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How to Get a Japanese IP Address in 2024: Stream Japanese Content With a VPN

Love watching Japanese channels like TV Tokyo or NHK online from outside Japan, but don’t know how to get a Japanese IP address? We’ve got your back. In this guide, we tell you how to get a Japanese IP address and the best VPNs for it.

Arjun RupareliaSandra Pattison

Written by Arjun Ruparelia (Writer)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-02-09T12:01:00+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways:

  • If you want unrestricted access to Japanese content and websites, you need a VPN with server locations in Japan.
  • The best VPN for a Japanese IP address is ExpressVPN, but NordVPN is a more affordable alternative. 
  • There are free VPNs out there, but they’re usually unreliable and put your security and online privacy at risk.
  • Japan’s military has monitored its citizens’ online activities in the past. So when you use a VPN, make sure you use one with top-notch security and a no-logs policy. 

The easiest way to get a Japanese IP address is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN helps bypass geoblocks and access foreign content libraries on websites like Netflix. For instance, you can use a VPN — we recommend ExpressVPN — to access the Japanese library on Netflix. You’ll also need a Japanese IP address if you want to access Japanese TV channels geoblocked outside Japan. 

Japanese IP addresses can be assigned to you by a VPN server that’s located in Japan. When you connect to a Japanese VPN server, the VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through one of the Japanese VPN servers. The traffic is then routed to your ISP, which means the websites you access will only see the IP address assigned to you by the Japanese server you’re connected to using the VPN.

  • 11/22/2021 Facts checked

     Cloudwards updated the article to reflect changes in the VPN services.

Quick Guide: How to Get a Japanese IP Address With a VPN

VPNs are fairly simple to use. If you don’t have any experience with VPNs, we’ll walk you through three simple steps that will help you get set up with a VPN and get a Japan IP.

  1. Download and Install a VPN

    Find and sign up for a VPN with servers in Japan — we recommend ExpressVPN. Go to the VPN service provider’s website to download and install the VPN app for your device.

    download-expressvpn
  2. Connect to a Server in Japan

    Launch the VPN, search the list of servers and connect to a server in Japan.

    Best Netflix VPN-expressvpn-japan
  3. Access Geo-Restricted Content

    You should now be able to access content that is geo-restricted outside of Japan, like Netflix Japan.

What Are the Best VPNs With Japanese Servers?

To access geoblocked Japanese content, you either need to be in Japan or use a Japanese IP address. Getting a Japanese IP is easy with a VPN, but not all VPNs have a server in Japan. To save you the trouble of having to read about all VPNs that have Japanese servers, we’ve listed the best ones for you below.

  1. ExpressVPN — Blazing-fast connection speeds
  2. NordVPN — Large server network and top-notch security
  3. Surfshark — A pocket-friendly, easy-to-use VPN

You should look at more than just a VPN’s ability to unblock Japanese services, though. We’ll go into more detail below, but strong security and privacy is a must for staying safe. Fast speeds and the capability to unlock streaming services are beneficial too.

Security & Privacy

When you’re online, you’ll need to keep your internet traffic secure, especially if you’re transmitting sensitive information while banking online. A VPN with a no-logs policy and security features like DNS leak protection and AES-256 encryption combined with secure protocols (like OpenVPN, IKEv2 or WireGuard) and a kill switch.

Speed

VPNs route your traffic through an intermediary server, which takes longer to travel, resulting in reduced speeds. However, using a good VPN minimizes this speed reduction. In fact, you might notice an improvement if your ISP was throttling your bandwidth. ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN around, but using the Nordlynx protocol on NordVPN gives similar speeds too.

Streaming Services

ExpressVPN claims the top spot as our best VPN for streaming because it unblocks all major streaming platforms and offers lightning-fast connection speeds. Poor speeds translate to a poor streaming experience with a lot of buffering. NordVPN offers great speeds too. Surfshark is capable of delivering good speeds, though you may need to switch between a few servers.

The 3 Best VPNs for Getting a Japanese IP Address

You now know how to get a Japanese IP address. A VPN is a helpful tool, but choosing the right one for your purpose ensures a smooth experience. Let’s look at our top three picks.

