Netflix Japan Outside Japan: VPNs That Unblock the Japanese Catalog

NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN passed Netflix Japan’s location check in our Tokyo tests, and each kept more than 159 Mbps of a 190.36 Mbps connection. Private Internet Access and CyberGhost failed it, CyberGhost despite offering a Japanese server. The subscription itself doesn’t change: any Netflix account shows the Japanese catalog once Netflix sees a Japanese IP address.

How to Get Japanese Netflix Outside Japan

Connect to a server in Tokyo or Osaka, then open Netflix and sign in. Netflix sets the catalog by IP address, so a Japanese IP address moves the same account to the Japanese library. The home screen’s Top 10 row then lists titles popular in Japan, which confirms the change. If the app still shows the old catalog, force-close it or switch to a browser.

Android TV boxes such as the Nvidia Shield support VPN apps, so the same steps work on a television. The method is identical for any other Netflix region. A browser proxy changes only the browser’s IP address, and Netflix blocks most proxies. Our proxy vs VPN comparison explains the difference.

Netflix Through Docomo Abroad

Docomo processes the billing, so a Netflix account paid through Docomo is a standard Netflix account. Docomo customers in Japan can subscribe through its Bakuage Selection. They receive up to 20% of the monthly fee back in d points, depending on their mobile plan.

Outside Japan, Netflix shows the local catalog on that account, and a Japanese IP address brings back the Japanese one. Netflix Japan’s plans cost ¥890 to ¥2,290 a month, and there’s no free trial.

Tokyo Server Results

Tokyo figures from a Windows 11 PC in Europe in our October round, measured against a 190.36 Mbps connection.

Best VPNs for Netflix Japan

1. NordVPN: Best for Switching Netflix Libraries, with Japan, the US, and Canada unblocked.
2. Proton VPN: Best for the Largest Japanese Server List, with 315 servers.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Tokyo Speed, at 163.94 Mbps.

1. NordVPN: Best for Switching Netflix Libraries

NordVPN unblocked Netflix Japan, the US catalog, and Netflix Canada, so one app covers several libraries. Its Tokyo server recorded 160.47 Mbps, 15.7% below our baseline, and the app lists 130+ Japanese servers. Our Netflix VPN rankings compare it with other options, and our My Hero Academia streaming guide uses the same setup.

On Windows, a second installed VPN occasionally blocked NordVPN’s connection until we ran its diagnostics tool and logged in again. NordVPN’s Basic plan comes to roughly $94 for its first 27 months, and a renewal year costs around $139.

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2. Proton VPN: Best for the Largest Japanese Server List

Proton VPN lists 315 servers in Tokyo and Osaka, and no Smart routing label appears on any of them, so the Japanese IP addresses come from servers in Japan. It unblocked Netflix Japan, and the Tokyo download measured 159.99 Mbps. Proton VPN offers no Smart DNS, and on a TV with no VPN app, it works only through a router. Proton VPN’s two-year VPN Plus plan is priced under $3 a month, renewing near $84 a year.

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3. ExpressVPN: Best for Tokyo Speed

ExpressVPN measured 163.94 Mbps in Tokyo, a 13.9% drop and the fastest Japanese result we recorded. It unblocked the Japanese catalog, and its app lists four Japanese cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Shibuya, and Yokohama. On Windows, it connected in one or two seconds. Users who adjust protocols or ports by hand will find few settings. ExpressVPN’s 28-month Basic plan comes in under $3 a month, with renewal priced near $100.

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VPNs That Failed to Unblock Netflix Japan

PIA and CyberGhost couldn’t unblock Netflix Japan in our streaming tests. CyberGhost offers a Japanese server and still couldn’t unblock the catalog. Budget options are compared in our cheap VPN guide. Free VPNs can’t guarantee a Japanese server.

Proton VPN’s free tier puts users in a random country, and Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, and Hide.me don’t include Japan on their free versions. Our free VPN rankings cover what each free version offers.

Verdict

An existing Netflix subscription is enough, and the VPN provides the location. Our #1 is NordVPN, because the same app also unblocks the US and Canadian catalogs. Proton VPN offers 315 Japanese servers physically in Japan and a lower renewal price. ExpressVPN is the choice for Tokyo speed. For other Japanese services such as TVer and Abema, our Japan VPN guide covers VPN use in the country.

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