VPN Basics & How to Choose

What a VPN does

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your traffic and routes it out from a server in the country you choose. For Japanese services, connecting through a Japanese VPN server makes your traffic look like a Japan-domestic connection.

Six things to look for

1. Japan server count and capacity — too few servers means congestion at peak hours
2. Streaming detection avoidance — Netflix, FANZA, etc. maintain VPN-IP blocklists
3. Speed — bandwidth for HD/4K streaming
4. Simultaneous connections — for family and multi-device use
5. Independently audited no-log policy
6. Money-back guarantee — try before committing

What to avoid

• