How to get an Japanese IP address with a VPN

Whether you’re looking to keep your browsing habits private, beat online censorship, or access your usual Japanese services from abroad, a VPN can help. Read on to find out how you can get a Japanese IP address in just a few minutes. 

How to get a Japanese IP address in five simple steps

1. The first step is signing up for a Premium or Family Premium account
2. Install Hotspot Shield onto any device you use regularly. For maximum flexibility, each of our subscribers can connect five devices at the same time
3. Log into the app and choose one of our high-speed servers in Japan
4. Wait a moment until you are successfully connected 
5. You are now browsing with a Japanese IP address. Your web traffic will be encrypted and hidden from anyone watching, plus you should be able to access your favorite Japanese services, regardless of where you actually are in the world

What are the benefits of using a VPN in Japan?

Your online activities are less private than you might think. For instance, if you’re at home, your Internet Service Provider can tell which sites you visit and can even hazard a guess at what you’re doing there. Using a public wifi hotspot isn’t any more private, though, since this simply lets the owner (and their ISP) monitor you instead. Plus, you’ll often find that public networks restrict access to certain websites, making them even less useful. 

VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, which prevents anyone from analyzing it without the correct, impossible-to-guess decryption key. They also hide your real IP address, making it even more difficult to trace your online activities back to you. Finally, VPNs can help you bypass online blocking, allowing you to access whatever you want, even if there’s a web-filtering system in place.

Japan is considered one of the safest countries in the world, but cybercriminals don’t care where you live as long as they can take advantage of you. Online fraud is steadily becoming more common, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Report for 2021 specifically lists Japan as one of the most-targeted countries. The problem is that remaining vigilant all of the time is exhausting, and that one mistake can be catastrophic. 

That’s where Hotspot Shield comes in. It not only shields your activities from snoopers, it also scans websites for malware and protects against phishing attempts automatically. Our service can even let you know if a legitimate website has been compromised! We’re not stopping there, though: our blacklist currently includes over three million shady sites and is being constantly updated to keep you as safe as possible. 

Here’s why Hotspot Shield is the best VPN for Japan

We believe that you should be able to freely use the internet without worrying about who might be watching. That’s why Hotspot Shield uses top-tier encryption and places no limits on how often you can stream, torrent, or game. In fact, we even have specially-optimized servers to ensure you have the best possible experience with these activities! Our service even works in countries with strict online censorship (like China and the UAE) so it’s great for international travelers too.

Quick and reliable Japanese servers

Almost everyone has struggled with slow internet at some point. Some VPNs have a huge impact on your connection speed, which is no good for anyone. After all, if your internet slows to a crawl every time you connect, you’re unlikely to keep using the service. To ensure you get the highest possible speeds, we’ve put a huge amount of effort into optimizing our network and tweaking individual servers for the best performance.

Not only that, but we’ve developed our own protocol named Hydra that puts speed and security first. Don’t take our word for it, though; Ookla, the world’s most popular speed-testing service found Hotspot Shield to be the fastest VPN on the market. We were actually more than twice as fast as the VPN in second, and these speeds even held up with long-distance connections.

How to stream Japanese TV with a VPN

It’s easy to forget in our always-connected world, but some services are only available in certain locations. For instance, if you go abroad, you won’t be able to stream U-Next or J:Com at all. Additionally, platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video all have different titles outside of Japan. You might even find that some locations (such as universities or offices) restrict access to certain websites, even if you’re in a supported region.

The easiest way to get around this type of blocking is to use a VPN. Not only will it encrypt your data, it’ll change your IP address. This way, you’ll be able to securely access all of your favorite Japanese websites and services from anywhere, even abroad. 

How to get a new IP address in Japan (or anywhere else)

Just follow these steps to get an IP address from Japan, wherever you are:

1. Open up the Hotspot Shield app
2. Click on the arrow in the Virtual location box to see all of our server locations
    
3. Type “Japan” (without the quotation marks) or scroll down until you see Japan in the list  
    
4. Click this, then hover over “Japan” on the next page, before clicking Connect. You’ll now be connected to the best available Japanese server. 
    
5. Once the screen changes to show your new IP address, you’re ready to go! Your data is now secured with Hotspot Shield’s powerful encryption and the websites you visit will think you’re in Japan (even if you’re not). 
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Which channels can I stream with a Japanese VPN?

Japan has plenty of streaming services to choose from, but most of them require you to have a Japanese IP address before you can watch. Here are just a few of the platforms you’ll be able to watch while connected to a Japanese VPN server:

• Netflix Japan
• Hulu Japan
• Disney+
• Amazon Prime Video JP
• U-Next
• J:Com
• Hikari TV
• TVer
• Abema
• GYAO!

Do I need a VPN if I live in Japan?

Most people could benefit from additional privacy. After all, there’s no telling whether the websites you use are really as secure as they claim, or if your local hotspots are as well-protected as they should be. Given that cybercrime is on the rise globally, there’s never been a better time to start taking steps to protect yourself. 

How else can a VPN help you?

Aside from providing you with greater online privacy, VPNs have several more practical uses. They’re great for anyone looking to use public wifi without specific sites being blocked, and you can use them to access your online banking service abroad without raising any red flags (and possibly having to call your bank and explain). A VPN can also help you avoid ISP throttling, so if you notice your speeds start to drop when streaming or torrenting, it might be a good idea to try one out.