With the right VPN, you’ll be able to connect to a server in Japan and access the websites and apps that are only available in the country. After testing all the best VPNs on the market, I found ExpressVPN to have the best speeds and most stable connections for Japan. Plus, you can try ExpressVPN for Japan yourself. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can claim a refund if you’re not satisfied. When I tested it, my money was returned within 5 days. Get a Japanese IP address with ExpressVPN
Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Get an IP Address in Japan
Get a Japanese IP address with ExpressVPN
The Best VPNs to Get a Japanese IP Address (Tested in January 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Japan With Lightning-Fast Speeds and Top-Tier Security Features
Key Features: ExpressVPN is my top VPN for getting an IP address in Japan, thanks to 3 blazing-fast servers and high-level security measures to keep you safe on the Japanese web. With only a 20-25% drop in speed, ExpressVPN is easily the fastest VPN on this list for 4K streaming, uninterrupted video-calling, and lag-free multiplayer online gaming on its servers in Japan. To further boost your speed, ExpressVPN has its own proprietary Lightway protocol. Unlike other protocols that either prioritize speed or security, Lightway maintains the most robust security while delivering enhanced speed. Even though my connection to its Japan server was already speedy, I had a 9% speed boost when I switched to Lightway. On any of its Japan servers, you’ll be able to access local sites like Ameba and Mixi, watch live broadcasts on Nippon TV and TV Asahi, and on-demand shows on Netflix Japan, Disney+, and Rakuten Showtime. ExpressVPN’s 3000+ worldwide servers also work with international services like Hulu, Kodi, BBC iPlayer, and many more. Split tunneling comes in handy if you want to watch your favorite Japanese shows while checking the news where you are. The split tunneling feature lets you choose which apps are routed through ExpressVPN and which apps use your regular internet connection. By enabling split tunneling, you can set up Ameba TV to stay connected to ExpressVPN while you connect to the local web with another browser. ExpressVPN protects your anonymity with a strict no-logs policy and its TrustedServer Technology, which is especially important when you use it for more sensitive activities like online banking or secure file transfers. While its privacy policy assures you that no identifying information is ever collected, ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer Technology ensures that your data can’t be stored on its servers. Since all its servers are RAM-based, your IP address and browsing activity can’t be written to any hard drives. The servers are completely wiped with every reboot. This means that even if a hacker managed to penetrate one of them, there would be nothing for them to find. As long as you only share copyright-free movies, books, and music, ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all its servers, including in Japan. For the protection of 256-bit encryption and a kill switch while uploading and downloading torrents, make sure you connect to an ExpressVPN server before loading NyaaTorrents or launching any other torrenting client. What’s more, DNS and IPv6 leak protection keep your IP and real address from being exposed so you can stay anonymous. Even though ExpressVPN is a bit more expensive than its competitors, you won’t find the security of its RAM-based servers or ultra-fast speeds anywhere else. Plus, you’ll get a 49% discount when you sign up for a 1-year + 3 months plan and pay only $6.67 per month. To keep your purchase completely anonymous, you can pay with Bitcoin and try ExpressVPN’s Japanese servers completely risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not happy with its performance, you can easily claim a refund. I tested it myself, and after a few minutes in the live chat, my refund was approved. My money was returned just 5 business days later. Get a Japanese IP address with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost — Streaming-Optimized Servers in Japan for HD Streaming Without Interruption
Key Features: Military-grade encryption, a kill switch and DNS leak protection add an extra layer of protection when you’re making payments with LINE Pay. What’s more, none of your personal information or internet activity will ever be logged, thanks to CyberGhost’s zero-logs policy. CyberGhost’s Japanese servers are an excellent choice for P2P activity. In addition to speedy connections and high-level security, CyberGhost has optimized torrenting servers in Japan. When you connect to one of these servers, you’ll have faster download speeds and more reliable connections. CyberGhost even makes it easy to select low-load servers for P2P activity by displaying the user load of every server on its app. CyberGhost subscriptions start at just $2.19 per month, but you can get a Japanese IP address with CyberGhost for free by taking advantage of its 45-day money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund is simple — all you have to do is reach out to customer support via live chat. When I tested the policy, my refund was approved quickly, and I had my money back in 6 days. Get a Japanese IP address with CyberGhost
3. Private Internet Access — Browse the Japanese Web With No Ads
Key Features: If you’re sick of clicking on pop-ups by mistake and being redirected to spammy sites, Private Internet Access (PIA) has the best ad and malware blocker to browse the web in Japan. When I connected to PIA’s Japan server with the MACE ad blocker enabled, news sites like The Japan Times loaded much faster than usual. I didn’t have to worry about ad trackers gathering my personal information or browsing data. You can use any of PIA’s servers for P2P activity, and the app allows you to sort servers by latency which makes it easier to find a speedy, nearby server. If you’d like to give your download and upload speeds a boost, PIA’s SOCKS5 proxy can help. However, since it’s only a proxy, your entire connection won’t be encrypted, which may leave your other internet traffic exposed. While PIA’s monthly plan is quite pricey (around $10/month), you can get a massive 82% discount on its 2-year + 2 months plan for just $2.19/month. You can also try PIA for Japan for free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested it myself and reached out via live chat to claim a refund. It was quickly approved, and my money was returned in just 4 business days. Get a Japanese IP address with PIA PIA works with: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Kodi, routers, and more.
