6 Best FREE VPN for Japan (Tested & Working in Oct 2023)
Lawrence Williams
Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, with 92% of the population connected to the internet. Japan does not have privacy issues such as invasive government surveillance and internet censorship. However, like with all countries, there’s content online that’s unavailable in Japan. That’s where a VPN comes in handy for residents, expats, and tourists.
A VPN (virtual private networks) changes your IP address, so you can bypass barriers to content that is restricted in a specific country. It can also help maintain anonymity and privacy for users’ online activities by encrypting the traffic. Read more…
Best VPN Server for Japan: Access to Japanese Content
Best VPN Service for Japan: Access Japanese Content
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#1 Best Overall
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| VPN Provider | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Atlas VPN | Surfshark |
| Number of servers: | 3,000+ | 5,000+ | 750+ | 3200+ |
| No. of Server Countries | 94 | 59 | 37 | 65 |
| 24/7 support | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Max connections | 5 | 6 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Our Review |
Excellent – 9.8
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Excellent – 9.7
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Good – 9.6
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Good – 9.5
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| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Link | Try Free Now | Try Free Now | Try Free Now | Try Free Now |
#1) ExpressVPN
Our #1 rated VPN
We rated ExpressVPN as our #1 VPN for Japan thanks to the privacy and security it provides. ExpressVPN masks your IP address and encrypts your traffic so third parties can’t see what you’re doing. They also don’t keep logs of your activities or connections. And that’s just the start!
ExpressVPN gives you the power to watch shows and movies not available in your region. From Netflix and Disney+, to iPlayer and Hulu, you can watch anything you want, no matter where you are. Is your favorite movie only available on U.S. Netflix? No worries! Just boot up ExpressVPN, sign in to a U.S. server, and you’re good to go.
Key Specs:
| Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows |
No of Servers: 3000+ | Server Countries: 94 | Split Tunneling: yes |
| Data Allowance: Unlimited | Torrenting: yes | Kill Switch: yes | |
| Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu. |
No-logging policy: yes | Ip addresses: Dynamic | Simultaneous Connection: Unlimited |
| Free Trial: Yes – 30 days |
Pros
Hides your IP and helps keep you anonymous online.
Best-in-class encryption and network kill switch helps keep your internet activity private.
Unblocks websites and services restricted or blocked in Japan, like U.S. Netflix.
Ultra-fast and secure servers thanks to exclusive Lightway protocol.
24/7 customer support staffed by real, highly-trained people.
Rated as “Excellent” with a 4.5 rating on Trustpilot from over 8,000 real customer reviews.
Protects your connection when connected to public Wi-Fi.
Cons
More costly compared to other VPNs.
It does not support IPV6.
Exclusive offer!
- Get 3 extra months FREE when you sign up for a 12-month ExpressVPN subscription. That’s a 49% saving! And if you’re not 100% satisfied, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to use ExpressVPN for Free:
- Start your risk-free ExpressVPN trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no costs.
- ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This VPN service provides flexible pricing plans making it an easy-to-use online privacy tool.
30-Day Free Trial
2) NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for Japan, which does not track, gather, or share your data. This VPN provides security by encrypting both sent and received data. It is one of the best VPNs for iPhone and Android that helps you prevent ads and malware. It also allows you to access many streaming sites with no hassle.
Key Specs:
| Supported Platforms: iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
No of Servers: 5000+ | Server Countries: 59 | Split Tunneling: Yes |
| Data Allowance: Unlimited | Torrenting: Yes | Kill Switch: Yes | |
| Able to unblock: Amazon Prime, Hulu, iPlayer, YouTube TV, Netflix |
No-logging policy: Yes | Ip addresses: Static | Simultaneous Connection: 6 |
| Free Trial: Yes – 30 days | Best for: Connecting P2P, double VPN, and onion over VPN servers. | ||
Pros
This VPN service provides good security.
No DNS leaks.
Provides payment methods like PayPal, credit cards, Google Pay, and Crypto Currencies.
This free VPN for torrenting protects with a double VPN.
Provides IPv6 leak protection.
Cons
NordVPN supports Torrenting only for a few servers.
Configuring this NordVPN with the OpenVPN VPN is not user-friendly.
How to use NordVPN for Free:
- Start your risk-free NordVPN trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no costs.
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It also offers flexible pricing plans, which makes it an easy to use and valuable privacy tool.
