Changing your IP address to another country often comes to mind when encountering geo-restrictions online. If you’re failing to watch your favorite anime or access Netflix Japan, chances are that you want to know how to get a Japanese IP address.
This IP address will let you unblock Japanese online content, including not only the entire Netflix library, but also TV channels, bookies, and streaming services. However, getting an IP from Japan isn’t possible if you’re not using specific tools.
The tool I surely recommend is a VPN, as this solution will give you the most benefits, including impenetrable security and online privacy. But how to get a Japanese IP address with a VPN? Well, that’s what I’m going to show you today.
Are you excited already? Well, let’s delve deeper into my step-by-step guide and see what’s up. It’s gonna be easy – that much I can promise.
How to Get a Japanese IP Address Using a VPN?
Let’s start with the basics. VPN is the abbreviation for Virtual Private Network and it’s a piece of software that lets you change your IP address. In doing so, you can change your online location to the country you desire – in this case, Japan.
However, that’s not all. A VPN applies encryption to your connection by routing it through a secure VPN tunnel. That way, no one can trace or read your traffic, which results in an anonymous browsing experience.
This, accompanied by streaming capabilities and no-logs practices makes a VPN the perfect solution to get a Japanese IP address. Not to mention that it works on all platforms, so you can get a Japanese IP even on your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Now that you know the deal, let me guide you through the steps to getting an IP from Japan safely.
1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN
When trying to get a Japanese IP address, it’s vital to choose a good Japan VPN. Many providers don’t even have servers in this country, making it impossible to get the IP you want. However, for this purpose, I strongly recommend using ExpressVPN.
Why ExpressVPN? Simply put, it has a large server fleet in Japan, which is a part of 3,000+ servers in 160 worldwide locations! In Japan alone, ExpressVPN boasts servers in 4 locations – 2 locations in Tokyo, plus Shibuya and Yokohama
This should make it easy to get an IP from Japan in different parts of the country, thus, accessing different types of content. Additionally, ExpressVPN isn’t free, which isn’t strange, given that almost none of the free VPNs have servers in this country.
Thankfully, you can subscribe to it by using the button below, where you can get a currently available 49% discount and 3 months free for the annual plan. If you do so, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee as well, which lets you use it risk-free without spending any money.
Once you subscribe, you can move on to the next step.
2. Download and Install ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN’s subscription will grant you access to its apps. Needless to say, it supports all platforms, so you can perform these steps on any device. I decided to use my Windows PC, so I downloaded the setup file, installed the app, and opened it up.
From here, you need to sign in using the provided credentials or the activation code from ExpressVPN. And if you do that, you’ll get a dashboard that looks something like this:
3. Get a Japanese IP Address
Let’s get a Japan IP now. Click on the three horizontal dots shown below, select All Locations, and click on Asia.
Japan will be there, so double-click on it, and ExpressVPN will connect you to a server in Japan, granting you a Japanese IP.
Alternatively, you can click on the arrow next to Japan to see all server locations within the country. And here, the principle is the same. Double-click on the location you want to connect to a server located there and get an IP address based in that location.
Obtain a Japanese IP With ExpressVPN
4. OPTIONAL: Check If Your IP Is in Japan
Finally, if you have trust issues with ExpressVPN – which you shouldn’t have – check your IP. I usually use iplocation.net to do so. Just visit the site and your IP should now be based in Japan, as is the case with my IP address.
Can I Use Other VPNs to Get a Japanese IP?
ExpressVPN is the most reliable choice if you’re looking to change your IP to Japan. However, this isn’t the only VPN that will allow you to do that. If you think ExpressVPN is expensive or you don’t like it for any reason, consider using CyberGhost or NordVPN instead.
CyberGhost: A VPN with 100+ Japanese Servers
This provider has 9,100+ servers in nearly 100 countries and of course, it has 105+ servers in Tokyo. It’s not as easy to use as ExpressVPN but it’s simple enough if you’re looking to connect to a Japanese server and get an IP address from this country.
Best of all is that it’s really affordable while offering blazing-fast speeds, rock-solid security, a no-logging policy, and exceptional streaming capabilities. Albeit, it won’t work with Netflix Japan, so it’s something to mention before you decide to get it.
CyberGhost has a 45-day money-back guarantee for all long-term plans and it offers a very affordable 2-year plan with the biggest discount. If you’re interested, use the button below to get it, enter your email, and sign up for a new account.
Once that is done, open the app, scroll down, and find Japan. Double-click on it and CyberGhost will connect to the server in this country in about 3-4 seconds. Now, you’ll have a Japanese IP address, so go ahead and enjoy this awesome provider.
