The Best VPN Service for Japan in 2024

NordVPN consistently shows up high on our lists of the best VPNs, and there’s definitely a good reason for that. In my experience, it’s one of the best, most well-rounded VPNs on the market. It strikes a great balance between speed and security, and it has served me well on lots of vacations and business trips.

Japanese Servers

Nord has over 6,000 servers worldwide, including 130 in Japan. That’s good news for travelers and expats who want to protect their connection in Japan without sacrificing performance. Nord also takes the guesswork out of server selection for you, since its smart algorithm will automatically select the fastest server based on your location and automatically connect. One of my less tech-savvy friends told me recently, “You know, NordVPN is so simple, I actually use it.” That’s a pretty strong sentiment when you think about it.

Security

Another selling point is that NordVPN uses RAM-only servers, which, coupled with its independently verified no-log policy, means it’s among the most private VPNs available. But, what makes NordVPN’s RAM-only servers one of the best no-log VPNs? Well, RAM requires power to store data, so every time a server is cycled down — which happens frequently — everything is wiped. Even if Nord wanted to share your data, there would be nothing to share — and that has been confirmed by Deloitte.

Speed

You’ve probably heard that VPNs slow down your connection speeds. That’s technically true, but it’s a bit of a blanket statement that may turn people off from their use. It’s more accurate to say advanced VPNs may slow down your performance slightly, but it’s rare that the slowdowns are noticeable. That’s the case with NordVPN. I was using it at a party just a few weeks ago to show my friends how to unlock Netflix libraries in other countries, and we were streaming from all over the world without so much as a buffering issue. Simply put, it’s one of the most consistently fast VPNs I’ve tested.

To illustrate this point, here’s some data from my most recent speed test with NordVPN. Your results may vary, but this is pretty representative of my experience with the VPN overall.

NordVPN Speed Test

Cost

I have a full breakdown of NordVPN’s subscription packages and prices, but the short version is this: NordVPN’s month-to-month costs are a little expensive, but the prices decrease dramatically when you sign up for a one- or two-year term. Good news, since I know flights to Japan are pretty expensive.

NordVPN Prices

When you’re traveling, you have to protect more than just your laptop (or your desktop, if you’re like me and haul that thing around the world too). You need a VPN that will protect your phone, too, since it’s likely the device you’ll use the most while you’re checking out all the sites in Tokyo and beyond. And wouldn’t you know it, I have a VPN that performs exceptionally well on mobile.

Japanese Servers

Surfshark is a great option for folks traveling to Japan, especially if you’re going to be on your phone a lot. More on that in a second, because first I want to talk about the company’s 62 Japanese servers. You can connect to both dynamic and static IP addresses in the country, and you’re never going to be far from a server site. That’s an important determining factor when I’m selecting which VPN to use in the country I’m traveling to. If it doesn’t have a large footprint there, I usually look for another provider.

Security

Surfshark offers a lot of great security features, such as military-grade encryption, RAM-only servers, a kill switch that will work on your Android or iPhone, and server obfuscation, which prevents ISPs and intrusive governments from recognizing you’re using a VPN. What’s a kill switch, you ask? Good question. It’s a function that will kill your internet connection if the VPN service is interrupted.

>> Check Out: VPN Encryption Guide

It has saved me more than once while traveling. Most recently, I was in a cafe in Vietnam checking my bank account on my phone when my internet died. I didn’t immediately realize what was going on, but Surfshark’s kill switch had flipped, likely due to an unstable internet connection. I can’t say for sure that I would have fallen victim to some cybercrime if the kill switch hadn’t gone off, but I’m glad I didn’t have to find out the hard way!

Speed

In my experience, Surfshark’s speeds are plenty fast for bandwidth-sucking activities, so they’re more than capable of getting you through your day-to-day without annoying slowdowns. Speaking of those activities, I have lists of the best VPNs for streaming and the best VPNs for torrenting. In my experience, Surfshark consistently performs a little better on Mac than it does on PC, but the differences aren’t extreme.

>> Learn More: Best VPNs for Mac

Speed tests aren’t universal; they give you a moment-in-time picture of how a VPN is performing. One of the most recent tests I performed with Surfshark, however, was pretty representative of its performance overall.

Cost

Surfshark’s costs are right on par with NordVPN, and its month-to-month packages are similarly a little pricey at $15.45. You’ll save significantly if you sign up for a one-year or two-year term. There are some more affordable VPNs on our list, though, so keep reading if these prices are making you think twice. The next VPN is way cheaper.

Surfshark Prices

I’m going to tell you a secret: Most high-end, modern VPNs will offer many of the same basic services. That means the providers are constantly looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the competition. Private Internet Access (PIA) does that by offering a massive number of servers, as well as a high level of customizability in its app. If you want knobs to turn and levers to pull to get the most out of your VPN experience, PIA may be the right service for you.