1. ExpressVPN

expressvpn japan server
ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN with servers in Japan.

More details about ExpressVPN:

  • Pricing: $8.32 per month on the yearly plan and the first three months free
  • Website: www.expressvpn.com

Pros:

  • Fast connection speeds
  • Combines speed & security with Lightway protocol
  • Great for streaming

Cons:

  • Expensive

ExpressVPN is easily the best VPN for Japan. Sure, it has Japanese VPN servers, but it has a lot more going for it. ExpressVPN offers an unrivaled combination of speed, security and privacy with features like in-app split tunneling, strong encryption (AES-256) and a strict no-logs policy. 

However, it’s expensive. If you don’t mind paying a premium for a top-of-the-line VPN, you can try ExpressVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want to learn more before making a decision, read our ExpressVPN review that walks you through everything you need to know.

2. NordVPN

nordvpn japan server
NordVPN has a large network of servers and offers top-notch security.

More details about NordVPN:

Pros:

  • Large network of servers
  • Top-notch security
  • Dedicated IP address

Cons:

  • No on-call support

NordVPN has one of the largest server networks of any VPN, with over 5,000 servers, more than 80 of which are in Japan. A lot of the NordVPN features are similar to that of ExpressVPN. However, NordVPN also offers a dedicated IP address on some servers, unlike VPN.

NordVPN stands out in terms of security with features like double VPN and Onion over VPN servers. They offer a greater level of security when you’re using a Japanese IP. If you’re curious about a ton of the other features NordVPN offers, check out our NordVPN review.  Just like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. Surfshark

surfshark japan server
Surfshark is a pocket-friendly VPN that allows unlimited simultaneous connections.

More details about NordVPN:

Pros:

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Pocket friendly lond-term plans
  • Split tunneling

Cons:

  • Lack of a user forum

Surfshark’ is’s long-term plans are more wallet-friendly than both ExpressVPN and NordVPN but still offers security features similar to them. It uses AES-256 encryption combined with protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and the recently-added WireGuard. It also allows in-app split tunneling on Windows and Android devices or through its browser extension.

Surfshark’s standout feature is that it allows unlimited simultaneous connections, compared to five for ExpressVPN and six for NordVPN. If Surfshark piques your interest, take a look at our Surfshark review, or go ahead and try it out using the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Can I Use a Free VPN to Get a Japan IP Address?

While free VPNs do exist, using them comes with a set of risks. Most free VPNs aren’t very reliable when it comes to online security or protecting your personal data. However, there are a few reliable free Japan VPNs like Windscribe, Tunnelbear, and ProtonVPN. Of these, only TunnelBear and ProtonVPN have servers in Japan.

What Are the Dangers of Using VPNs for a Japanese IP Address?

Japan’s internet is fairly free, and unlike China, it doesn’t have any bans on social media or VPNs. Censorship laws in Japan are limited in scope to copyrighted material and obscene content, like child pornography. However, the military has illegally monitored citizens in the past, and there’s no reason it can’t happen again.

When you use Japanese IPs, you’re vulnerable to the same monitoring as someone located in Japan. But using one of the VPNs mentioned in this guide will ensure privacy. You should also use a VPN if you plan on going to Japan. In that case, be sure to equip yourself with one of our best VPNs for Japan to keep your online activity private.

Final Thoughts

You need a VPN to get a Japanese IP, but you should consider which one best fits the bill for your intended purpose since you have a few options. We recommend ExpressVPN, but NordVPN and Surfshark are good (and relatively low-cost) bets as well. All VPNs that we’ve suggested offer airtight security, so your data will remain secure and online activity private regardless of which one you choose.

For similar articles, read our guides on how to get a South Korean IP address or how to get a Bangladesh IP address.

Have you used a VPN to get a Japanese IP? Which one did you use? Did you experience reduced speeds? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

FAQ

  • ProtonVPN and TunnelBear are free VPNs that have a Japan server. There are more free VPNs out there, but they’re not reliable and can put your security at risk.

  • You can watch Netflix Japan with a VPN. Download a VPN like ExpressVPN, install it, and connect to a Japanese server — that should unblock Netflix Japan for you.

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