The Best Japan VPN: Free Options Included in 2025
Looking for a way to stay safe online in Japan and access geo-restricted content? These five VPNs will keep your connection secure and enable you to bypass geoblocks. Read on to find out which service is the best VPN for Japan.
Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)
Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)
Last Updated:
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Key Takeaways: The Best Japan VPN Services
- NordVPN — Top-tier VPN with uncompromising performance. NordVPN is available at a 72% discount and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark — Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited connections. You can sign up for Surfshark with a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount and use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind.
- ExpressVPN — Intuitive protection for VPN newcomers. ExpressVPN’s biennial plan offers 25% off on the first two years with four months free.
- CyberGhost — Affordable VPN with excellent security
- PrivadoVPN — Best free VPN for Japan
Facts & Expert Analysis: The Best VPN for Japan Explained
- Although Japan is mostly free from censorship and surveillance, it’s still important to protect your data with a VPN. It’ll encrypt your browsing data, hide torrenting activity and allow you to bypass geo-restrictions.
- Japan’s copyright laws are incredibly strict, with penalties for torrenting reaching two years in jail and up to two million yen in fines.
- Japan is also a close ally of Five Eyes nations (chiefly the United States) and is reported to be increasing its surveillance cooperation with them.
Instances of cyberattacks in Japan have been increasing, raising security concerns for Japanese internet users. While Japan isn’t a country where internet censorship and surveillance cause any grief to the citizens, having the best Japan VPN is still critical for solid security.
In addition to protecting your data, a VPN can even give you access to geoblocked content like Netflix’s U.S. library. Whether you live in Japan and regularly use public networks or are just on a vacation, a virtual private network (VPN) is a must-have.
Since each VPN server is assigned multiple IP addresses, it helps you stay off the blocklists. However, the internet is crowded with VPNs, which means choosing a good VPN is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
To make things easier for you, we tested some major VPNs and chose five that work the best, including NordVPN, our top recommendation. These VPNs all find their way on our list of the best VPN services, so check that out as well if you’re interested.
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11/02/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s expansion of server presence from 94 to 105 countries.
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07/18/2024 Facts checked
We updated the article with new information on Gate VPN — a free academic Japanese VPN.
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10/01/2024
We updated these rankings to reflect current VPN performance, features and pricing.
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01/26/2025 Facts checked
We updated the free VPN provider and the best free VPN section.
Best VPN for Japan Comparison
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Average speedDownload Speed87 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 2
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Average speedDownload Speed93 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 3
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Average speedDownload Speed91 MbpsUpload Speed9 MbpsLatency4 ms - 4
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What Makes the Best VPN for Japan?
The best VPN for Japan should use secure VPN protocols, offer strong encryption and have a no-logging policy to make sure that the VPN doesn’t collect any information transmitted through the network. You should also look for a kill switch, so your IP address remains protected even if the connection is unexpectedly interrupted.
In addition to security, you should look for a VPN that has an extensive server network. A VPN assigns you a different IP address, effectively masking the IP address provided by your internet service provider. So, a VPN with Japanese servers can assign you a Japanese IP address. Some VPNs offer a dedicated IP address, which can help you stay off the blocklist and bypass streaming restrictions.
You can also use a VPN to bypass geoblocks and access geo-blocked content. If you look forward to streaming your favorite shows on Netflix U.S. while in Japan, make sure you choose a VPN that offers fast connection speeds for buffer-free streaming.
For those who will use the VPN on multiple devices, it’s important to check which operating systems are compatible with the VPN. Most major VPNs have an app for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux.
Japan has strict copyright laws, and violating them could put you behind bars. If you plan on torrenting, it’s best to use a VPN that has a no-logs policy to hide your online activities. Plus, a VPN that has P2P-friendly servers, good connection speeds and unlimited bandwidth offers the best torrenting experience.
The 5 Best VPNs for Japan
We tested some major VPN services to see which ones fit the bill, and five VPNs made it to our list. These VPNs have all or most of the features we discussed above. We’ll go through each VPN’s features, so you can decide which one will suit you best, starting with our number one pick, NordVPN.
1. NordVPN — Best Japan VPN
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
NordVPN offers VPNs best-in-class VPN protocols, AES 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, split tunneling and a kill switch. NordVPN also goes a step further with double-hop encryption. This means your requests are routed through two server locations, providing an additional layer of security.
However, NordVPN can sometimes deliver slower speeds on servers located at a distance. Still, its server spread is among the best in the market with 5,000-plus servers in 59 countries, including over 80 servers in Japan.
Great for Streaming & Torrenting Protection
NordVPN gives you access to every popular streaming service, including Netflix U.S. and BBC iPlayer. You could also watch Kenji’s Room on J Sports even if you’re not in Japan. If you plan on using NordVPN for torrenting, you’d be glad to know that it’s on our or list of the best VPNs for torrenting.
