You can access Japanese anime on streaming websites like Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Tver. While some of these websites are available globally, others face geo-blocking by service providers, limiting their availability to certain countries. However, there’s no need to worry! With the aid of a VPN, you can circumvent these restrictions and enjoy your favorite anime.
- Crunchyroll
- Funimation
- Netflix
- Amazon Prime Video
- Tver
- Register with a VPN (We highly recommend ExpressVPN)
- Download and Launch the App and Connect to a Server in the country which is available watch
- Access the Websites via the server
In this guide, we’ll show you precisely how to do that.
- ExpressVPN: Recommended for those who need higher internet speed
>>Sign up through our site get an extra 3 months free! - NordVPN: Recommended for those who want to balance price and internet speed
- SurfShark
: Recommended for those on a budget
Places to Watch Japanese Anime
Here are four streaming websites for watching Japanese anime:
| Streaming Websites | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Crunchyroll (FAN) | $7.99/month | Certain anime titles are available for free. |
| Funimation (Premium) | $7.99/month | Certain anime titles are available for free. |
| Netflix (Basic) | $9.99/month | – |
| Amazon Prime Video (monthly plan) | $8.99/month | 30-day free trial |
| TVer | Free | Content is mainly in Japanese. |
Crunchyroll
| Price | FAN: $7.99/month Premium: S9.99/month Ultimate: $14.99/month |
| Free Trail Period | 14-day |
Crunchyroll, which started in the United States and affiliated with Crunchyroll, offers a large number of Japanese anime titles in over 200 countries and territories. You can watch Crunchyroll for free without registration. But, for free memberships, there are ads and restrictions on available content and Subtitles and dubbing language. Premium members who pay a fee can watch all content without ads or restrictions.
It is said that Crunchyroll mainly offers animation with English subtitles. So, Crunchyroll is ideal for those who want to enjoy Japanese anime with English subtitles, while Funimation is ideal for those who want anime that is dubbed.
Crunchyroll displays content differently country by country because of copyright holdings and licensing contracts. So, some anime titles may not be available in your country. If you try to access Crunchyroll and select unavailable content in your country, you will see a screen that displays the message “Unfortunately, this show’s videos aren’t available.”
Using a VPN in the way, you will also be able to watch Japanese anime on Crunchyroll in your country. The instructions on how to view it are described below.
Funimation
| Price | Premium: $7.99/month Premium Plus: S9.99/month |
| Free Trail Period | 14-day |
Funimation, which also started in the United States and is affiliated with Crunchyroll, provides a large number of Japanese anime titles, similar to Crunchyroll. You can also watch Funimation for free without registration. But, for free memberships, there are ads and restrictions on available content and Subtitles and dubbing language. Premium members who pay a fee can watch all content without ads or restrictions as like Crunchyroll.
Compared to Crunchyroll, it is said that Funimation mainly offers Japanese anime dubbed into English. Funimation is only available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. So, you may notice that Funimation is not available in your country. Using a VPN in the way we described earlier, you will also be able to watch Japanese anime on Funimation in your country. Below is a price comparison. Funimation has the same price as Crunchyroll.
Netflix
| Price | Basic: $9.99/month Standard: S15.49/month Standard: S19.99/month |
| Free Trail Period | nothing |
Netflix provides not only anime, but also movies, dramas and magazines. So, the price for Netflix is a little higher than the price for other streaming services. The number of anime titles offered on Netflix, both dubbed into English and with English subtitles, is lower than the number offered on other streaming services . If you are looking for a wide variety of movies and programs in addition to anime, Netflix would be a good choice for you.
By using a VPN, you can subscribe to Netflix for a lower price. For more detailed information, please refer to the following articles.
Amazon Prime Video
| Price | $8.99/month |
| Free Trail Period | 30-day |
Amazon Prime Video provides not only anime, but also movies, dramas, music and magazines. So, the price for Amazon Prime Video is a little higher than the price for other streaming services.
You can also change the language on Amazon Prime by using Subtitles for Language Learning (Prime Video) on Google Chrome. The number of anime titles offered on Amazon Prime Video is lower than the number offered on Crunchyroll and Funimation. Amazon Prime Video is a great choice for those who are trying to learn another language, thanks to the Language Learning feature.
Tver
| Price | Free (Note: Broadcasting is in Japanese only.) |
| Availability period | From broadcast until about 7 days after the program ends (depending on the program) |
TVer is a Japanese streaming platform and simultaneous online streaming service collaboratively managed by 10 commercial broadcasters, including NHK and TBS. While the content is primarily in Japanese, viewers can watch the latest Japanese anime in real-time or up to about seven days after the initial broadcast. Besides anime, TVer also offers a range of content, such as comedies, newscasts, sports, and other past shows. TVer is particularly suitable for those eager to keep up with the latest anime releases.
However, TVer is exclusively available in Japan. To access its content from elsewhere, you’ll need to connect through a VPN server located in Japan. Before you begin streaming on TVer, you might be prompted to answer a questionnaire providing details like your birth date, gender, and postal code. When faced with this, ensure you input a Japanese postal code. Once you’ve submitted this information by clicking the “回答する (Respond)” button, you’ll gain access to TVer’s programs.
