What is the legality of VPNs in Japan?

No law in Japan restricts or bans the use of VPNs. However, you can get into hot waters if you use it to do illegal activities like downloading copyrighted content. Besides, here at PrivacySavvy, we don't encourage you to use a VPN to commit illegality.

Do I need to use a VPN in Japan?

If you live in Japan, you already have an IP address. So, what is the need for a VPN? First, it will come in handy in unblocking geo-blocked content in whatever country you want. Second, although Japan's internet is not censored, your ISP and government can still monitor your activities. However, with a VPN, you can browse securely and anonymously.

Can I get a dedicated Japan IP address?

Yes, several premium VPNs provide dedicated IP addresses. This is where you use an IP address alone without sharing it with anyone. The advantage is that you are less likely to get blocked, and your speed will improve significantly, especially when there is a high traffic load on the server. But, unfortunately, it is effortless to track your activities.

Why are pocket WiFis popular in Japan?

Pocket WiFi or mobile WiFi is popular in Japan because it provides convenient access to the internet. Also, it allows you to connect any device, including your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Moreover, pocket WiFi offers generous data plans, competitive pricing, and robust coverage.

Can malicious actors use my IP address to track my identity?

No, an IP address alone cannot expose your identity but can reveal your general location. Thankfully, this does not disclose the exact place you are browsing from. However, when combined with other metadata, such as browsing history, it can show more about you. Fortunately, you will be assigned a new IP address when you connect to a VPN server, which gives you improved anonymity and security.

5 best VPNs for Japan in 2023 (online freedom and privacy all the time)

Sneak peek at Japan VPNs

Japan lists at the top among the technologically advanced countries. It provides its citizens with internet freedom by employing minimal government surveillance and censorship laws. Social media sites, apps, blogs, and other such content is also in easy access for the users. However, there are strict laws against downloading copyrighted content. That is something alarming if you frequently torrent. Hence, you must use a reliable VPN for secure and anonymous torrenting. This way, no one can monitor your online activities, and you can easily browse the internet with masked IP and robust security. The best Japan VPNs offer reliable and fast servers in Japan that can evade geo-restrictions, thus letting you access the local content otherwise unavailable abroad. You can take a look at the top and tested VPNs for Japan in this guide.

Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. In fact, it has a high internet penetration rate. Fortunately, government censorship and surveillance are minimal compared to neighbors like China, Russia, and North Korea.

However, there are stringent laws that prohibit downloading copyrighted content. Also, the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets does not clearly define what national secrets are. This is why you should consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It will conceal your actual IP address and encrypt your connections so that no one can track your online activities.

Apart from preserving your anonymity and security, a VPN is helpful in many different ways. For instance, it will help you bypass geo-restrictions of popular streaming sites and services. Also, you can connect to servers in other countries to save money on shopping and flight tickets.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to choose the best Japan VPNs, how to get a Japanese IP address when abroad, and much more.

The best Japan VPNs – The quick list

We will look more at each service, but here is a summary of the best VPNs for Japan if you are short on time:

NordVPN – The best VPN to bypass Japan content geo-restrictions. It has more than 5,149 servers worldwide, including 80+ in Japan. Also, it offers AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, kill switch, and CyberSec adblocker.
Surfshark – Affordable VPN for Japan. It comes with one server in Japan, AES 256-bit encryption, CleanWeb ad blocker, camouflage mode, unlimited simultaneous connections, and more features.
ExpressVPN – Fastest VPN for Japan. It operates over 3,000 servers globally, with 3 in Japan. Some of the features you will get include MediaStreamer, no-logs policy, AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, and kill switch.
PrivateVPN – Safe VPN for Japan. The VPN offers essential VPN features such as 128/256-bit encryption, no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, and unblocks streaming sites.
IPVanish – User-friendly VPN for Japan. It has helpful features such as unlimited simultaneous connections, AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, DNS leak protection, and fast-speed servers.

Things to consider when choosing the best Japan VPNs

A reliable VPN should be able to keep you safe and anonymous as well as help you bypass geo-restrictions effortlessly. Here are some of the factors to look out for before you settle on a particular VPN service.

Server network

Select a VPN with an extensive network with servers placed in strategic locations like the US, France, and of course, Japan. In addition, it should also offer a wide variety of shared and recycled IP addresses to keep you completely private.

Besides Japan, having servers in other countries will enable you to access more content on sites such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Also, by connecting to a local server, you can stream domestic blocked content at high speed. Usually, a nearby server produces better speed than an international one.

Privacy policy

One of the primary reasons for using a VPN is to maintain your online privacy. Therefore, look for a privacy-focused VPN that boasts a transparent privacy policy. This means that the provider shouldn’t retain any of your identifiable information. Also, it should be placed in privacy-friendly countries like Panama, Switzerland, or the British Virgin Islands.

Robust security

A reliable VPN should safeguard your data and traffic from snoopers like your ISP, government, and hackers. So, look out for security features like AES encryption, kill switch, DNS leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and advanced tunneling protocols. This will keep you safe when browsing, streaming, torrenting, and using public WiFi.