How to Watch Japanese Netflix in 2024?

Japanese Netflix and Geo-restrictions

Content distribution agreements and licenses dictate how content is consumed across various regions.

Although Netflix produces its titles, most of the content it offers is produced by other studios and media companies.

This content is usually made specifically for a particular region. Also, some countries’ media regulators wouldn’t want netizens to access content from other countries.

Thus, Netflix must comply with the agreements, licenses, and regulations to make revenue and successfully continue its operations.

Netflix fulfills the agreements via geo-blocking technology. This technology ensures that each region gets its specific content.

Therefore, you must overcome the Netflix geo-restrictions to watch content meant for other regions, such as Japanese Netflix.

You should check out our main guide on unblocking Netflix in case you are looking for solutions other than just for Japan.

Use a VPN to Watch Japanese Netflix

A VPN is the best option to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from anywhere. Although Netflix has toughened up its blocks, it’s still no match for some of the best premium VPNs.

Netflix relies mainly on the IP address system to implement geo-blocks. This is because IP addresses are also used for location addressing, apart from identifying devices on a network.

This is how most services will know the country/geo-location of a user.

In my experience, to bypass geo-restrictions, one needs to change the IP address to that of the intended region. A VPN provides the easiest way of changing the IP address.

When using a Netflix VPN, internet traffic is routed through a selected server. When the traffic reaches its destination, it is seen to be originating from the VPN server.

Thus, the traffic will have the VPN’s server IP address and geo-location. Additionally, the VPN encrypts the traffic, protecting it from prying eyes.

Therefore, if I want to access Japanese Netflix from anywhere using a VPN, I will connect to a Japanese server.

Besides security, privacy, and bypassing geo-restrictions, a VPN helps avoid ISP throttling, price discrimination, and circumventing censorship.

The above also works in other countries too, such as, for example, allowing you to watch American Netflix in Australia.

The Best VPNs to Watch Japanese Netflix

Below you can find the best VPNs for unblocking and watching Japanese Netflix.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our undisputed, top-notch VPN service for watching Japanese Netflix from anywhere. This VPN service offers servers in three Japanese locations; Shibuya, Tokyo, and Yokohama.

These Japanese servers are optimized to offer the best VPN speeds and unlimited bandwidth and protect you from ISP throttling.

With blazing speeds, I can watch Japanese Netflix in HD and up to 4K without any buffering issues.

Besides Japanese Netflix, I can also use this VPN to watch Hulu, Tver, Amazon, DAZN, and many other services.

You can find more information on the above in our guides on finding a VPN to unblock DAZN and unblocking Hulu.

While streaming, ExpressVPN ensures that my privacy and connection are secure. This VPN is a no-log VPN. It doesn’t collect activity or connection logs.

It also uses TrustedServer technology – RAM-based VPN servers – that ensure all activities are wiped when the servers reboot. There’s also private DNS on every server.

Security-wise, ExpressVPN uses the best-in-class AES-256-bit encryption. Secure protocols include Lightway, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, and IKEv2.
ExpressVPN is compatible with most devices and platforms.

It also offers a Smart DNS (MediaStreamer) for devices that don’t support VPNs, such as consoles.

Private Internet Access VPN

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a privacy and security VPN with exceptional unblocking abilities.

PIA VPN has an optimized server in Japan that provides a smooth and buffer-free watching experience for Japanese Netflix.

The overall server network is fast with no bandwidth restrictions. Apart from unblocking Netflix, you can also use PIA for streaming content from other platforms.

For faster connection speeds, I recommend the WireGuard protocol. If things are not working well, you can opt for the flexible Open VPN protocol.

PIA VPN offers both AES-128-bit and 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol. This VPN also offers other features, such as port forwarding for torrenting.

As an advocate for privacy, PIA VPN doesn’t collect user data that can compromise privacy and security. PIA VPN has proven its no-log claim in court.

This VPN is compatible with computers, smartphones, browsers, and other devices. Its apps are straightforward to use.

There is also a Smart DNS service for devices that don’t support VPN apps.

PIA also has amazing unblocking abilities, which make it perfect to use as a VPN for ESPN.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost boasts 53 servers in Tokyo, Japan. These servers offer the perfect solution for reclaiming your digital freedom and watching Japanese Netflix.

These servers are optimized for speed and privacy. They deliver the highest possible speeds for streaming Japanese content without lagging issues. Torrenting is also allowed.

The servers also allow you to watch other Japanese content from Asahi and Fuji TV. Moreover, this VPN will enable you to watch BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO, Prime Video, and sports content.

You should check out our guide on unblocking and watching BBC iPlayer in the US for more info.

To counter Japanese surveillance, CyberGhost uses the AES military-grade encryption of 256-bit with secure protocols such as WireGuard and OpenVPN.

To further keep user activities safe from prying eyes, CyberGhost has a strict no-log policy. It doesn’t track, collect, or store connection or activity logs.

