Almost 7000 islands make up the country of Japan. Because of technological innovations, this island nation is arguably one of the most advanced worldwide. While it has a long history of civilization, it also has strict anti-piracy laws the government enacted in recent years. That is only one reason why it is good to connect to a VPN if you plan to visit the country. We’ll look at some of the other reasons to use one, shortly. Let’s go ahead and get right to our list of the best VPNs for Japan.
| Rank | VPN Service | Our Score | Server Locations | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 9.8 | 160 |  |
| 2 |  | 9.4 | 87 | |
| 3 |  | 9.2 | 95 | |
| 4 |  | 9.0 | 110 | |
| 5 |  | 8.8 | 73 | |
As we mentioned, the country has strict anti-piracy/ copyright laws. If you plan on visiting Japan and want to access Manga and magazines, you need to connect to a VPN to help protect your privacy. The law states that as of January 1st, 2021, anyone illegally downloading those can face up to two years in jail as well as an almost two million Yen (about 18k in USD) fine. Even though you would likely know, you need to error on the side of caution.
Many travelers visit the country to take in the latest in connected (paired) devices. The nation is so far ahead of the curve that many consider it a version of the future. Unfortunately, advanced technology does not always mean it is more secure than others. Whether you are looking into smart homes or just the latest device, you’ll want the protection of a VPN’s encryption layer. That way, you can protect your favorite device without worrying if someone will hack it.
Japan has incredible things to see. These include the Hikone Castle, the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo Disneyland, and so many more. Those are all great places to get in your steps on your favorite fitness tracker. Since those devices communicate with your smartphone, though, they send large amounts of data back and forth between them. Because most trackers can’t run many apps, the key is to connect to a VPN on a smartphone. By doing so, you can ensure that your EKG stays in your possession.
International travelers to the country will run into geo-restrictions for streaming services. That is especially true if you want to watch Netflix from your home region. Instead, you would usually be limited to the Japanese library. Even though the country has some great titles, you can watch the library from your home country by connecting to a VPN. Just choose a server from home, and you can enjoy all of your favorites. The question is, which VPN should you use?
What is the Best VPN for Japan?
The best way to answer this question is to take a look at a few different factors. In this case, privacy is a big point. Because of that, we’ll look at them and tell you what the best VPN for Japan is.
- VPN services with high-speed servers in Tokyo
- Strong encryption to protect your online privacy
- Providers that have a strict no-logs policy
- High network stability to avoid disconnects while in the country
- Ability to get around firewalls and geo-restricted content while in Japan
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android devices
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the best VPNs to use while in Japan.
1. Best VPN for Japan: ExpressVPN
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Because protecting your security and accounts are essential while gaming, connecting to a VPN server with ExpressVPN is crucial. If you are a gamer, you will spend many hours playing. No matter what the game is, there are achievements, money, and account information that you should be able to protect. To do so, all you need to do is connect to the server of your choice. That way, you will create a layer of encryption that will keep all of your personal gaming information and accounts safe.
Streaming media is one of the fun things you can do when you are using ExpressVPN. Because there are servers and locations in 94 different countries, you can use it to open your favorite streaming services. The biggest one, of course, is Netflix. The United States has the most extensive library, with some other countries getting closes in the number of titles offered. Since the libraries have different titles available, connecting to a VPN will give you access to your favorite shows and movies. The same is true for other streaming services in the US and beyond.
ExpressVPN launched in 2009 and has grown into a premier VPN service. Whether you want to protect your privacy online, enjoy your favorite streaming services while traveling, or watch live sports, ExpressVPN is a great choice. You can rely on their network for fast, stable connections. This is true for VPN users and those who rely on their MediaStreamer feature to extend functionality to game consoles and more. We suggest signing up for our ExpressVPN deal which includes 3 months free when you subscribe for 12 months. The savings, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee make ExpressVPN an excellent choice.
2. Best VPN for Japan: NordVPN
As the world has changed in recent times, a large number of people have ventured to internet streaming for their entertainment needs. The issue is that sometimes, you may want to see a different library of content. That is one of the reasons you would want to connect to a NordVPN server. Whether that library comes from the same source as with international streaming companies like Netflix, or region-specific options like iPlayer from the BBC, you will be able to access those and more by connecting to a VPN.
One reason to use NordVPN is to protect your privacy by blocking malware and ads. Their CyberSec feature will help you avoid sites that host malware and annoying ads. It will also protect your system from becoming part of a botnet attack. If you have ever searched for something random online and have seen the term or item you searched for, continuously come up, that can be a bit unnerving. However, when you use NordVPN, you can help stop that from happening.
3. Best VPN for Japan: Private Internet Access
As far as privacy goes, Private Internet Access supports five different encryption protocols. Those include OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSEC/L2TP, PPTP, and the SOCKS5 (proxy). While there are arguments to be made for using each type of encryption, the best option is to use OpenVPN. That is because it provides the best mix of privacy and speed. WireGuard is a relative newcomer, and some people are afraid to try the protocol. Of course, there are set up guides for each type of connection on their website.
The United States has some excellent streaming services such as Hulu, HBO Now, the US versions of Netflix and Amazon, and more. If you have a fondness for US TV shows and movies, like to travel abroad, or even just want to check out one of the great shows, you can’t go wrong by connecting to a VPN server from Private Internet Access. When you do, you can quickly gain access to all of those services and more by simply selecting a server in the US.
4. Best VPN for Japan: CyberGhost
While VPNs are great, there are times when you may need to protect yourself more accurately with a dedicated IP address. Of course, CyberGhost gives you the option to use one. There are several benefits to doing so. That includes avoiding blacklisting (because reckless people can get the service’s IP address banned), avoiding Captchas (because sites will notice multiple logins from the same IP address), allowing banking transactions, and more. Unlike other companies that offer a dedicated IP, CyberGhost seems to provide it for all seven devices.
Some VPN providers state they do not keep logs. However, they do not always keep that promise. CyberGhost says they keep their no-logs policy strict. In this case, that means they do not store or collect your IP address, DNS queries, browser history, web content you accessed, connection and disconnection timestamps, session duration, bandwidth usage, or even the VPN servers you use to connect. That is because they feel that information is none of their business. As you can see, when it comes to privacy, CyberGhost has you covered.
5. Best VPN for Japan: IPVanish
One of the big things that streaming viewers still want to watch live is sports. If you are a sports fan, you know that some sports have an international following. Unfortunately, you may not be able to watch unless you connect to a VPN from IPvanish. Often, that is because of the licensing rights of some media companies. If you are a country that does not offer coverage, you would generally miss out. Instead, just connect to a server in the home country, log in with your credentials to the streaming service, and enjoy.
If you are looking for a service with a few encryption protocols, IPVanish has you covered. Those include IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, and OpenVPN (still considered to be the gold standard in the community). While those are all excellent options to choose from, IKEv2 is very popular these days. The experts consider it to be what is known as an NGE (Next Generation Encryption) protocol. That means you can count on it to provide you with a healthy level of safety and security. It is especially helpful for mobile devices.