30-Day Free Trial
3) Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN allows you to discover a safer and more open internet. It offers the best-in-class WireGuard protocol to ensure secure and seamless gaming, streaming, and overall browsing experience. It enables you to access the internet from several IP addresses simultaneously.
Key Specs:
| Supported Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android |
No of Servers: 750+ | Server Countries: 37 | Split Tunneling: yes |
| Data Allowance: Unlimited | Torrenting: yes | Kill Switch: yes | |
| Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu. |
No-logging policy: yes | Ip addresses: Dynamic | Simultaneous Connection: Unlimited |
| Free Trial: Yes – 30 days |
Pros
It provides support for WireGuard tunneling protocol.
Decent speeds during daily use.
Local and faraway servers showed similar speeds.
Mobile-optimized apps for Android and iOS
Atlas VPN offers a high level of protection with built-in 2-factor authentication
24/7 support via email chat
Cons
Currently not available for Linux
Does not provide any dedicated IP-addresses
How to use Atlas VPN for Free:
- Start your risk-free AtlasVPN trial. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no costs.
- Atlas VPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This VPN service provides flexible pricing plans according to your needs.
30-Day Free Trial
4) Surfshark
Surfshark provides fast and secure private Internet access. This VPN tool offers secure tunneling protocols like IKEv2 and OpenVPN. It is one of the best VPNs for Japan, which makes your physical location private and helps you to keep your sensitive information secure.
This VPN allows websites and apps to bypass the VPN blocks. It also helps you to protect your identity by hiding your real IP address. It doesn’t log your IP, WebRTC, and provides DNS leak protection.
This VPN offers a P2P (Point to Point) connection via VPN on certain servers. This software helps you block any unwanted websites. This VPN service also helps you share your IP with other people who use the same server. It is one of the best VPNs that helps you to bookmark your favorite locations.
Key Specs:
| Supported Platforms: Windows, iOS, Mac, Android, and Linux |
No of Servers: 3200+ | Server Countries: 65 | Split Tunneling: Yes |
| Data Allowance: Unlimited | Torrenting: Yes | Kill Switch: Yes | |
| Able to unblock: Amazon Prime, iPlayer, Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu |
No-logging policy: Yes | Ip addresses: Static | Simultaneous Connection: Unlimited |
| Free Trial: Yes – 30-day free trial | Best for: Streaming, Browsing, and Gaming. | ||
Pros
Provides anonymous browsing with good security.
Supports numerous applications.
This VPN for Japan offers good customer support.
It provides good server connection speed.
You can keep your data private using the AES-256 encryption technique.
Cons
It does not offer access to the Tor browser via VPN.
This application has a complicated setup process.
Weak social media presence.
How to use Surfshark for Free:
- Start your risk-free trial of Surfshark. You can cancel your subscription at any time. There are no hidden costs.
- Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It provides different plans for online privacy and protection.
30-Day Free Trial
5) Private Internet Access
Best for Security
Private Internet Access offers excellent data privacy for users. Their security is very high with military-grade encryption, and it’s packaged with quick internet speeds.
It is an open-source VPN, so it lets other developers use what has worked for them to develop other VPN software. This also reduces the risks of vulnerabilities, as patches are constantly being made to keep information safe.
Features:
- Effective killswitch: A good killswitch will ensure that if your VPN connection ever drops, all your internet access will be shut down.
- Built-in ad blocking: All your ads will block ads and trackers.
- Leading Protocols: Private Internet Access uses trustworthy open-source protocols which ensure your data remains safe. Supports OpenVPN, Wireguard, and IPsec.
- No Log Policy: has a firm 100% no-log policy. Your browsing history, IP address, and DNS queries are never stored on their servers. It has been proven true in court twice and by independent audits.
- Multihop: The multihop feature is an interesting option that allows you to route your traffic through two VPN servers. Using an additional VPN server adds an extra step that makes your online activities harder to track.
Key Specs:
| Supported Platforms: iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, and Microsoft Windows. |
No of Servers: 10,000+ | Server Countries: 84+ countries | Split Tunneling: Yes |
| Data Allowance: Unlimited Bandwidth | Torrenting: Yes | Kill Switch: Yes | |
| Able to unblock: YouTube TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu |
No-logging policy: Yes | Ip addresses: Static | Simultaneous Connection: 10+ |
| Free Trial: No- 30 days money-back guarantee |
Pros
Configurable split-tunneling
It prevents your school from seeing traffic information if your VPN fails.