CyberGhost offers user-friendly apps with lots of customizations. The service is compatible with many devices and provides a free Smart DNS service.

If the VPN isn’t working as expected, CyberGhost offers 24/7 knowledgeable customer support to help you out.

How we Select the Best VPNs for Watching Japanese Netflix

Picking the right VPN for watching Japanese Netflix can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. With a saturated market, it is almost impossible to get a working VPN.

Lucky for you, we have a criterion that we use to test if a VPN unblocks Japanese Netflix. Here are some aspects we look at:

• Japanese server locations: Servers in Japan allow a VPN to change your IP address to that of Japan. As a bonus, the servers must be optimized for streaming services.
• Speed and bandwidth: To offer a smooth and better streaming experience, a VPN for Japan should provide unlimited bandwidth, faster connections, and reliable speeds.

  This is crucial for streaming Japanese content in high quality without buffering.

• Unblocking abilities: Not every VPN with a server in Japan can bypass Netflix’s geo-blocking abilities. A VPN must be able to avoid detection while unblocking Japanese Netflix.
• Security and privacy: A VPN for watching Japanese Netflix should have impeccable encryption – AES 256, kill switch, leak protection, and other privacy and security features. It should also be a no-log VPN.
• Compatibility: Japanese Netflix can be streamed from many devices; computers, smartphones, media players, smart TVs, and consoles.
  The best VPN must be compatible with all these devices and their platforms.
• Customer support: If an issue arises when using the VPN, customer support should be able to help 24/7 quickly and through various means such as live chat and email.
• Money-back guarantee: Not all VPNs deliver what they promise. A money-back guarantee provides a way to test the VPN and confirm if it keeps its promises.

Free VPNs for Watching Japanese Netflix

They are enticing, but I don’t recommend free VPNs for watching Japanese Netflix. Here is why:

Free VPNs can’t unblock Japanese Netflix or bypass other regions’ Netflix geo-blocks. These VPNs have a small server network and lack servers in Japan.

Free VPNs are always congested with a small server network, resulting in low speeds. To make matters worse, the speeds are capped, and the VPNs offer limited bandwidth.

Even if it is possible to stream with free VPNs, you won’t get the HD experience, and your shows will buffer a lot.

Free VPNs also log your data and sell it to interested third parties to cover operational costs. This can compromise your security and privacy; not so free at all.

If they don’t sell your data, they’ll push intrusive ads that almost take a significant portion of the limited bandwidth they offer. Ads are also annoying.

Therefore, I recommend the above premium VPNs to enjoy Japanese Netflix without hassles. They also provide excellent value for your money.

Troubleshooting Japanese Netflix VPN Proxy Errors

I’ve learned from my past experiences that you can have a premium VPN and still not be able to bypass Netflix geo-restrictions.

Other times, you stream smoothly, but you get errors the next time. These issues are usually not associated with the VPN but mainly with your devices.

Proxy errors are the most common issues when unblocking Japanese Netflix using a VPN. To solve them, switch to another Japanese server.

If the problem persists, disconnect the VPN, close Netflix, and proceed as follows:

1. Disable location services on your device, including your GPS. Also, revoke location permissions associated with the Netflix app or your browser.
   Location services reveal your actual location even when a VPN masks it.
2. If you are using the Netflix app, force stop it and clear the cache. If you are streaming via a browser, log out of your Google accounts and clear the cookies, temporary files, and cache.
3. Launch the VPN and connect to a Japanese server. Verify if the VPN is working correctly by checking for leaks. If everything is fine, open Netflix and enjoy Japanese content.

Alternative Way to Watch Japanese Netflix: Smart DNS

A Smart DNS is an excellent alternative for unblocking and watching Japanese Netflix from anywhere.

A Smart DNS spoofs your location on the DNS level, thus bypassing restrictions efficiently. It is rare for a reputable Smart DNS to be blocked.
However, unlike a VPN, a Smart DNS doesn’t offer encryptions and doesn’t change your IP address.

Nonetheless, you get faster speeds. A Smart DNS is suitable for devices that don’t allow VPN installations, such as some Smart TVs and consoles.

In my opinion, use Smart DNS services if security and privacy are not your priority. Also, ensure that they unblock Japanese Netflix. Enquire this information from customer support.

Our recommended VPNs for watching Japanese Netflix offer the Smart DNS service at no extra cost. You need to activate the service from your VPN account page.

But before you do, ask customer support if they offer a Japanese Smart DNS. The default DNS service usually unblocks US streaming services.

Wrap Up

Unblocking and watching Japanese Netflix is a cat and mouse game. Nonetheless, you have nothing to worry about using our recommended VPNs.

They have stood the test of time as the best VPNs for watching various catalogs of Netflix, including Japanese.

They also offer the best value for your money; excellent security and privacy features, exceptional unblocking ability, fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth, simultaneous connections, 24/7 customer support, and compatibility with almost every device.