Best VPN in Japan – our top recommendations

If you need the best VPN in Japan, choose NordVPN or Surfshark. Both are excellent VPNs with great traffic encryption, excellent security, and useful additional features.

 

 

Should I use a VPN in Japan?

Japan has decent privacy laws, which means it does not actively track users and monitor their Internet activities. The government also does not use censorship to control what users can and cannot access. Thus, VPNs are not essential. However, they can still be very useful.

A VPN will encrypt traffic and protect it from being read by anyone, whether it’s the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or a malicious party lurking on the same network. While there’s no need to conceal online activities from the ISP, unsecured networks can have malicious parties lurking. This is particularly the case with free WiFi. Malicious actors with enough skills could technically see the traffic and steal highly sensitive information. However, when connected to a VPN, the traffic is concealed.

VPNs are also great for location spoofing. They are particularly popular among users who want to access streaming services and content unavailable to them due to their location. For example, if you are in Japan, your Netflix library is significantly smaller than a user’s in the US or Canada. Connecting to a US VPN server would give you access to that country’s Netflix library.

Because of the number of VPNs available, it may be difficult to find the best VPN in Japan. To make the decision easier, we have narrowed down the list to two VPNs.

Can I use a free Japan VPN?

Because Japan has decent privacy laws, users don’t need to worry about being tracked. This allows users in Japan more leeway regarding free VPNs. However, using a free Japan VPN is generally not recommended. Free VPNs are rather problematic for several reasons.

Firstly, they keep logs of users’ browsing. Technically, all VPNs can see users’ traffic but premium VPNs do not keep logs because that would be a serious privacy violation. They are also independently audited to prove that they do not keep logs. Free VPNs, on the other hand, not only collect users’ data but also sell it for revenue. This is very problematic behavior, particularly because they do not state this clearly in their Privacy Policies.

Another reason to avoid free VPNs is their lack of essential security features. Developers of free VPNs often do not have the necessary resources to develop fully-fledged and secure VPNs. This results in VPNs that put users’ privacy and security in danger.

If you want a free Japan VPN, opt for a premium VPN with a free version. The free versions usually have a data cap or limit the number of servers but they are still a better option than a completely free Japan VPN. But the best VPN in Japan will certainly be a premium one.

The best VPN in Japan

We have narrowed down the list of the best VPN services in Japan to two VPNs, NordVPN and Surfshark. They are both excellent VPNs that encrypt traffic using military-grade encryption and ensure users’ privacy. Surfshark and NordVPN are both capable VPNs so the choice is just a matter of preference.

NordVPN

• Number of servers: 6,100
• Server locations: 74 countries
• Devices supported: 6
• Free trial: 7-day free trial (has to be initiated on an Android device)

NordVPN is perhaps the most popular VPN, used by millions of users worldwide. It’s easily one of the best VPNs overall, not only the best VPN in Japan. It has a network of 6,100 servers in 74 countries and has VPN servers in Japan if you need a Japan IP address.

NordVPN uses AES-256 and ChaCha20 military-grade encryption algorithms for traffic encryption. After traffic is encrypted, it will become unreadable to all parties, whether the Internet Service Provider or a malicious party. NordVPN has a very strict zero-logs policy, does not keep logs of users’ online activities, and only retains the data it needs to maintain an account. The VPN has undergone audits by independent parties, and they have confirmed that it keeps no logs.

NordVPN is a fast VPN in Japan, which we consider to be one of its biggest strengths. VPNs do negatively affect Internet speed but the extent of the slowdown depends on several factors. One of them is the encryption protocol. NordVPN has an incredibly fast NordLynx protocol, which we recommend. The VPN allows you to switch protocols but NordLynx is likely to provide the best speeds. The NordLynx encryption protocol is one of the reasons why NordVPN is considered to be the best VPN in Japan. Good Internet speed when connected to a VPN will be very beneficial if you plan to stream or download large files. NordVPN works with all popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, etc. All you need to do is connect to the desired country’s server, and that country’s streaming content will become available. For example, if you need to have a Japanese IP address to access Japan’s streaming services, all you need to do is connect to a VPN Japan server.

All NordVPN subscriptions include additional features. Depending on the plan you get, you can get an adblocker, a password manager, protection against malware, a data breach scanner, and 1TB of cloud storage.

If you were looking for a free Japan VPN, NordVPN does not have such an option. However, you can use a 7-day free trial, or the 30-day money-back guarantee as a longer free trial. To fully use NordVPN’s features, you will need to get a subscription. You can pick which subscription to purchase based on which additional features you need. Long-term plans have excellent discounts to make the VPN even more affordable.

Surfshark

• Number of servers: 3,200+
• Server locations: 100+ countries
• Devices supported: Unlimited
• Free trial: 7-day free trial for Android and iOS users

Surfshark is another excellent choice for the best VPN in Japan. It’s a favorite among users, known for having particularly affordable subscriptions. However, despite having some of the cheapest VPN plans, it cuts no corners when it comes to security.

Surfshark has over 3,200 servers in 100 countries. It’s a particularly good choice for users who need specific locations that other VPNs do not offer. You can also connect to VPN servers in Japan if you need to have a Japan IP address. When connected to the VPN, traffic is encrypted using AES-256 military-grade encryption. Encrypted traffic is unreadable, and it’s practically impossible to decipher this type of encryption. The VPN has a strict zero-logs policy and does not collect any unnecessary information. That includes browsing-related information. Surfshark has been audited several times to confirm that it does not collect browsing data.

Surfshark is a great option if you want to unblock streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, etc. Not only does it work with all popular streaming services, but it also has streaming-optimized servers. These servers will provide the best possible streaming experience. For example, to unblock Japanese streaming services and content if you’re outside the country, all you need to do is connect to a VPN Japan server.

Surfshark does not offer a free Japan VPN version so you will need a subscription to use the VPN. There is, however, a 7-day free trial. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which can technically be used as a longer free trial as long as you request a refund within 30 days of the purchase. If you’re looking for an affordable VPN, Surfshark is it. It has some of the cheapest subscriptions, made even more affordable by the discounts available all year round for long-term plans. All plans come with additional features, so you can choose the plan based on which features you need in addition to traffic encryption. Surfshark’s affordable subscriptions are one of the reasons why we consider it to be the best VPN in Japan.