NordVPN: A Security Powerhouse
NordVPN has 5,500+ servers in 60 countries with 130+ servers in Tokyo and Osaka. The provider uses the NordLynx protocol which ensures great 10 Gbps speeds, as well as stellar security. It has 256-bit encryption and IP leak protection coupled with an antivirus and ad blocker.
We like NordVPN as it allows you to get a Japanese IP with two clicks of a mouse! All you have to do is open the server list, find Japan, and click once on it. In two seconds, NordVPN will connect, assigning you a Japanese IP that you can use for many purposes.
Unlike CyberGhost, it works with Netflix and it has Double VPN servers for a double layer of encryption. NordVPN is very affordable too, and while a bit more expensive than CyberGhost, its 2-year plan is still cheap, plus, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you’re interested, use the button above to claim the cheapest deal on NordVPN. You’ll save quite a bit of cash on one of the most impressive services in 2024!
Why Should I Get a Japanese IP Address?
If you’re reading this article, chances are that you already know why you need a Japanese IP. However, stumbling upon it will make you think about why to use a paid VPN just so you can pretend that you’re located in Japan.
For one, having a Japanese IP lets you access Netflix Japan, which is among the best libraries. It houses titles like Naruto Shippuden, Boruto, and One Piece, which you can’t watch to the fullest on any other catalog.
Not to mention some of the greatest Japanese TV channels that you can access abroad. This will let you enjoy entertaining shows and movies from this country, even if you’re located on the opposite side of the earth.
Using a VPN to get an IP located in Japan is beneficial in terms of privacy and security. Once you connect to a VPN server, you’ll encrypt your connection and safeguard it from your ISP or hackers. As a result, you can browse the web without any security issues.
ExpressVPN, which I used for this guide, is also great for torrenting. Thus, if you’re often using 1337x, YTS, or RARBG, chances are that you’ll appreciate this aspect of ExpressVPN a lot. Unlike other methods, ExpressVPN is THE safest way of getting an IP from Japan.
Do Free Proxies Offer a Japanese IP?
And this brings us to free proxies that many people favor instead of VPNs. Let me tell you that this practice should stop. Seriously.
Free proxies use a proxy server that acts as an intermediary between you and the internet. Once you route your traffic through a proxy server, it’ll make your traffic appear as if it’s originating from a different IP address.
However, free proxies don’t encrypt your connection, so your activities can still be traced to your original IP. Moreover, free proxies won’t let you get a Japanese IP! This IP address is reserved for paid VPNs that have numerous servers in this country.
While paid VPNs are transparent and open, free proxies are all but honest. They’re hosted by unknown people or companies that often want something in return – your personal info, presumably.
That said, using free proxies is risky from a privacy standpoint and yields no benefits of a VPN.
Proxies can’t unblock Netflix Japan or any other streaming platform and they offer no valuable benefits except for accessing sites restricted by firewalls – and sometimes, even that won’t work properly.
That said, the best way to get a Japanese IP is to use ExpressVPN. You have proof that it works, so now it’s up to you to make a decision.
Summary
Getting a Japanese IP address is pretty simple as long as you have a quality VPN like ExpressVPN. With 4 locations in the country, great performance, and streaming capabilities, this is the best way of changing your IP to Japan (as shown in our CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN comparison, for example).
We advise avoiding free proxies due to their unreliability, lack of security, and general privacy concerns. Besides, you can use ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days, without the need to spend any money if you decide to get a refund.
Also, free VPNs don’t offer any Japanese servers, and if they do, they yield fewer benefits than paid providers.
With limited bandwidth, slow speeds, and lackluster security of free providers, ExpressVPN remains the best solution for this purpose, along with its alternatives like CyberGhost and NordVPN.
FAQ
Let’s finally answer some of the most asked questions related to getting an IP from Japan:
? Is getting a Japanese IP legal?
It’s legal, of course. When using a VPN, you can get an IP address from any country you want without any legal repercussions, which applies to Japan as well. As long as you don’t do anything illegal, you’ll be more than fine.
? How to get a Japanese IP address on my phone?
Getting an IP address from Japan is the same on all devices – even your phones and TV! Just download ExpressVPN and open the app, which looks the same on all platforms.
From here, find Japan in the server list, tap once on it on your phone, and confirm that you want to connect. In 2 seconds, you’ll have the IP address you wanted, so you can move on and enjoy the internet safely.
? Can I unblock Netflix Japan with an IP from this country?
Yes, you can, but only if you use a quality VPN. ExpressVPN works with Netflix Japan. Free VPNs, even those with Japanese servers, won’t work with this catalog. For unblocking any Netflix library, you NEED to use a quality paid VPN that is not detected and blocked by the streaming service.
ExpressVPN