Japanese Servers

It’s a little tough to find information on server breakdowns by country with PIA, but it had nearly 200 servers in Japan the last time we were able to get an accurate count. Whether you’re in Kyushu in the south or Hokkaido in the north, you should be covered. Worldwide, PIA has a whopping 65,000 servers, which is orders of magnitude more than the other VPN providers on this list. That means PIA is one of the best VPNs for travelers, whether you’re going to Japan, Spain, the Netherlands, or anywhere else your passport may take you. (See our guide to the best VPNs for the Netherlands if you’ll be in that neck of the woods.)

>> Learn More: Our Favorite VPNs for Spain

Security

PIA is another provider that offers a RAM-only server fleet coupled with a strict third-party-audited no-log policy. That’s the gold standard when it comes to protecting your privacy online, and it’s what really makes my VPN-dork heart sing. PIA also does split tunneling really well, which allows you to route certain traffic through the VPN while leaving other connections traditional. I’ve used PIA’s split-tunneling feature to watch Hulu libraries from other countries while keeping up with my work email — sometimes certain clients and apps don’t play well with VPNs — so this is definitely a useful feature.

Speed

Here’s another secret: I’m not going to include any VPN on this list that will slow you down to the point you want to tear out your hair. PIA performs really well day to day, which isn’t a huge surprise with the size of its server network. In my most recent tests, I found that speeds were more affected on my MacBook Air than they were on my Vivobook running Windows 10, but again, speeds are determined by a large number of factors.

To drill down a bit further, below are the results of my most recent PIA speed test. The long and short of it is that PIA performs well under a variety of circumstances.

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>> Learn About: Best VPNs for Windows

Cost

PIA is one of the more inexpensive options on this list. Two interesting things about PIA’s costs, though, are that you get an unlimited number of connections with your subscription — other providers, such as CyberGhost, limit it to five or 10 — and you can pay for your subscription with gift cards. If your weird uncle got you a Best Buy gift card for your birthday this year, you can use it to protect yourself online while you’re traveling in Japan. What a time to be alive.

Here’s what PIA’s prices look like.

Private Internet Access Pricing Breakdown

Studying abroad in Japan next semester? CyberGhost may be the right VPN for you, especially if you were a broke college student like I was (we’ve all been there). It offers a whopping 79 percent off for students on top of its already low prices. That means more ramen for you!

It’s also one of the best VPNs for streaming ESPN+, Hulu, Disney+, or whatever other platform you prefer. Thanks to CyberGhost’s sophisticated server network, your traffic will make it past most blockers. Just don’t get distracted from your studies.

Japanese Servers

Out of all the VPNs on our list, CyberGhost has the fewest server locations in Japan, with just one. Keep in mind, though, that’s just the location. The company runs 232 Japanese servers in total – more than any other VPN on this list. Could the geographical concentration in Tokyo be a problem? Maybe, if you’re spending your whole vacation on the Northern tip of Hokkaido. But we think Tokyo is central enough that most people won’t notice any lag.

Security

CyberGhost is yet another VPN provider with a great no-log policy and a RAM-only server fleet running 256-bit AES encryption. It doesn’t get much better than that if you’re looking for anonymity. That means it’s highly unlikely that CyberGhost will ever suffer a data breach, and it would be difficult for hackers to gather any useful data from the provider even if they spent the time and effort it would take to get into CyberGhost’s system. And that means cybercriminals are highly unlikely to bother trying.

Speed

If you haven’t gathered by now, I’m a big fan of streaming using a VPN. It’s a fun way to see what’s going on in other parts of the world, or, on the flip side, watch something familiar when you’re traveling abroad. On a recent two-week business trip to Singapore, I used CyberGhost to access my Netflix from back in the States so I could watch “Seinfeld” on a particularly lonely night. (It’s nice to have a little bit of familiarity sometimes.) In order to do that, you’ll need a fast VPN that won’t slow down your connection speeds. CyberGhost is a great example.

As far as the data goes, here is the result of my most recent CyberGhost speed test. Keep in mind, though, that I’m not saying this will be your experience. It’s just a good approximation of what you can expect.

CyberGhost Speed Test

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>> Learn More: The Best VPNs for Singapore

Cost

CyberGhost’s prices are more aligned with PIA than with Surfshark or NordVPN, both of which are a little more expensive month to month and when you sign up for a longer subscription. CyberGhost’s month-to-month plans cost $12.99, which works out to $2.11 per month when you sign up for two years. It does, however, offer that killer 79 percent student discount.

CyberGhost’s Costs

I get that you may be a little hesitant to start using a VPN every day, especially while you’re traveling to Japan. What if it’s a hassle to use? What if it slows down your connection speeds too much? You may be interested in checking out Proton VPN. It’s one of the few providers that offers an honest free version of its product so you can try it out, or, if the free version works for your purposes, you can just use it indefinitely.

