Best Japan VPN services 2023

Which are the best Japan VPN services available in 2023? This is a question that many gamers will ask themselves, since Japan is such a hub for video game development, and there’s a long list of iconic games that never make the journey to the west.

Our top pick is ExpressVPN (and we’ll explain why below), but we understand that it might not be for everybody, so we also have four other options too, including our choice of the fastest VPN, and the best cheap VPN. Regardless of your needs or your budget, we’re sure that we’ll have a VPN recommendation that’s just right for you.

The best Japan VPN services are:

1. ExpressVPN – best for Japan
2. Private Internet Access – best price
3. CyberGhost – best for streaming
4. NordVPN – best for speed
5. Surfshark – best for unlimited devices

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best Japan VPN.

ExpressVPN overview:

Pros:

• Servers available in Tokyo, Shibuya, and Yokohama
• Uses the fantastic Lightway protocol

Cons:

• Pricing is a little bit higher than certain others
• No free trial

As we said above, ExpressVPN is our choice for the best Japan VPN. Not only is it one of the best VPN services overall, but it has a choice of servers in Tokyo, Shibuya, and Yokohama. This provider uses the TrustedServer system as well, which means that nothing of your data is written to its servers.

Additionally, ExpressVPN refreshes its servers’ IP addresses at a greater frequency than many of its competitors, meaning that even if you find that you can’t access a certain service or website with the VPN on, the chances are that it’ll reset its IP and be unblocked again before too long. It might be one of the more expensive VPN services out there, but the level of quality means that it’s worth the cost.

One of its most appealing features is the Lightway protocol, which enables it to encrypt your private data with lightning-quick speed. It’s a great way to enjoy all your favorite content from Japan without any huge, disgusting corporations breathing down your neck.

Read our ExpressVPN review to find out more.

2. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is the best cheap Japan VPN.

Private Internet Access overview:

Pros:

• Huge server selection, including locations in Japan
• Affordable pricing

Cons:

• Can be slightly slower than others
• No free trial

If you’re after a cheap Japan VPN option, then your best bet is Private Internet Access. With WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec protocols available for its Japanese VPN servers, it’s a good choice for anyone who needs to connect through Japan, and its prices are a fair bit lower than many other VPN providers too.

It also has a pretty decent allowance for simultaneous connections. While it isn’t quite unlimited, it still lets you use up to ten devices simultaneously on the same plan. This is significantly more than most other VPNs, which typically only let you have five connections at a time.

As for its server count, Private Internet Access is one of the best you’ll find (with over 35,000 servers in total), meaning that it’ll be particularly handy for anyone who might have the need to connect through other regions as well. On top of that, it also offers up to ten simultaneous connections (a good total) and has a kill switch, a no-logs policy, and all the other standard privacy features of a VPN.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is the best VPN for streaming in Japan.

CyberGhost overview:

Pros:

• Over 100 servers available in Japan
• Broad streaming platform compatibility

Cons:

• Can be slightly slower than other top providers
• Free trial doesn’t give you a lot of time

Do you need to access the streaming libraries of Japan while in other countries? Well, in that case, CyberGhost may be the VPN to serve you best. Not only does it have over 100 servers located in the country, but it’s a service that’s pretty good at by-passing the systems that streaming platforms put in place in order to block VPNs, so it’s one ghost that you’re not going to want to vanquish.

On top of that, among its selection of Japanese servers, there are even options that have been specifically optimized for steaming movies and TV shows. This’ll make sure you’re getting the best possible performance for the task at hand.

Other CyberGhost benefits include the ability to have up to seven simultaneous connections (and while several offer more, many also offer less), as well as providing customers with a 45-day money-back guarantee. If you need time to make sure that your VPN can access all of the services you need it to, then a month-and-a-half-long grace period should be plenty.

Read our CyberGhost review for more about this service.

4. NordVPN

NordVPN is the fastest VPN for Japan.

