years of experience. With thousands of cutting-edge servers in 94 countries, the company has worldwide coverage. Furthermore, ExpressVPN claims that over 70% of their global bandwidth already runs on faster 10 Gbps servers.

ExpressVPN has chosen a different strategy than its competitors in terms of server locations, locating its Japan servers in Tokyo, Shibuya, and Yokohama. I connected to ExpressVPN’s Tokyo server for my most recent speed test and received a download speed of 72 Mbps. Based on this performance, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN service among our alternatives.

Finally, let us discuss the subscription fee. Unfortunately, with a monthly fee of $6.67, ExpressVPN retains the title of the most expensive option on our list. Besides that, ExpressVPN supports 5 simultaneous connections with a single subscription and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

AtlasVPN

AtlasVPN is the newest VPN provider on our list, having been founded in 2019. After being acquired by NordSecurity in 2021, the company experienced rapid growth, which was reflected in the number of its servers. AtlasVPN currently operates over 750 servers in 45 different locations.

There are some benefits to using a newer service. AtlasVPN’s servers are less crowded than those of its competitors, resulting in more bandwidth and, of course, a smooth connection for us. In my most recent test, the download speed from AtlasVPN’s Japan server was 34 Mbps. This performance is more than adequate for watching Netflix Japan in the highest available quality.

Finally, we arrive at the point where AtlasVPN truly shines. To gain market share, AtlasVPN keeps its prices as low as possible. AtlasVPN is also more generous in terms of extra features. A single AtlasVPN account supports an unlimited number of simultaneous connections and costs only $2.05 per month.

Summing up the “Watch Netflix Japan with a VPN” article

With its exclusive content, Netflix Japan remains the center of attention. Accessing Netflix Japan is like subscribing to a new anime platform, especially for anime fans.

Due to licensing agreements, we are unable to watch Netflix Japan using our local internet connection. However, this does not mean we are helpless. We can watch Netflix Japan with the help of a reliable VPN service, as we discussed in the article.

Simply select one of the VPN services mentioned in the article and connect to the service’s Japan server with a few clicks. You can watch Netflix Japan from anywhere in the world this way.

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