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NordVPN Japan coverage runs through servers in Tokyo and Osaka. Most guides count more than 130, while one Comparitech guide counts more than 80, so the exact number varies by source. Earthsims spent six weeks testing from Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and reached TVer, AbemaTV and Radiko through NordVPN’s Tokyo servers.
NordVPN Japan Servers and Speed
VPNPro, Gizmodo and Earthsims all place the servers in Tokyo and Osaka. Earthsims measured 880 Mbps down and 420 Mbps up from Tokyo to an Osaka server with NordLynx, and 465 down and 220 up in the other direction. Those figures depend on the local line, so treat them as a ceiling.
Our Japan VPN guide compares other providers, and our NordVPN speed guide covers server choice.
Watching Japanese TV From Abroad
Cloudwards notes that TVer, TV Tokyo and Nittere Free are free but only inside Japan. AbemaTV, NHK+, Radiko and DAZN Japan are geo-locked too, Earthsims adds. Connect to a Japanese server first, then open the service. For which providers reached the Japan library, see our page on Japanese Netflix VPN.
Some sign-ups ask for a Japanese address and postcode, Cloudwards reports, and TVer and Abema work better in their mobile apps than in browsers. Comparitech’s August 2026 tests found NordVPN reaching both.
Using NordVPN in Japan
Travellers in Japan face the reverse problem: their home libraries disappear. Earthsims’ team connected back to home servers each evening. Its testers also scanned 12 public Wi-Fi networks in cafés and stations, a reminder that open networks are common; our public Wi-Fi guide explains the risk.
For home services, see our Netflix guide, Hulu guide and BBC iPlayer guide.
NordVPN Japan for Anime and Gaming
Anime fans often use Japanese servers for regional catalogues; our Crunchyroll guide covers that service. For gaming on Japanese servers, ping rises with distance, as our NordVPN gaming guide explains.
Japanese services block VPN addresses they detect, Comparitech notes, so switch servers when one fails. Our streaming hub lists the general fixes. NordVPN belongs to Nord Security, which also owns Surfshark.
Before relying on NordVPN Japan servers, confirm the IP with our VPN test page. Our refund guide explains the 30-day window, and our IPv6 leak guide covers one common cause of blocks. Test each service you plan to use.
Japanese Apps and App Stores
Cloudwards notes that TVer and AbemaTV work better in their mobile apps than in browsers. That some sign-ups ask for a Japanese address and postcode. Some Japanese apps are also available only in the Japanese app stores. Those stores follow your Apple or Google account region, not your IP.
If an app is missing from your store, use the service’s website on a computer instead. A VPN changes the address the service sees, not your app store country.
Speed Expectations
Earthsims measured 880 Mbps down from Tokyo to an Osaka server with NordLynx, and 465 Mbps in the other direction. Those numbers came from fast local lines in Japan. From Europe or the Americas, distance adds delay. Expect lower speeds on Japanese servers, though usually plenty for HD streaming.
If streams buffer, try the other Japanese city before changing protocol. Our NordVPN speed guide covers the full checklist.
Public Wi-Fi in Japan
Earthsims’ testers scanned 12 public Wi-Fi networks in cafés and stations during their stay. Free networks are common across Japanese cities, and many travellers rely on them. Connect NordVPN before signing in to anything on those networks; our public Wi-Fi guide explains why.
Travelling With Your Devices
Set up NordVPN on every device before the trip: phone, laptop and any streaming stick you bring. On a hotel TV, a Fire TV Stick running NordVPN keeps your home services working, as our NordVPN Firestick guide shows. Turn the kill switch on, so a dropped hotel connection does not expose your traffic.
Our travel VPN guide covers packing a VPN setup for any trip, and our Japan VPN guide compares providers.
Japanese Netflix and Anime
Japanese servers also open Japan’s catalogues on international services. Crunchyroll’s Japanese library is reached through Tokyo servers, SpeedTestHQ notes. Suits viewers who want titles not licensed abroad. Our NordVPN Crunchyroll guide covers it.
Netflix Japan has its own catalogue too. Your Netflix account works in any country where Netflix operates. The library follows the country you appear to be in. Our NordVPN Netflix guide explains SmartPlay and the proxy error if a Tokyo server gets blocked.
Remember that Japanese catalogues change as licences change. A title available last month may move to another region. Check before planning a watch session around it. The same applies to Japanese streaming services, whose catalogues rotate with each broadcast season. The FAQ below covers the most common questions about servers and catalogues.
How We Research
This page draws on Japan VPN guides and tests from Earthsims, VPNPro, Gizmodo, Comparitech and Cloudwards. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We read every source on 5 October 2026. The main source we relied on is Earthsims’ Japan VPN test. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
NordVPN in Japan FAQ
Most guides count more than 130 in Tokyo and Osaka; one Comparitech guide counts more than 80.
Earthsims and Comparitech reached both in 2026 through Japanese servers.
Earthsims measured 880 Mbps down from Tokyo to Osaka with NordLynx, on a fast local line.
Some sign-ups ask for one, Cloudwards reports.
Connect to a server in your home country, then open the service.
The Verdict
NordVPN Japan servers in Tokyo and Osaka handle Japanese TV from abroad and home streaming for travellers. Expect occasional blocks, and keep the VPN on over public Wi-Fi.