A VPN can help close that gap – but not all VPNs work equally well for streaming, and the anime-specific catalogs you're after require a VPN that reliably unblocks Japanese streaming services. This guide covers which VPNs perform best for anime, which Japanese services are worth accessing, and what to know before you start.
Why Japanese Anime Catalogs Are Different
The anime that reaches Western streaming platforms through Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, and Amazon Prime is a subset – sometimes a fairly small one – of what's available in Japan. Licensing is territorial: rights holders sell streaming rights region by region, and not every title gets licensed outside Japan. Older catalog titles, niche genres, and titles from smaller studios are often Japan-only for years or indefinitely.
The main Japanese streaming platforms that anime fans target are:
Netflix Japan carries a substantial Japan-exclusive anime catalog, including several originals and licensed titles that Netflix doesn't make available in other regions. The content library on Netflix Japan is meaningfully larger for anime than Netflix US or UK.
d Anime Store (docomo Anime Store) is a dedicated anime streaming service with one of the largest anime catalogs available anywhere – over 4,000 titles including deep catalog, simulcasts, and older series that Western platforms don't carry. It costs around ¥440/month (roughly $3–$4 USD) with a credit card that works in Japan, though payment can be a barrier for international users.
Abema carries simulcasts and a wide selection of seasonal anime, often available free with ads. Some premium content requires Abema Premium (¥960/month, around $6–$7 USD).
Niconico is a Japanese video platform with a significant anime archive, particularly for older series. Much of it is free with ads; premium access is available for around ¥550/month.
Hulu Japan is a separate service from US Hulu with a large anime library. It requires a Japanese credit card or payment method, which makes it more difficult for international users to subscribe to than the others.
The payment barrier is worth addressing upfront: a VPN gives you an IP address that makes you appear to be in Japan, but it doesn't solve payment requirements. d Anime Store and Hulu Japan specifically require Japanese payment methods that most international users don't have. Netflix Japan is the most accessible because you can pay with an international credit card and change your Netflix region through account settings – though Netflix's terms of service prohibit using a VPN to access content from a region other than where you're located. Abema and Niconico are more accessible for free viewing since they don't require account creation for basic access.
What to Look for in a VPN for Anime Streaming
Not every VPN can reliably unblock Japanese streaming services, and the ones that can vary significantly in streaming performance. A few specific factors matter for this use case.
Japanese server count and quality. A VPN with a large number of servers in Japan – ideally in multiple cities including Tokyo and Osaka – gives you more options if one server is blocked or congested. Services detect VPN IP addresses and block them over time; a provider with many servers rotates through new IP addresses and stays ahead of blocks more effectively than one with just a handful of Japan locations.
Streaming speed. Anime at high quality requires consistent bandwidth. If a VPN connection to Japan is slow or unstable, you'll deal with buffering and resolution drops. Speed from your location to Japanese servers specifically matters here – not just the VPN's general speed claims, which are often measured on nearby servers.
Unblocking track record. Some VPNs that work fine for Netflix US or UK don't reliably unblock Netflix Japan or Japanese streaming services. VPNs with dedicated streaming servers or specific "Japan streaming" configurations tend to perform better for this purpose. Updated information from VPN review sites is worth checking since streaming service detection and VPN counter-measures change frequently.
Kill switch and DNS leak protection. If your VPN connection drops while streaming, a kill switch cuts your internet rather than revealing your real IP address. This is a security feature that also matters for streaming consistency – you don't want mid-episode IP exposure.
The VPNs That Perform Best for Japanese Anime Catalogs
Based on consistently documented performance for Japanese streaming access, these are the services worth considering.
ExpressVPN is frequently cited as the most reliable option for unblocking streaming services globally, including Japanese platforms. Its Japan server selection is strong (multiple locations, Tokyo and Yokohama included), speeds are consistently high, and its track record for unblocking Netflix Japan is well-documented. The cost is on the higher end – around $8–$10/month on an annual plan – but the consistency justifies it for heavy streamers. ExpressVPN also works well on smart TVs and streaming devices, not just computers and phones.
NordVPN offers an extensive Japan server network and dedicated streaming servers that are specifically optimized to unblock platforms. Its SmartPlay feature handles DNS routing to help with streaming detection. NordVPN is typically priced around $3–$5/month on a two-year plan, making it better value than ExpressVPN for users who don't need the absolute highest speed ceiling. It reliably unblocks Netflix Japan and performs well on Crunchyroll Japan region access.
Surfshark is the best value option that still performs well for Japanese streaming. Unlimited simultaneous connections (useful if you stream on multiple devices), strong Japan server coverage, and pricing around $2–$3/month on a two-year plan make it worth considering. Speed performance is slightly below ExpressVPN and NordVPN in some regions, but for most users watching anime at 1080p, it's sufficient.
Private Internet Access (PIA) has a large Japan server network and is generally reliable for streaming. It's priced competitively at around $2–$3/month on a longer plan. Its interface is less polished than the options above and streaming-specific features are less prominent, but it's a solid option for users who prioritize server variety and privacy configuration flexibility.
Mullvad is worth mentioning for privacy-focused users. It accepts anonymous payment methods including cash and cryptocurrency, doesn't require an email address to sign up, and has strong privacy credentials. Its streaming performance for Japanese platforms is less consistent than the top options, and it doesn't specifically market itself as a streaming VPN – but for users for whom privacy is the primary concern, it's worth testing.
