Watching ABEMA from Abroad

What ABEMA is, and what's accessible overseas

ABEMA is run by CyberAgent and TV Asahi, offering ~25 linear channels and on-demand VOD. The free ad-supported tier is the baseline; ABEMA Premium at ¥960/month unlocks exclusives and removes ads. Strengths: anime channels, mahjong/shogi/MMA, dating reality shows.

Overseas accessibility varies by channel: a few channels open globally for specific events; most channels and VOD show a region-restricted notice to overseas IPs.

Restrictions overseas

• Linear channels: anime/J-drama nearly all blocked
• VOD: Japan exclusives unplayable overseas
• Past exceptions: World Cup and Premier League events have been opened globally before
• App and browser apply the same logic

Recommended VPNs

NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark unblock reliably. NordVPN is our overall #1. The free tier only needs signup, no payment — easy to use overseas.

Signup and Premium upgrade

• Free tier signup needs only an email, doable overseas via Japan VPN
• Premium upgrade needs Japan-issued credit card or PayPay etc.
• 2-week free trial

FAQ

Q. Is the free tier watchable overseas? Yes via Japan VPN. Signup itself is free.

Q. Can I pay for Premium from overseas? Japan-issued payment methods needed; overseas cards usually fail.

Q. iPhone app with VPN works? Yes — VPN must be active at system level.