Free trial includes up to 10 devices.
Allows auto-connect rules, so your VPN connects for some networks and not others.
Cons
The app can require troubleshooting from time to time.
Unreliable internet speeds.
How To Get Private Internet Access for Free?
Go to this link. Signup for the cheapest plan. Download and enjoy the VPN. Claim a refund under the 30-days moneyback guarantee.
30 days money-back guarantee
6) FastestVPN
FastestVPN is a lifetime VPN subscription service based in the Cayman Islands that offers lightning-speed processing, ultra-safe encryption services, split tunneling, and more.
It is one of the few legitimate lifetime subscription services. At just $40 for lifetime access, this company offers one of the best deals available. Moreover, this company has servers in 39+ countries and over 55+ locations.
Key Specs:
| Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and more |
No of Servers: 600+ | Server Countries: 39+ | Split Tunneling: Yes |
| Data Allowance: Unlimited | Torrenting: Yes | Kill Switch: Yes | |
| Able to unblock: Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and more |
No-logging policy: Yes | Ip addresses: Dynamic | Simultaneous Connection: 10 |
| Free Trial: 7-Days | Best for: Cheapest Lifetime VPN Subscription | ||
Pros
Lifetime access includes 10 multi-logins
Offers 2TB Cloud Storage
Unblock capabilities (Netflix, Disney+, HotStar, Amazon, etc.)
Cons
Extra fee for additional devices.
Split tunneling only on iOS and Android apps.
Choice of protocol:
VPN protocols are rules that determine how data moves from your computer to the server.
It supports numerous protocols to connect the server of your desired country. FastestVPN allows you to choose a good protocol like WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec, OpenConnect, L2TP, and more. It makes sure that you get a secure and stable connection.
Forced 256-Bit AES encryption:
FastestVPN has compulsorily enforced the use of 256-bit AES encryption for all the users. This feature enables you to secure your connection against cyberattacks. It also provides protection from malicious attacks and hides your online identity.
How to use FastestVPN for Free:
- Start your risk-free trial for FastestVPN
- You can cancel your subscription at any time within 15 days. You get your money back – no questions asked
- If you like the service, you may continue the subscription, as it costs just $40 for a lifetime subsription!
15-Day Money-back Guarantee
Online security and privacy risks in Japan
There are three main groups that can steal your data and harm your security and privacy. One is the criminals, the second is government spooks, and the third is commercial enterprises. Therefore, using public WiFi is risky as it contains an unencrypted format and is also vulnerable to hackers.
Japan has a strict law against copying illegal downloading of games or movies. It is basically a criminal offense punishable for two years imprisonment.
Privacy Laws in Japan
Currently, there is no form of law that imposes Internet censorship in Japan. Moreover, there are no restrictions for accessing national or international content and social media websites. This is basically due to Japan’s constitution that protects all forms of prohibitions of censorship and speech.
Japan lawmakers passed the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets in the year 2013. This law was passed afterward, and a recommendation was sent by the minister of communication. It was stated to subject Cyberspace with regulations that bind newspapers and television channels.
Finally, the UN carried out an investigation in this country. During this analysis, United Nations delegates met with different educators, government officials, and Journalists. After the end of the investigation, they confirmed that Japan is facing serious privacy issues.
Online Censorship in Japan
Japan is a country that has not directly imposed censorship on online content. Many privacy sites in April 2018 were blocked by many ISPs on the order of the Japanese government. This act has created tensions between intellectual property protection and users’ rights to private communications. Therefore, it is good that you use a VPN to overcome such a situation.
How to access Netflix Japan via VPN?
You can easily access Japanese Content on Netflix and other OTT platforms using a NordVPN or similar VPN:
Step 1) Go to NordVPN Website. Press the Start Now button. This will takes you to the subscription page.
Step 2) NordVPN offers three plans: a) 1 month, b) 1 year, and c) 2 years.
Choose your desired plan. Continue to create an account, select and pay via your desired payment option.
Step 3) Your NordVPN subscription has started.
You can log in to the NordVPN website and download the installation file for your desired platform. Below we download the app for Windows.
Step 4) Install and launch NordVPN.
Select Japan as the country and connect VPN.
