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How to Watch Japanese TV in the US & Abroad With a VPN in 2025: Stream Japanese TV Channels

You don’t need to miss out on content from your favorite Japanese TV channels while traveling. Read on to find out how to watch Japanese TV in the U.S. and abroad with the use of a VPN.

Kit CopsonSandra PattisonEugenie Tiu

Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)

Reviewed by Sandra Pattison (Writer, Editor)

Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)

Last Updated: 2025-02-12T14:04:06+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing.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

How to Watch Japanese TV in the US and Abroad

Key Takeaways: Watch Japanese TV Online

  1. Create a NordVPN account with a 72% discount on the first two years.
  2. Download and Install the VPN client.
  3. Connect to a Japanese Server and start Streaming Japanese TV.

Best VPNs for Watching Japanese TV:

  1. NordVPN — Secure, swift and packed with advanced features. New NordVPN subscribers get up to 72% reduced rates on long-term commitments.
  2. Surfshark — Unlimited devices, unbeatable price. Explore Surfshark’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 66% (plus 3 months free) discount.
  3. ExpressVPN — Premium VPN protection made simple. Get 25% off the first two years with ExpressVPN, covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Facts & Expert Analysis:

  • You can watch Japanese content for free on various sites including TVer, TV Tokyo and Nittere Free (Nippon TV). Alternatively, you can use a streaming service like Hulu Japan, Netflix, TELASA or Amazon Prime Video.
  • If you’re outside Japan, you can use a VPN to change your IP address to a Japanese one and start streaming online content from Japan.
  • NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN are the best VPN services for watching Japanese TV from overseas. 
Best VPN for Watching Japanese TV

When you travel overseas, finding online content to stream from your home country can seem challenging. Don’t despair — with a bit of know-how, you can stream Japanese TV content from anywhere. In this guide, we’ll explain how to watch Japanese TV in the U.S. and abroad with a VPN.

If you’re spending some time abroad, you might find that several of the sites you use to watch Japanese TV online are blocked in the country you’ve traveled to. This happens because streaming sites and services enforce regional restrictions — also known as geoblocks — to ensure that only those in Japan can access them.

Japanese streaming platforms offer unique content libraries that differ significantly from their international counterparts. With exclusive shows and movies that aren’t available anywhere else, a VPN is essential for accessing this content from abroad.

By connecting to a reputable VPN like our number one recommendation, NordVPN, you can get a Japanese IP address and watch Japanese TV channels online from wherever you are. This guide includes a tutorial on how to do this, so stay tuned for more.

  • 10/01/2024

    We recalibrated the VPN positions after thorough reassessment of each service.

  • 02/12/2025 Facts checked

    We updated the article to provide extra details on our recommended providers and the importance of using a VPN for streaming in Japan.

How to Watch Japanese TV in the US: Where Can I Find Japanese Content Online?

There are plenty of places to find Japanese content online, including Hulu, TELASA and Crunchyroll. You’re sure to be spoiled for choice in terms of the streaming services you can use to find Japanese content.

TELASA is a Japanese streaming service with on-demand TV content, and it has a two-week free trial. In addition, TVer is one of Japan’s largest free streaming platforms, offering content from major networks like TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV.

Just bear in mind that some Japanese streaming services may have payment restrictions, which means it’s possible that you’ll need a Japanese payment method to sign up. You may also need to enter a Japanese address and postcode, which you can find online for major cities like Tokyo or Osaka.

Fans of anime can sign up for Crunchyroll, which is widely available and offers a free trial. If you have an account with streaming giant Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, you can access the Japanese libraries on these services with a VPN — we’ll show you how to do that further down.

How Can I Get Japanese TV for Free?

You can watch Japanese TV for free by accessing a TV channel’s website. These often host live or on-demand TV content, and some official sites will direct you to another website to watch content. If you’re outside Japan, you can connect to a Japanese server on a VPN to gain access.

We’ve tested out some of the most popular Japanese TV sites and compiled all the information into the below table. Please note that free websites are typically ad-based. 