Example Japanese postal code: [130-0001]
How to Watch Japanese Anime from Anywhere with a VPN
We will show you to stream Japanese anime out of your region on websites with a VPN. Here’s one of examples about how to do it.
- Register with a VPN (We highly recommend ExpressVPN)
- Download and Launch the App and Connect to a Server in the US
- Access Crunchyroll via the US server
STEP1. Register 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 the US
After registering with ExpressVPN, download and launch the app. Next, click “…” in the app and type “United States” in the search box. Now, you can connect to a server in the US.
STEP3. Access Crunchyroll via the US server
Access Crunchyroll while connected to a server in the US, you will be able to see the content.
For those interested in subscribing to Crunchyroll’s premium service for additional benefits, explore our guide for a more detailed walkthrough >>Explore more detailed steps now
The Best VPN Services for Watching Japanese Anime from Anywhere
Here are some excellent VPN services we recommend.
| ExpressVPN | NordVPN | SurfShark | |
| Prices | 1-Month: $12.95 6-Months: $9.99/month 12-Months: $6.67/month | 1-Month: $11.99 12-Months: $4.99/month 24-Months: $3.99/month | 1-Month: $12.95 12-Months: $3.99/month 24-Months: $2.39/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Countries | 105 | 60 | 100 |
| Servers | 3,000+ | 5,800+ | 3,200+ |
| Maximum devices supported | 8 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Connection Speed | Ultra Fast | Fast | Fast |
| Security | AES-256 Kill Switch | AES-256 Kill Switch | AES-256 Kill Switch |
| Privacy | No-logging | No-logging | No-logging |
| Support | 24/7 Live Chat Support | 24/7 Live Chat Support | 24/7 Live Chat Support |
ExpressVPN: Ultra-fast Internet Speeds
| Prices | 1-Month: $12.95 6-Months: $9.99/month 12-Months: $6.67/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Countries | 105 |
| Servers | 3,000+ |
| Maximum devices supported | 8 |
ExpressVPN has some of the fastest internet speeds of the VPNs we have used. ExpressVPN is consistently found by review sites to be one of the fastest VPNs. Furthermore, they have more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries, so you have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. We have confirmed that you can even connect to servers in China, where restrictions are strong. And ExpressVPN has a no-log policy.
After you’ve registered with ExpressVPN, you can use it to easily browse the internet just by downloading their app.
- Place a high importance on internet speed
- Want a stable connection from China
\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/
NordVPN: The Ultimate Balance of Price and Internet Speed
| Prices (standard plan) | 1-Month: $11.99 12-Months: $4.99/month 24-Months: $3.99/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Countries | 60 |
| Servers | 5,800+ |
| Maximum devices supported | 10 |
NordVPN’s excellent service, and balance of price, internet speed, servers, and countries, has allowed it to gain the greatest market share in the world. Overall, NordVPN consistently receives great reviews from leading experts. NordVPN has more than 5,800 servers in 60 countries, so you also have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. We also have confirmed that you can even connect to servers in China, where restrictions are strong. And NordVPN also has a no-log policy.
After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using NordVPN just by downloading their app.
- Want to balance price and internet speed
- Want to use the VPN with the greatest market share
\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/
Surfshark: Impressive Performance with a Lower Price
| Prices (standard plan) | 1-Month: $12.95 12-Months: $3.99/month 24-Months: $2.39/month |
| Money-back Guarantee | 30 days |
| Countries | 100 |
| Servers | 3,200+ |
| Maximum devices supported | Unlimited |
Surfshark offers impressive performance with a lower price. You can get Surfshark much cheaper than other services if you apply for the 24-month plan. Furthermore, Surfshark has no connection limits. So, you and your family can connect and use all your devices simultaneously. Surfshark has more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries. Just like the other VPNs, you also have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. And also, we have confirmed that you can even connect to servers in China, where restrictions are strong. And SurfsharkVPN also has a no-log policy.
After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using Surfshark by downloading their app.
- Who are budget conscious
- Who want to connect with lots of devices
\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/
FAQ
Is it legal to watch Japanese anime with VPNs?
Using VPNs to watch Japanese anime is legal. VPNs are widely used by individuals to protect their private information and other online activity.
Is it OK to use a free VPN?
We recommend opting for paid VPN services for better privacy and security.
What else can I do with a VPN?
Besides safeguarding your online activities, a VPN can also be used to save money on certain online purchases and to access region-restricted games.
Conclusion
- By using a VPN, you can access Japanese anime on streaming websites like Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Tver.
- How to Watch Japanese Anime from Anywhere with a VPN: [Register with a VPN >> Download and launch the app >> Connect to a server in the country which is available watch >> Access a Japanese streaming website]
- ExpressVPN: Recommended for those who need higher internet speed
>>Sign up through our site get an extra 3 months free! - NordVPN: Recommended for those who want to balance price and internet speed
- SurfShark: Recommended for those on a budget