NordVPN also offers great online privacy. In addition to a strict no-logging policy, it has the Onion over VPN feature, which is available with NordVPN’s two-year plan, its best value option.
NordVPN is still priced very affordably and it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind after you’ve made the purchase. Head over to our NordVPN review to learn more about the Onion over VPN and other NordVPN features.
- **VAT may apply
- Unlimited GB
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- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- *The prices are shown only apply for the first 12 months.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **The prices are applicable only for the first 24 months. Secure, high-speed VPN Threat Protection Pro™: Anti-malware and advanced browsing protection Threat Protection Pro™: Ad and tracker blocker Password manager with Data Breach Scanner 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage Identity and SSN monitoring and alerts Credit monitoring services Up to $1M in identity theft insurance Up to $100K in cyber extortion insurance
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2. Surfshark — Best Budget VPN for Japan
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
Next up is Surfshark. It has 3,200-plus servers across 65 countries, including Japan. Surfshark manages to deliver a smooth streaming and torrenting experience. You can connect to a UK server from Japan and access BBC iPlayer or connect to a Japanese server to watch The Seven Deadly Sins on Netflix Japan.
Surfshark offers great value for money if your focus is online privacy and security. It has almost all the security features that NordVPN offers, such as split tunneling and AES 256-bit encryption, plus some more at a relatively lower price point.
Camouflage Mode
The VPN has “camouflage mode” that keeps ISPs from knowing you’re using a VPN, “noborders mode” that allows access to countries where VPNs are blocked, and the CleanWeb feature that blocks annoying ads. All this at a considerably smaller price tag, provided you opt for the two-year plan.
Read more about these features in our Surfshark review or try the VPN out yourself. There is no free trial, but there is a 30-day money-back guarantee you can fall back on in case you don’t want to continue with the service.
- Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices, Secure VPN, Ad blocker, Cookie pop-up blocker. Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
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- Everything in Starter, plus Antivirus protection, Identity protection, Email Breach and Credit Card Alerts, Online Alias Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Everything in One, plus Data removal Pricing for the annual and biennial plans only apply for the first payment. Renewal fees vary.
- Unlimited GB
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3. ExpressVPN — Best User-Friendly VPN for Japan
Very Fast
Very Fast
Very Fast
ExpressVPN is a fantastic Japanese VPN because it offers an all-around service and excellent online security. It uses AES 256-bit encryption, best-in-class VPN protocols, DNS leak protection and a kill switch to keep you secure if your connection is interrupted.
It also has a no-logging policy, which means no one, including ExpressVPN’s employees or the government, can see your browsing history. What’s more, ExpressVPN comes with a split tunneling option that lets you route traffic from select devices or apps through the VPN and allows direct internet access to other devices and apps.
Multiple Japanese Servers
With around 3,000 servers spread across 166 server locations in 105 countries around the world, including two in Japan, ExpressVPN’s server network is quite extensive. Plus, ExpressVPN’s speeds are about as fast as they come and it ranks as one of the fastest VPNs.
Having a large number of servers means you don’t need to wait for Violet Evergarden to become available globally. You can use the VPN to access the Netflix Japan library and view all the latest anime whenever you want. It also lets you access other popular streaming services, including BBC iPlayer, making it one of our best VPNs for streaming.
ExpressVPN offers a strong feature portfolio and comes with a premium price tag. However, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you happen to change your mind after making the purchase. To learn more, read our comprehensive ExpressVPN review.
- Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
- Unlimited GB
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4. CyberGhost — Very Secure Japan VPN
Good
Good
Very Fast
Our next VPN provider, CyberGhost, is a pocket-friendly option for the privacy and security conscious. It has a massive network of servers (including over 50 in Japan), which gives you ample options to bypass geoblocks of pretty much any region.
Speeds are good for the most part, too, except when connected to a distant server, though it should still be enough for most activities like HD streaming or torrenting.
It has a no-logging policy and 256-bit AES encryption. However, if you want to make things airtight, you can use CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers located in Romania, which is not a member of either the Five Eyes or 14 Eyes alliance. The NoSpy servers cost extra, though. CyberGhost also has a permanently enabled kill switch, and there is no option to turn it off.
Accessing Streaming Services
CyberGhost claims it unblocks most streaming services, but we could access only Netflix U.S. Most streaming services — including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and BBC iPlayer — aren’t accessible with CyberGhost. On a positive note, it has no limits on data, so the next time you want to binge-watch Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, you don’t need to worry about running out of data.
The oddly timed two-year plan, of course, provides the best value. On a monthly basis, the plan proves to be more pocket-friendly than both NordVPN and Surfshark. Plus, you can use the generous 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans to try CyberGhost and or read our CyberGhost review to see if it fits your needs.
- *The 2-year plan includes 4-months free which breaks down the 56.94 t0 $2.03 per month. *The price under the 2-year plan is billed yearly after the first two years.