ChannelContentVPN RequiredEnglish SubtitlesNotes
Nittere FreeOn-demand TVAlso known as “Nippon TV”
TVerTV Asahi
TV Tokyo
Fuji TV
Nittere Free
TBS
Japanese postcode required
TV TokyoVariety TVSome content available via TVer
TBSVariety TVN/A
Abema TVLive TVN/A
NHK World-JapanTV shows
Japanese TV
News
Documentaries
*Content in various languages
TV Japan LiveVarious local channels*N/A
*Some content is in English

If you’re looking specifically for anime series, refer to our guide on where to watch Anime for free. We have compiled a list of platforms that can be your potential options for watching your favorite anime shows without needing to pay.

How Does a VPN Help You Unblock Japanese Content Online?

A VPN helps you unblock Japanese content online by sending your data through an encrypted tunnel to make you anonymous and changes your IP address to one in the country you connected to, thereby giving you access to online content in that country. Therefore, if you want to access geoblocked Japanese content, you’ll need to connect to a Japanese virtual private network (VPN) server.

TV websites are often geoblocked, which means you can only access them in countries that have the distribution rights for the content. For example, you need a VPN to access streaming site TVer from outside Japan because it’s only available in Japan; the same goes for many of the websites listed above.

Another factor to take note of is that major streaming platforms like Netflix have different libraries, and these are country-specific. For example, if you’re in the U.S., you will have access to the U.S. Netflix library when you log in. The U.S. library may host some of the same content that you can get on Netflix Japan, but some content will be unavailable or different.

How to Watch Japanese Shows & Movies on Netflix

Changing your Netflix library is very simple — all you need to do is connect to a VPN server in the country with the library you want to access to, in this case, a Japanese server. Then, you can log in to your Netflix account as normal to stream Japanese TV shows and movies. Bear in mind that the subtitle and audio options may vary.

The great thing about this is that you don’t need to limit yourself to just one Netflix library — VPNs have servers in a wide variety of countries, so you can explore the multitude of international content on offer simply by connecting to different servers.

How to Watch Japanese Channels Online With a VPN

You can start streaming Japanese TV content with a VPN on any site or streaming platform you want but, for the purpose of this tutorial, we’ll be using TVer — which hosts content from various channels — as an example. We’ll also use our top streaming VPN recommendation, NordVPN.

  1. Get a VPN

    First, head over to NordVPN’s website and choose a plan. You can get up to a 72% discount, risk-free because it’s covered by the 30-day money-back guarantee.

    NordVPN's homepage
  2. Download and Install the VPN

    When you’ve signed up, follow the prompts to download and install the VPN. If you can’t see any prompts, look for a “download” tab on the website.

    nordvpn step 2
  3. Connect to a Japanese Server

    Open the VPN’s app and select a Japanese server. Hit the country button.

    nordvpn-japanese-server
  4. Open TVer

    Open TVer or the site you want to access and start streaming Japanese TV content.

    tver play

The 3 Best VPNs for Watching Japanese TV

To make sure you can start watching Japanese TV from overseas without a hitch, you’ll need a secure and reputable VPN with Japanese servers. Here are our top recommendations if you’re feeling a bit stuck.

1. NordVPN — Best VPN for Watching Japanese TV

nordvpn open japan
NordVPN is secure and consistent service that comes at a fair price.
Best VPN for Watching Japanese TV

Pros:

  • Affordable long-term plans
  • Intuitive desktop app 
  • Impressive speeds

Cons:

  • Fiddly mobile app 

Stream like a local anywhere — get NordVPN’s off deal with a 30-day refund policy.

Download
90 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/18/25 to 02/15/25
Data for region:

NordVPN is our first recommendation because it’s got fantastic speeds (check out our best fast VPN post for more on this) and a nifty desktop interface with an easy-to-navigate world map design. It also offers a smart DNS feature that lets you unblock Japanese content on devices that don’t support VPN apps directly, such as smart TVs and gaming consoles.

For users in regions with strict VPN restrictions, NordVPN’s new NordWhisper protocol helps bypass VPN blocking without revealing VPN traffic signatures, making it easier to access Japanese content from anywhere. It also clearly marks its virtual server locations, so you can make informed decisions about connecting to its physical and virtual Japanese servers.

NordVPN’s mobile app interface can be awkward to navigate, though. However, its advanced features, such as ad and malware blocking, more than make up for it. It even has double VPN connections to provide extra security when streaming, routing your traffic through two different servers for enhanced privacy.