Step 5) Open Netflix and log in to your account.
You will be able to access all the videos available in Japan.
Video of Best VPN (ExpressVPN vs NordVPN vs AtlasVPN)
FAQs:
A VPN is a private network that uses a public network to connect users or remote websites. The VPN network uses a virtual connection that is passed through the Internet from the enterprise’s private network or a third-party VPN service to the remote site. It is a free or paid service that keeps your web browsing secure and private over public WiFi hotspots. If you want to learn about What is a VPN?, here’s a free tutorial you’ll want to check out: Virtual Private Network Tutorial
Here are the best VPNs for Japan:
Virtual Private Network is a useful application that provides an extra layer of security while surfing the Internet. It helps you safeguard your online activity when using a public network and spoofing your location to access geo-restricted content.
The above-mentioned Japan VPNs have all these features. These programs help you get access to a specific server location across Japan. So, you can easily access services like native TV broadcasts of Japan and the Netflix library.
All the above VPNs are available free as a trial. These Virtual Private Networks are available with full functionalities for premium plans. Once the trial is over, you need to purchase it to continue using these applications.
Yes. You can use a free VPN in Japan, but they are not as safe as a paid VPN. You are putting your online privacy at risk by using a free Virtual Private Network. You will experience slower Internet speeds and problems connecting with free VPN programs. Therefore, it is not a better option to use a free Virtual Private Network that compromises security by logging and selling your personal data to third-party advertisers. You need to choose a premium VPN for a 30 days money-back guarantee.
Yes, Virtual Private Network is legal in japan. This country does not have any laws on using VPN. So, anyone can use them with no issue.
By using a VPN from a Japanese proxy server or Japan, you can browse the Internet anonymously. This is because you are using different IPs that do not relate to your actual location. VPN also encrypts all your Internet traffic and secures you from hackers and snoopers. Therefore, Virtual Private Network is a better option to protect your privacy.
- In communication with the VPN server, the VPN client uses the data encryption method. This helps you to access the website or data that you like to access.
- In VPN, the client hides your query from your router and ISP, while the VPN software hides your identity from the webpage or web application that you are using.
- It enhances your security when you are using any public WiFi network. VPN services are widely used for online banking, shopping, or sending official emails using an open network to secure your data. It also stops your hackers or ISP from spying on your online activities and your traffic.
No-log VPNs are applications that do not exchange your sensitive information using the network. This VPN software enables you to connect to your devices securely over the Internet. These types of VPNs do not store your data. So, these applications are reliable to use.
Split tunneling in a Virtual Private Network enables you to route your application or device traffic through an encrypted VPN. It is helpful to connect your ideal location and enjoy secure access to sensitive data over the Internet.
Onion over VPN is better because it is secure than double Virtual Private Network. Double VPN routes traffic through 2 servers. The onion over VPN routes traffic through more than one node to add complexity to detection. The only drawback with Onion Over VPN is that it is slower.
A Smart DNS service is useful for VPN users in Japan because it can be easily utilized to bypass geo-restrictions. You can take advantage of VPNs mentioned in this article that offer free Domain Name System service upon subscription.
Before starting your search for a good and reliable free VPN in Japan, let’s first check if such a thing is possible. There are many free VPNs available, but they aren’t as good as paid ones.
Free VPNs have limited features and are very slow. They might also steal your data—the opposite of what a good VPN is supposed to do.
We recommend using a risk-free VPN instead of free VPNs.Paid VPNs are far better than free VPNs, offering more features and enhanced security and privacy.
Risk-free VPNs, like ExpressVPN, ofen offer a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee.
If you’re looking for a risk-free VPN, ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the two best VPNs in the market today. These VPNs are 100% risk-free and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Best VPN Service for Japan: Access Japanese Content
|
#1 Best Overall
|
|
|
|
|
| VPN Provider | ExpressVPN | NordVPN | Atlas VPN | Surfshark |
| Number of servers: | 3,000+ | 5,000+ | 750+ | 3200+ |
| No. of Server Countries | 94 | 59 | 37 | 65 |
| 24/7 support | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Max connections | 5 | 6 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Our Review |
Excellent – 9.8
|
Excellent – 9.7
|
Good – 9.6
|
Good – 9.5
|
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Link | Try Free Now | Try Free Now | Try Free Now | Try Free Now |