Where to Watch Japanese TV Shows for Free by Using a VPN

By using a VPN, you can watch for free on Japanese video-on-demand streaming websites.

Due to copyright and other restrictions, the content on these websites is not available outside of Japan. But you can watch them by using a VPN.

Where to Watch Japanese TV Shows for Free

Here are some services you can use to watch Japanese TV shows for free.

There are advertisements of about 30 seconds to 2 minutes at the beginning and middle of videos on these services.

TVer

TVer is a Japanese streaming website and simultaneous online streaming service jointly operated by 10 commercial broadcasters including NTV, EX, TBS, TX, NHK and CX. You can watch the latest TV shows produced by these 10 commercial broadcasters real-time in Japan or until about seven days after the program ends. In addition, you can also watch comedies, newscasts, anime, sports, and other past programs, as well as documentaries. TVer is ideal for those who want to watch programs produced by various commercial broadcasting companies.

Price	Free
Membership Registration	Not needed
Availability period	From broadcast until about 7 days after the program ends (depending on the program)
Japanese subtitles/CC	Yes

Before you start watching programs on TVer, you may be requested to answer a questionnaire with your information such as birth, gender, and postal code. In this case, you should fill the questionnaire in with a postal code in Japan. After you enter this information and click the “回答する (Respond)” button, you can watch TV programs on TVer.
Example Japanese postal code: [130-0001]

TBS FREE

TBS FREE is a Japanese streaming service operated for free by TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System). So it is a service which specializes in TBS programs. You can watch the latest TBS shows from the time they are broadcast until about seven days after they end. In addition, you can also watch older TBS original contents, newscasts, masterpieces of the past, comedies, and documentaries. TBS FREE is ideal for those who want to watch programs produced by TBS.

Price	Free
Membership Registration	Not needed
Availability period	From broadcast until about 7 days after the program ends (depending on the program)
Japanese subtitles/CC	Yes

NTV for free!(TADA）

NTV for free!(TADA) is a Japanese streaming service operated for free by NTV (Nippon Television). You can watch the latest NTV programs from broadcast until about seven days after they end. There are fewer programs than on other services, but they have some short programs lasting around 10 minutes. So, it may be a great way to pass the time if you are interested in shorter, easy to watch programs.

They also provide masterpieces of the past, including comedy shows, anime, and sports. NTV for free!(TADA) is ideal for those who want to watch programs produced by NTV commercial broadcasting.

Price	Free
Membership Registration	Not needed
Availability period	From broadcast until about 7 days after the program ends (depending on the program)
Japanese subtitles/CC	No

The Online TX

The Online TX is a Japanese streaming service operated for free by TX (TV TOKYO). You can watch the latest TX series from the time of broadcast until about seven days after they end. TX mainly broadcasts in the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo. So, some programs are provided only in the Kanto region. They also provide some unique programs that others don’t provide.

You can also watch old comedy shows, newscasts, anime, documentaries and sports. The Online TX is ideal for those who want to watch programs produced by TX.

Price	Free
Membership Registration	Not needed
Availability period	From broadcast until about 7 days after the program ends (depending on the program)
Japanese subtitles/CC	No

NHK+

NHK+ is a Japanese streaming website and simultaneous online streaming service operated for free by NHK (The Japanese Broadcasting Cooperative). On NHK, you can also watch the latest historical dramas which others services don’t provide. NHK also provides newscasts, anime, documentaries and sports. NHK+ is ideal for those who want to watch programs produced by NHK.

Price	Free
Membership Registration	Not needed (live online streaming only for free accounts)
Availability period	From broadcast until about 7 days after the program ends (depending on the program)
Japanese subtitles/CC	Yes

If you watch NHK+ content at the same time as it is broadcast on Japanese TV, you can do so without registration. But annotations will appear at the bottom right of your screen. If you want to watch using other than real-time viewing, you have to register, but it will be difficult to register from outside of Japan. You should carefully note the broadcast times. For example, shown below is the broadcast time of NHK’s historical drama series.

Japan Standard Time (JST)	from 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm
Universal Time Coordinated (UTC)	from 11:00 am to 11:45 pm

How Does a VPN Enables You to Watch Japanese TV Shows from Any Location?

Using a VPN enables you to mask your location, and access Japanese websites as if you were in Japan.

Japanese websites determine screen content based on IP address. So, if you access Japanese websites from outside of Japan, Japanese screen content will not be displayed. However, if you access Japanese websites via an internet provider in Japan, screen content for Japan will be shown.

If you access Japanese websites via VPN servers in Japan, your IP address will actually appear like this. By using a VPN, the website will treat you as if you are browsing from Japan, regardless of where you are.

For more detailed about VPNs, please refer to the following articles.

あわせて読みたい

What is a VPN and Why do I Need it? A VPN, also known as a Virtual Private Network, serves as a fortified bridge between your device and the vast world of the internet. It is not just a connect...

How to Watch Japanese TV Shows for Free by Using a VPN

To access and watch Japanese TV shows outside of Japan, you need to follow three key steps. These steps ensure seamless access to the service regardless of your geographical position.

There are free VPNs. But we recommend paid services in terms of privacy and security because we don’t know how free VPNs manage our log traffic data. It is also said that free VPNs are more likely to track our data. Many paid services have a money-back guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied with the service, you can receive a refund. For example, ExpressVPN offers a full refund within 30 days.And, ExpressVPN keeps no activity or connection logs. They do not log traffic data, or anything that could be used to identify you. However, these policies may change in the future, so please remember to keep yourself informed about the risks associated with web browsing. Paid VPNs vs. Free VPNs

STEP1. Resister with ExpressVPN

To register with ExpressVPN, click the “Get ExpressVPN Today” button as shown below. After the price plan is shown, follow the instructions.

STEP2. Download and Launch the App and Connect to a Server in Japan

After registering with ExpressVPN, download and launch the app. Next, click “…” in the app and type “Japan” in the search box. Now, you can find a server in Japan.

Select a server and click the power icon in the middle. Now, you can connect to a server in Japan.

STEP3. Access a Japanese Streaming Website

You will need to be connected to a VPN server in Japan when you access a Japanese streaming website, so that it will treat you as if you are accessing it from Japan.

For example, if you access TVer via a VPN server in Japan, you will see the screen shown below. Select the TV program you want to watch, and enjoy!

The Best VPN Services for Watching Japanese TV Shows from Outside of Japan

Here are some excellent VPN services we recommend.

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