4. PrivateVPN — Get a Japanese IP Address on a Budget
Key Features: With PrivateVPN, you can get a Japanese IP address from just $2.00 per month. While connected to its only server in Japan, my speeds were fast enough for HD streaming without interruption. Plus, you’ll be able to access Netflix Japan, Rakuten Showtime, and TVer. Even with a small network of 200+ servers worldwide, PrivateVPN provides the protection and ease of use of a premium service. It allows torrenting on all its HQN servers, which are optimized for lower latency and quicker downloads. I had no trouble downloading torrents on its Japanese server during my testing, although my downloads took much longer during the evening peak hours. Whether you’re watching TVer, shopping on Yahoo! Auctions, or looking for torrents on Nyaa, you’ll be protected by military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and a zero-logs policy. PrivateVPN also has a Stealth VPN feature, which disguises all your VPN activity as regular traffic. This stops anti-VPN technology from blocking access to specific sites and apps. You can download PrivateVPN’s apps on up to 10 mobile and desktop devices like Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Unfortunately, PIA doesn’t have any apps for smart TVs or gaming consoles, but you can configure it on your router if you want to protect all your household devices. Even though PrivateVPN is the most affordable VPN on this list (just $2.00/month), you can try PrivateVPN’s Japan server completely free if you take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the policy, and after a quick chat with customer support, my refund was approved. My money was returned in 5 days. Get a Japanese IP address with PrivateVPN
5. IPVanish — Connect to the Japanese Web on All Your Devices
Key Features: During testing, my team and I found that all of IPVanish’s Japanese servers worked with Netflix Japan, Rakuten, and TVer. Even though my speeds were always fast enough to support HD-quality streaming on IPVanish’s Japanese servers, I did have to deal with buffering at the beginning of every show (unlike my experience with ExpressVPN). Aside from streaming, you can also use any of IPVanish’s 2000+ servers in 75 countries for torrenting. While you’re downloading copyright-free movies and music, your data and identity will be protected by 256-bit encryption and a no-logs policy. You’ll also have an extra layer of security with a kill switch and DNS/IPv6 leak protection, but only if you’re using the OpenVPN protocol. IPVanish’s most affordable plan is $3.99/month for a 1 year term. To try all of IPVanish’s Japanese servers for free, I suggest you take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee. Unlike other VPN subscriptions that you have to cancel via customer support, IPVanish lets you do this in your account settings, and the refund process is completely automated. I tested it myself and had my money back the next day. Get a Japanese IP address with IPVanish
How Does a VPN Get a Japanese IP Address?
A VPN gives you a new IP address by rerouting all your data through a server in another location. To websites and ISPs, it looks as if you’re using the web from the country and city where your new server is. Get a Japanese IP address with ExpressVPN
Research Methodology: How I Tested the Best VPNs for a Japanese IP Address
I tested the best VPNs in 2023 against the following criteria to find the top providers for getting a Japanese IP address:
Servers in Japan — I made sure each VPN had at least 1 server in Japan and servers in neighboring countries like Taiwan, China, and South Korea. Ability to access local content — All the VPN providers on this list reliably bypass advanced location filters, so you can always access essential services, news sites, and streaming platforms no matter where you are. Fast speeds — I tested the Japanese servers of all the VPNs on this list to ensure that server speeds are fast enough for you to browse, stream, game, and torrent without excessive lag, buffering, or interruption. Strong security and privacy — To ensure that your identity and browsing activity is not compromised, each VPN has military-grade 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and a strict zero-logs policy. Apps for popular devices — All VPNs listed here work reliably with a wide range of mobile and desktop devices and have options for VPN router configuration. Customer support — To make sure that you always have access to technical support, I checked that every VPN had 24/7 support available through live chat, online ticket submission, or email.
Get a Japanese IP address with ExpressVPN
Can I use a free VPN to get a Japanese IP address?
Yes, but since most free VPNs have slow speeds, data restrictions, and sub-par safety features, I don’t recommend them. Of all the safe free VPNs in 2023, Tunnelbear is the only provider with a server in Japan. However, its free plan limits you to just 500MB of data per month which is barely enough to watch a full movie in HD. What’s more, even if you only wanted to catch up on a short episode of London Hearts, Tunnelbear’s free version doesn’t allow streaming. Instead, I suggest taking advantage of CyberGhost’s generous 45-day money-back guarantee to get a Japanese IP address for free. When I tested the policy, my money was returned in just 6 working days.
Are VPNs legal in Japan?
Absolutely. As long as you don’t use the VPN service to mask any unlawful acts, it’s completely legal to use any VPN on this list in Japan. Whether at home or traveling abroad, a VPN is the best way to maintain your anonymity, secure your data, and access your local accounts.
Can I use a proxy to get a Japanese IP address instead of a VPN?
Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t. While a proxy can get you a Japanese IP address and bypass location filters on Japanese websites and accounts, it can’t provide the security of a VPN. Unlike the premium VPNs listed here, proxies don’t offer end-to-end encryption for all your web traffic. This leaves your original IP address, location, identity, and browsing data exposed.
How do I check if my IP address has changed?
That’s easy! Once you’ve successfully connected to a premium VPN server in Japan, you should be able to access your local banking, streaming, and social media accounts. You can also check if your IP address has changed by visiting this free online IP checker tool. If you have a new Japanese IP address, the page will display a location in Japan. Get a Japanese IP address with ExpressVPN
Access Japanese Content With a VPN Now
It’s easy to get a Japanese IP address and gain instant access to the websites and apps you rely on — as long as you have a good VPN. After extensive testing, I compiled this list of VPNs with high-speed servers in Japan and robust security features. ExpressVPN is the #1 VPN for getting a Japanese IP address thanks to its unbeatable speeds, high-level security, and user-friendly apps. Plus, since the company backs its service with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try ExpressVPN for yourself completely risk-free. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can easily claim a refund. I tested it, and my money was returned to my account in just 5 business days.