Setting It Up: The Practical Steps
Once you've chosen a VPN, setting it up for Japanese anime streaming takes a few minutes.
Download and install the VPN app on your device – most major VPNs support Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and browser extensions. For smart TVs, check whether your VPN has a dedicated app for your TV's operating system; if not, setting up the VPN on your router covers all devices on your network.
Open the VPN and connect to a Japan server. If your provider has multiple Japan server options, start with the one labeled for streaming or with the lowest current load. Connect, then verify your IP address has changed to a Japanese address using a tool like whatismyipaddress.com before opening your streaming service.
Open Netflix (or whichever service you're targeting) in a browser or app. For Netflix Japan specifically: if you're an existing Netflix subscriber, navigate to your account settings and change your country to Japan, or simply open Netflix while connected to the Japan server and it should automatically show the Japanese catalog. Clearing your browser cache before connecting can help if you're seeing your domestic catalog despite the VPN being active.
If a service is blocking your connection, try a different Japan server within the same VPN. Most good VPNs have several Japan locations and rotating through them usually resolves detection blocks quickly.
Legitimate Alternatives Worth Knowing
Before committing to a VPN subscription for anime access, it's worth knowing what's available through fully licensed channels, because the gap between Western and Japanese catalogs has been narrowing.
Crunchyroll has the largest licensed anime catalog outside Japan and has been actively licensing titles that were previously Japan-only. Its simulcast coverage for current-season anime is strong, and its back catalog has expanded significantly since its merger with Funimation. At $8–$15/month depending on plan, it's the best first stop for anime streaming without a VPN.
HIDIVE carries a strong selection of titles Crunchyroll doesn't have, particularly for older series and some niche genres. At around $5/month, it's a useful complement to Crunchyroll rather than a replacement.
Netflix continues to expand its anime originals and licensed catalog internationally. Some titles that were previously Japan-only have migrated to global availability – worth checking before assuming a VPN is necessary for a specific title.
Amazon Prime Video has a significant anime selection in its Prime catalog and through add-on channels.
For titles not available on any Western platform, a VPN combined with d Anime Store or Abema covers the largest share of what's otherwise inaccessible. d Anime Store in particular has the deepest catalog, but the payment barrier remains for users without a Japanese credit card.
What to Avoid
Using a free VPN for this purpose is not worth it. Free VPNs have severely limited bandwidth, few server options, and typically don't have the server quality or rotation to unblock Japanese streaming services reliably. Many free VPNs also log user data and monetize it – which is a privacy concern that's separate from the streaming question but worth naming.
Ignoring the terms of service question is worth a moment of honest consideration. Most major streaming services – Netflix explicitly, Crunchyroll, and others – prohibit using VPNs to access content from regions other than where you're located. Using a VPN to access region-locked content may result in account suspension in extreme cases, though enforcement is rare for individual users. This is not legal advice, and being aware of the terms before proceeding is the responsible approach.
Choosing a VPN solely based on price without verifying Japan streaming performance leads to frustration. The cheapest options often have limited Japan server coverage and inconsistent unblocking records for the specific services anime fans care about.
FAQ
Will a VPN always work for unblocking Netflix Japan? Not always. Streaming services actively detect and block VPN IP addresses, and there's an ongoing back-and-forth between VPN providers adding new IPs and services blocking them. The VPNs listed above have the best track records for consistency, but occasional blocks happen. Switching to a different Japan server within the same VPN is usually the fix.
Do I need a Japanese credit card for d Anime Store? For direct subscription, yes – d Anime Store requires a Japanese payment method. Some users access it through workarounds like Japanese iTunes gift cards (available through reseller sites), but these add complexity and cost. Abema and Niconico are more accessible for users without Japanese payment options.
Can I use a VPN on my TV for anime streaming? Yes, through a few methods. If your VPN has a dedicated app for your TV's operating system (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV), install it directly. If not, setting up the VPN on your home router routes all connected devices including smart TVs through the VPN automatically.
Is using a VPN for streaming legal? In most countries, using a VPN is legal. The terms of service question – whether a specific streaming service's rules permit VPN use – is separate from legality. VPNs have many legitimate uses beyond streaming, and simply using one is not illegal in most jurisdictions. What services do with your account if they detect VPN use is governed by their terms, not law.
How much does a good VPN cost annually? On annual or multi-year plans, reputable VPNs range from around $30–$40/year (Surfshark, PIA on longer plans) to $80–$100/year (ExpressVPN). Month-to-month pricing is significantly higher. A two-year plan with a reputable provider typically offers the best cost-per-month while still maintaining a reasonable exit point if you want to switch.
📚 Sources
Crunchyroll – Anime Streaming Catalog and Subscription Info: https://www.crunchyroll.com/welcome
PCMag – Best VPNs for Streaming: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-vpns-for-streaming
Tom's Guide – Best VPN for Streaming: https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-vpn-for-streaming
d Anime Store – Japanese Anime Platform Overview: https://anime.dmkt-sp.jp/animestore/cp_pc/CP00000001
HIDIVE – Anime Streaming Platform: https://www.hidive.com/