NordVPN overview:

Pros:

• Over 100 servers available in Japan
• Offers super-fast download speeds

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than some of the other choices
• No free trial

NordVPN is the fastest VPN service, and with over 100 servers located within Japan, it’s the ideal solution for anybody who needs a Japanese VPN and prioritizes speed. When compared against other top providers on OpenVPN, this was found to be the fastest one by a fair bit.

NordVPN also uses the WireGuard protocol to bring you NordLynx, which allows it to encrypt your data with an even higher level of speed. Admittedly, its server range (which spans 60 countries) is a little lower than some of the other options included in this list, but if you’re primarily concerned with finding Japanese servers, then that won’t be a problem.

It is also a little bit expensive, but, ultimately, NordVPN offers a really good service and it is compatible with the majority of streaming platforms too. It’s one of the most well-known and respected providers in the arena and it is well-deserving of its reputation.

Find out more about this provider in our NordVPN review.

5. Surfshark

Surfshark is the best Japan VPN for unlimited devices.

Surfshark overview:

Pros:

• Allows for unlimited simultaneous connections
• Offers a selection of Japanese IP addresses

Cons:

• Fewer server locations overall
• Smaller total server count

Need a way to connect through Japanese servers for the whole family? Well, in that case, we reckon that Surfshark will be the VPN to use. In addition to Japanese servers, Surfshark is one of the few VPN providers that allow for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections, so no matter how big your household is and how many devices they’re all using at once, they can all use the VPN with just one plan.

Admittedly, outside of Japan, it has a smaller number of locations around the world than some of the other major VPNs. This won’t be a problem for anyone primarily concerned with connecting through Japan, but it’s worth keeping in mind

Surfshark is also one of the only providers to offer a VPN free trial. If you want to be completely sure that it’ll work properly with your favorite websites and online services, you’ll have seven days where you can take it for a spin, and if that isn’t enough time to feel confident investing your money, there’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee after you start the subscription.

Find out more about this VPN in our Surfshark review.

How we chose the best Japan VPN

When deciding which providers to include in this list, we judged them based on the following criteria:

• Pricing: The scope and pricing of VPN services vary pretty significantly. Some of the bigger providers are really comprehensive, but so expensive that they wouldn’t be affordable to a lot of people. We wanted to cover a range of options that encompass the needs of readers on different budgets.
• Japanese servers: Naturally, the biggest consideration for whether to not to include a VPN on this list is whether or not it has servers in Japan. Every provider on this list has servers in that region.
• Compatibility: Some VPNs will allow you to connect through other regions, but won’t be compatible with most gaming or streaming services. All the VPNs on this list are broadly compatible with most services – if you opt to go for one outside of this list, we recommend doing some research into whether or not it works with your favorite services.
• Free trial: The best way to tell if a VPN is going to do what you want it to is with a free trial. Unfortunately, a lot of the major providers fail to provide one, but we wanted to include at least one for good measure. With the others, you’ll instead have to fall back on the 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more about how we create these lists, read our how we test page. If you have any other questions, read our FAQs below:

Which VPNs should I avoid?

Avoid VPNs that don’t have a no-logs policy. These ones will be gathering data on you and selling it to the highest bidder. Privacy-wise, you’re probably better off not having a VPN at all, rather than one that doesn’t have a no-logs policy. Of course, if you want a Japan VPN in particular, avoid any provider that doesn’t have servers in that region.

Can I get a virus with a VPN on?

Yes. VPNs keep your internet activities private and prevent sinister parties from accumulating data on you, but that doesn’t stop viruses from being downloaded onto your PC. You’ll need some of the best antivirus software to do that.

How do I get a Japanese VPN?

If you mean a VPN that has servers located in Japan, the process for getting one is no different from getting any other VPN. You just need to check a provider’s server list first and make sure it has some Japanese connection points. Every provider on this list can do that.

If you need a VPN that can also connect through other countries, we have guides on the best Canadian VPN, and the best Indian VPN which may serve you well.