Japan is known as a very tech-oriented country with a blistering 92% internet coverage. It’s also known as the birthplace of Ramen, a delicious dish many people around the world like. Although not the biggest country, its tight connection to the internet makes it ideal for starting your online journey. Unfortunately, online freedom is the country’s thorn in the foot. Because of that, we went out of our way to bring you the list of best VPN providers for Japan.
Best VPNs with Servers in Japan
Traveling abroad as a Japanese can leave you without your favorite local TV shows. But, if you have a VPN, that doesn’t have to be the case. Here are the best providers with servers in this country:
- ExpressVPN: It is a provider many of you know of. They have the highest speeds in the game, so high, that even the swing of katana from Samurai can’t match it. In Japan, the provider has servers at 3 locations, effectively covering the entire country.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost, with its’ ~7,000 servers worldwide, has 59 of them in Tokyo. All of these servers are very fast and support the best security and privacy protocols.
- NordVPN: NordVPN has more than 5,400 servers in the world, of which 140+ are in Japan. This provider is known for its satisfactory speeds, as well as impenetrable security, which also applies to this country.
Whether you’re in this country or abroad, using a Virtual Private Network is easy. Japan is not as censored as China, where good, quality VPNs are really recommended. However, it’s still much needed.
Why People in Japan Use a VPN?
Aside from giving you your well-deserved peace of mind, a reliable VPN for Japan can bring you a plethora of benefits. Here’s why people there use a service like this.
Accessing Geo-Restricted Websites
Despite being well-connected to the internet, this country doesn’t allow freedom online. Although you can use the popular messaging apps, certain blockages exist. Websites like Hulu, HBO Go, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer are all inaccessible.
So, if you want to enjoy your late-night “Netflix & Chill” sessions in Japan, think about getting a VPN.
The same principle applies outside of the country. If you’re a Japanese outside of your home country, you’ll need a VPN if you want to access local TV. It’s such a shame that this country isn’t as free as it should be online.
Preserve Privacy and Anonymity
Whenever we encounter harsh restrictions like these, we always think about the government. Unfortunately, that’s always the case. Not only do they block certain websites but also track their residents’ internet activities.
Furthermore, Japan has a history of working with the USA government, which further raises eyebrows. If you’ve never been to this country, you should know that your data could be compromised if you’re caught doing something “suspicious.”
In any case, a quality VPN will conserve your privacy, regardless of your location.
Torrenting Safely
Torrenting is perhaps one of the most frequent activities on the internet. But, in some countries, you can pay a hefty price or end up in jail. Japan is very strict when it comes to copyrights.
If you download copyrighted material, you can face some serious charges and be forced to pay a fee that’s going to blast through your wallet.
You can’t afford to use BitTorrent without a Virtual Private Network, especially in a country like this. Some providers even offer free anti-malware software for additional protection. You can read this article to understand why using a VPN for torrenting is really important.
The Best VPNs for People Living in Japan
With a huge palette of Virtual Private Network providers, it’s hard to choose the right one for you. But, here are the features to look for that will help you narrow your search:
- Ability to bypass geo-restrictions
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Excellent security features
- Compatibility with the most used platforms
With that in mind, here are our top picks for Japan, to further narrow your choice:
- ExpressVPN
- CyberGhost
- NordVPN
And now, let’s see what makes these providers great!
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has whole Tokyo under its control. As said, this provider manages to beat every provider with its speed. This is great if you want to download big 4K movies or 100+ GB games in no time. Furthermore, the provider supports P2P file sharing on all servers, allowing you to use it for torrenting efficiently.
In terms of security, ExpressVPN is even more favorable. It offers rock-solid DNS and IP leak protection, as well as 256-bit AES encryption. If you want to bypass some geo-restriction, this VPN will do it within seconds.
All your favorite Netflix or Hulu shows will be at your palm’s reach, even in Japan.
One thing that many praise when talking about this provider is customer support. It’s a 24/7 service for helping you with your issues regarding internet access, which works flawlessly. ExpressVPN even offers a big 49% discount and 3 free months for a 12-month plan.
Smash the button below and see if you like it. But don’t smash it too much, let the others use it, too!
- Best speeds on the market
- Great customer support (24/7)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Can unblock Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video
- No log policy
- Easy-to-use app
- Prices are not the cheapest
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a great VPN for Japan but also for dummies, regardless of the country they’re in. As many of you already know, this is the largest provider, boasting around 7,000 servers around the world.
Feature-wise, this is a provider that will tick every box in terms of speed and security.
It’s great for torrenting, watching Netflix, or browsing the internet. On top of that, there’s even a strict zero-logs policy, meaning that they don’t keep any data about your online habits.
We found that this VPN is perfect for Japan, being able to break down geo-restrictions and providing top-of-the-line security.
Military-grade 256-bit encryption, Kill-switch, and DNS leak protection are just some of the features you’re going to find here. With a 45-day money-back guarantee, you can try them all and see if you like them.
- 7,000+ servers
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- 7 simultaneous connections
- Automatic Kill Switch
- Servers for P2P and Streaming
- Not working in China
- Adblocker not very reliable
3. NordVPN
NordVPN comes straight from Panama, sporting some of the most efficient security features of all providers. It comes with a Double VPN feature (you can activate or deactivate it) that filters your data through 2 servers, for maximum security and anonymity.
There’s also 256-bit encryption, making it impossible to penetrate, even by the most skilled hackers. When it comes to speed, NordVPN is also decent. You’ll enjoy torrenting and watching some 4K footage without stuttering and hiccups.
The reason most newcomers decide to go with NordVPN is because of its price. You won’t need to pay a hefty amount of money for something this valuable. Furthermore, the provider supports all main platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, and Mac.
Speaking of Mac, some of the free VPNs also support it. You can choose one of these free VPNs for Mac.
- Live chat support
- Security features
- Application’s interface
- Strict no-log policy
- No payment through PayPal
- A hacking incident in 2018
Summary
In conclusion, the best VPN provider for Japan, in our eyes, is ExpressVPN. Whether you’re a Japanese resident or just a random reader, having a VPN at your disposal is always a good thing.
It allows you to browse the internet while flying low under the government and ISP’s radar.
ExpressVPN is great at providing fast speeds, as well as a huge palette of worthy features. Their commitment to this business is unparalleled by many providers.
If we add the fact that they have servers in Tokyo, the winner is more than obvious.
A professional writer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since his youngest age, he loves everything related to internet, technology, fitness, games, and dogs! He joined our team in order to bring his deep knowledge in security services, among which VPN is of course a key component.