- Unlimited GB
- 7
- Yes
5. PrivadoVPN — The Best Japan VPN for Free
PrivadoVPN offers great service without charging a dime, and it’s no surprise that it claims the top spot on our best free VPNs list. PrivadoVPN’s free plan offers access to servers in 10 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Netherlands, Canada and Germany.
PrivadoVPN offers 10GB of data, which might be just enough for casual browsers. Streamers won’t find that data limit too amusing. PrivadoVPN can unblock many streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer.
Excellent Security Features
PrivadoVPN is a secure free VPN to use for Japan. It encrypts traffic using military-grade AES-256 encryption. You can choose between three secure protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2. PrivadoVPN also has a kill switch which is effective at preventing data leaks.
If you’re looking for a free Japan VPN that offers strong encryption while you browse the web, PrivadoVPN is a solid choice. The paid plans come with a lot more features, though. So, if you want to use a VPN for streaming and torrenting, you should consider investing in one of the paid plans. You can read about the paid plans and features in our PrivadoVPN review.
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Free Japan VPN Options
Many free VPNs, especially ones that lack credibility, can expose you to several risks. They can compromise your privacy and flood your screen with ads. Many often offer slow connection speeds, fail to unblock geo blocked content and even allow the government to collect your data. In worst cases, you’ll end up with a trojan or spyware on your system.
You can avoid these issues if you stick to a verified VPN service, like the ones we include in our best free VPN list.
However, even the best free VPNs come with several limitations. For example, free VPNs Hotspot Shield and TunnelBear come with a 500MB per month data cap, and the former has major issues with privacy. Some also limit your free server locations.
However, PrivadoVPN is an exception if you’re looking for a free Japanese VPN. It offers servers in ten countries and top-notch encryption. If you want a free VPN with a Japanese IP, consider Proton VPN or TunnelBear. Note that with Proton VPN you might need to switch servers multiple times to access the Japanese server.
A Word on VPN Gate: Free Japanese VPN
VPN Gate is a free, academic experimental project run by the University of Tsukuba in Japan. It offers a unique approach to virtual private networks by utilizing a volunteer-based system where users can share their internet connections as VPN servers, similar to how the Tor network works. This peer-to-peer structure allows for a wide variety of server locations and helps bypass censorship in countries with restricted internet access.
However, while VPN Gate provides an interesting alternative to commercial VPN services, it comes with some serious limitations. Connection speeds can be inconsistent — and even downright unusable — due to its reliance on volunteer-operated servers, and you have to rely on the good faith of the volunteers to not scan your data. For these reasons, we can’t recommend using it, despite its seeming trustworthiness as an academic project.
Why Do I Need a Japan VPN?
Japan takes copyright violation very seriously, which means you need to be careful when torrenting. If you’re caught torrenting copyrighted material, you may be sentenced up to two years in jail and fined up to 2 million yen. So, it’s best to keep your torrenting activity untraceable with a good VPN.
Several other reasons warrant a VPN while using the internet in Japan. For instance, you may want to stream content from Netflix U.S. or BBC iPlayer or block those pesky personalized ads. Plus, if you frequently use public networks, your sensitive data may be vulnerable to theft. A VPN with strong encryption can keep hackers from extracting any valuable information.
Internet Censorship & Government Surveillance in Japan
Japan has one of the most consumer-friendly data retention laws — only a handful of sites are currently censored. However, if the government chooses to block more sites in the future, you’ll need a VPN to get around these blocks.
While Japan isn’t a member of the Five Eyes alliance, Japan does cooperate with its members. This cooperation is expected to strengthen in the future, which means you’ll need a way to protect your privacy from the government. A VPN with a no-logs policy and strong encryption will render your browsing data unusable, even if the government manages to get it.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully we’ve managed to outline each of the five VPN’s strengths and weaknesses well enough for you to make a decision. Ideally, you should choose a VPN that has secure VPN protocols, a no-logging policy and a good server spread. This will help you maintain data integrity and give you the option to bypass geo-restrictions imposed by several countries.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you have multiple features coming from multiple VPN providers, especially if you’re new to VPNs. We recommend NordVPN, a tried-and-tested VPN that offers the best combination of features. Trying NordVPN for a month is completely risk-free, as you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you end up not liking it.
Do you have experience using a VPN in Japan, either as a resident or a tourist? Which VPN did you use? Did you face any issues or found a really useful feature? Let us know about it in the comments section. As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: The Best Japanese VPN
Yes, it’s legal to use a VPN in Japan. Japan is mostly free from internet censorship, so people generally use VPNs for other purposes, such as increasing security, torrenting and accessing geoblocked websites.
Most major VPNs work in Japan, but some are better than others. NordVPN is the best choice for users looking for a Japan VPN.
ProtonVPN offers access to a Japan server for free. It also offers strong encryption and unlimited data at no cost.