It’s our choice for the best VPN service, so consider giving it a go with its 30-day money-back guarantee. Our NordVPN review has more extensive information if you want to dig deeper into our top recommendation. 

2. Surfshark — Best Cheap VPN for Watching Japanese TV

surfshark japan server
Surfshark has a cheap two-year plan and offers unlimited simultaneous connections. 

Pros:

  • Cheap long-term plans 
  • Diverse Japanese servers
  • Unlimited device connections

Cons:

  • High latency in the U.S.

Never miss a show again — try Surfshark risk-free for 30 days and save 66% (plus 3 months free).

Download
94 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
9 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
3 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/18/25 to 02/15/25
Data for region:

Surfshark is a highly capable and highly affordable VPN. It offers an ad blocker, high speeds and can unblock most streaming sites without a hitch. It even comes with unlimited simultaneous connections so you can share your account with friends and family. The only thing that keeps it from reaching NordVPN’s level is that it offers some of its advanced features at a higher pricing tier.

Still, if a budget VPN is what you need, you can’t get any better than Surfshark. Costing just $2.19 per month on a two-year commitment, it sets you back less than a cup of coffee monthly. Plus, it has a 30-day refund guarantee in case you get cold feet. Read our full Surfshark review for more details.

Surfshark Starter
  • 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
  • Unlimited
  • Yes

3. ExpressVPN — Best Beginner-Friendly VPN for Watching Japanese TV

expressvpn japan server
ExpressVPN offers a diverse selection of Japanese servers and a smooth user experience.

Pros:

  • Unblocks Japanese sites 
  • Easy user experience
  • Excellent security 

Cons:

  • Expensive

Unlock streaming services worldwide — subscribe to ExpressVPN with a 25% discount now.

Download
84 Mbps
Very Fast
Upload
8 Mbps
Very Fast
Latency
4 ms
Very Fast
Source: Cloudwards VPN Speed Test. We test daily. Data from 01/18/25 to 02/15/25
Data for region:

ExpressVPN is one of our favorites here at Cloudwards, and it’s easy to see why. It’s fast enough that you don’t notice it running, it can unblock almost any website, blocks ads, and it even has its own password manager. Plus, it’s one of the easiest VPNs to use, thanks to its one-button design.

ExpressVPN utilizes RAM-only servers that automatically wipe all data when they’re powered off, ensuring your streaming activity remains completely private. As an added bonus, ExpressVPN has recently implemented quantum-resistant encryption to future-proof your streaming security.

However, this premium VPN experience comes at a premium price. At $6.66 per month, it is one of the most expensive VPNs we’ve reviewed, but it’s still one of our top recommendations. Its quality is matched by few, as you can see for yourself by trying it out using its monthlong refund window. Our full ExpressVPN review tells all about the service.

ExpressVPN Plans
  • Pricing for the annual and biennial plans applies only on the first year.
  • Unlimited GB
  • 8
  • Yes

Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch Japanese TV Online?

You can use free VPNs to watch Japanese TV online, but some free VPNs aren’t private or secure. An academic project by the University of Tsukuba called VPN Gate also offers free Japanese servers, but we don’t recommend it for streaming as its volunteer-based network can be unreliable and poses potential privacy risks.

Japan’s strict copyright laws can result in significant penalties for unauthorized streaming, with fines of up to two million yen and potential jail time, so it’s crucial to use a secure VPN service when accessing Japanese content online.

For streaming Japanese TV and using services like Netflix Japan, we recommend Proton VPN, a secure free service with Japanese servers. Proton VPN gives you unlimited access to its free servers, but your options are limited to Japan, the Netherlands and the U.S.

If you’d like to explore more streaming sites from around the world, you may be better off going with one of its paid plans or one of the providers mentioned above. Check out our Proton VPN review to learn more.

Final Thoughts

There’s no need to let geoblocking stop you from enjoying TV Japan-style. You can easily watch Japanese TV shows and use Japanese streaming services from anywhere with a reliable VPN that has Japanese servers, such as NordVPN. If NordVPN seems interesting to you, you can check it out risk-free and claim a refund within 30 days if you’re not satisfied.

Have you chosen a VPN to access Japanese TV sites? If so, which one and how has your experience been? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading. 

FAQ: Stream Japanese TV From Anywhere

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