>> Check Out: Top Free VPNs

Japanese Servers

ProtonVPN has 51 servers in Japan, and over 4,000 worldwide. It’s not a huge fleet, but it’s definitely respectable. I’ve tested these servers from the States, and they’ll definitely allow you to access specific Japanese content and unlock streaming libraries as if you were in the country. If you’ve read my other reviews, you know I like Japanese game shows and I’ve used Proton to access them without fail. All aces there.

>> Further Reading: Best VPNs for Netflix

Security

Unfortunately, ProtonVPN is the first on our list that uses traditional servers rather than RAM-only arrays. It’s not the worst thing in the world though. Until a few years ago, that’s how all VPNs worked. What Proton does have, though, is an air-tight no-log policy that has been confirmed by Securitum, a leading European security-auditing company that conducts over 300 security testing projects every year for major corporations and banks. It uncovered no significant security issues when it took a look at Proton.

Proton also has the distinction of being the VPN trusted by journalists across the world who need to protect the identities of sources sharing sensitive information. Its sister product, Proton Mail, encrypts communications and anonymized information, helping protect whistleblowers revealing crucial information the world needs to know — particularly in restrictive regimes. I can certainly forgive Proton for using traditional technologies.

>> Learn More: Best VPNs for China

Speed

I tested Proton VPN on a MacBook Pro running macOS Mojave and a ThinkPad T430 running Windows 10, and I used the Quick Connect option in the app to connect to the optimal servers in Brooklyn, where I live. It performed significantly better on the Windows computer, but take that with a grain of salt. My download speeds remained above 60 Mbps every time I tested it, so the slowdowns weren’t all that noticeable. Here’s a quick breakdown of my latest Proton test:

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 Cost

ProtonVPN’s costs are right in the middle of the road. It’s not as expensive as NordVPN month to month, but a one- or two-year subscription is about a dollar more. For just VPN service, NordVPN costs $12.99 month to month, $4.59 per month if you pay for a year upfront, and $3.09 per month if you pay for two years upfront.

ProtonVPN’s Costs

Where ProtonVPN really stands out, though, is its free version. It’s available indefinitely, which means the trial will never expire. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll be using a stripped-down version of the product. You’ll have access to only three server locations — hey, at least one of them is in Japan — and you’ll be able to use only one device per account. No bandwidth caps, though, so that’s good news if you want a free VPN for torrenting.

>> Read About: Top-Rated VPNs With Free Trials

Just like with the other VPN providers, one of the coolest things you can do with PureVPN is use it to watch Netflix in other countries. Netflix frowns on the practice, but so far it has never taken action against users for doing it — it has just upgraded its software to detect and block traditional VPN traffic. You’ll just need a modern provider like PureVPN to bypass the filters while you’re in Japan.

Beyond helping users stream, PureVPN offers great performance regardless of the computer you’re using — although I’ve found it tends to work a little better on Mac devices — and since it’s headquartered in Hong Kong, you won’t run into any international data-sharing agreements. There is something I need to discuss about its no-log policy, though, which I’ll get to in a second.

Japanese Servers

PureVPN is another provider with a pretty massive server fleet — around 6,000 in total, 110 of which are located in Tokyo. To put that in context, NordVPN’s numbers are almost identical — about 6,000 servers with 130 locations in Japan. PIA, on the other hand, has 65,000 servers with 180 in Japan.

A large number of servers definitely plays a role in the overall performance of a VPN, and PureVPN definitely gets it right. I use the service to stream content pretty regularly — most recently on a trip across Europe with my wife. In our hotel room, we were able to keep up with her reality TV — much to her pleasure (and my chagrin).

Here’s a quick look at the data on my most recent PureVPN speed test. Keep in mind, your results may be a little different.

PureVPN Speed Test

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Security

PureVPN is a secure service that uses traditional servers and relies on the strength of its independent audit to verify that it isn’t keeping any information it shouldn’t be. There is one caveat to that: In 2017, it provided limited information to the FBI that helped convict a Massachusetts man of cyberstalking. That may give you pause, or you may think you have nothing to worry about if you’re not using the VPN to do illegal stuff. I can definitely see both sides of the argument, and I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

Speed

As you’d expect with such a large server base, PureVPN’s speeds are consistently fast. In my most recent test, PureVPN was working a little better on my MacBook Pro than on my ThinkPad, but only minimally. My download speeds were still in the triple digits, and my uploads were in the doubles. Latency increased noticeably on the ThinkPad, so you may want to think twice about PureVPN if you’re going to use your VPN for gaming.

Cost

Similar to NordVPN, Surfshark, and others on this list, PureVPN offers different tiers of service — which I unpack fully in my guide to PureVPN’s subscription packages — and, like those providers, the month-to-month costs are a little eye-watering. If you sign up for a longer-term subscription, though, it gets a lot more reasonable.

PureVPN’s prices