After living in Japan for a while, don’t you start to miss your home country? How about watching a few movies or dramas from home?
If only it was that simple!
We’re sure that many of you were surprised when opening Netflix or Hulu for the first time in Japan. Sadly, when in Japan, you can only watch Japanese content…
That’s where a VPN comes in handy!
With a VPN, your device’s IP address is replaced with an overseas IP address, so you can enjoy overseas content while in Japan without any problems.
In this article, we will introduce our recommended VPNs and some precautions while using VPNs.
*VPNs are a legal way to change the location of your device that websites recognize!
Let’s get started!
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What’s a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.
- Change the location of your IP address
- Protect your privacy
- Increase your online security
Some of you may be thinking about how complicated this process might be, but don’t worry! You can think of a VPN basically as a safe way to connect to the internet from overseas.
Many people use VPNs to watch movies and shows on streaming services overseas. International residents staying in Japan also often use this service to watch Netflix and other streaming services available only in their home countries.
Using a VPN service is quite simple. Simply sign up online, install the dedicated application, select the country you want to connect to, and press the connect button!
Many companies offer VPN services and most cost less than 1,000 JPY per month.
Instead of thinking of it as a hassle, think of VPNs as a way to make life in Japan more comfortable.
As there are a lot of VPN services on the market right now, we are going to introduce 3 that we recommend.
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Our top 3 VPNs
Scroll right for more →→
| Service | NordVPN | Surfshark | Sekai VPN |
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Monthly Cost (For 1-year plan) | 570 JPY/month 6,480 JPY/year | 509 JPY/month 6,108 JPY/year | 1,100 JPY/month 13,200 JPY/year |
| Money-back guarantee period | 30 days | 30 days | 2 months free |
| Number of servers | 5543 in the world 80+ in Japan | 3200+ in the world | 10 |
| Server locations | 62 countries | 65 countries | 10 countries |
| Speed | Very Fast | Fast | Average |
| English Support | Official website and application are available in English | Official website and application are available in English | Japanese only |
| Support for streaming services* | Most Services Supported | Most Services Supported | Most Services Supported |
*Tax inc.
※Some video distribution services may not be supported. Contact customer support in advance to find out if you can watch the video streaming service you are interested in.
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1. NordVPN
- Fastest VPN service
- Most server locations in the industry
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 English support
- 15% student discount
NordVPN is a popular VPN service that boasts the world’s fastest connection speeds.
With over 5,000 servers located around the world, you can expect stable and fast data speeds when browsing the internet in any country.
NordVPN is also one of the best in the industry in terms of the number of server locations. They have servers located in 62 countries worldwide. You’ll be able to watch video streaming services from your country.
It is nice to know that you can use high-quality service for only 570 JPY per month.
If you aren’t sure which VPN to go with, NordVPN may be the best choice for you.
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2. Surfshark
- One of the industry’s most affordable plans
- Best server locations
- Fast speeds
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPN services in the industry.
When you hear the words “affordable” you might think “cheap” or “bad quality”, but don’t worry! Surfshark will give you access to video services in 65 countries around the world and fast speeds. They also have a very high customer satisfaction rating.
It’s also nice to know that their customer support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, making it easy for first-time VPN users.
The whole application process and all of the VPN settings are available in English, so don’t worry if you’re not fluent in Japanese.
For those who want the best bang for their buck, consider going with Surfshark!
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3. Sekai VPN
- Japanese VPN service
- 2-month free trial
- 10 server locations
- Slightly slower speeds
- No English support
Sekai VPN is a Japanese VPN service.
You might have noticed on the chart that Sekai VPN doesn’t match up well against the larger companies.
However, Sekai VPN is the only service that allows you to pay straight from a Japanese bank account. We recommend Sekai VPN to those who get paid in JPY and want to avoid high exchange rates or using a credit card from their home country.
They only offer Japanese support, but be sure to check it out if you’re interested in their service!
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Things to note when using VPNs
If you decide to use a VPN, there are a few things that you should know.
Connecting to a VPN will be slower than connecting to the internet normally.
The main reasons are…
- Your connection will have to go through a VPN server which takes time
- Other people will also be using the service at the same time, and servers may get overloaded with users and slow down
Unfortunately, even with NordVPN, the industry’s fastest VPN, you can’t avoid slower speeds!
If you’re reading this article, you might be thinking…
“I want to watch high-quality streaming videos quickly and easily!”
Or
“I don’t want to wait for videos to load!”
We understand! Movies get ruined if the video is choppy or pauses to load.
If you want to avoid slower speeds and ruined movie nights, we have one recommendation… Sign up for fiber optic internet!
If your internet connection is fast, you can use a VPN and enjoy content from your home country without any problems! Even if the speeds drop a little, you won’t be able to notice it while using fiber optic internet.
You can watch Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video, and any other streaming service in high quality while using a VPN.
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Recommended internet services to pair with VPNs
If you’re looking for high-speed fiber optic internet with English customer support, consider Sakura Fiber Internet!
- Max. 1Gbps download/upload speeds*
- Low ping
- With the latest version of IPoE, you should not experience internet slowdowns, which is perfect for streaming
- Fastest level connection on NTT Flet’s Hikari Next Network
- Full English support 7 days a week
- No annual contract or penalty fee
- Home WiFi router rental for free!
※1Gbps is the maximum network service capability speed for this service. Actual customer speeds are not guaranteed and may vary based on several factors.
Sakura Fiber Internet’s monthly fees are 6,480 JPY/month, which is not the cheapest in the market. However, you will have access to English customer support 365 days a year and high speeds. Unlike other providers, you won’t be locked into a two-year contract with high penalty fees for canceling if you decided to go with Sakura Mobile.
During the installation process for fiber-optic internet, you will need to make explanations to your landlord or talk with the installation team; this is where many people who cannot speak Japanese struggle.
However, with Sakura Fiber Internet, our bilingual staff will help you translate all the necessary information.
Check it out below.
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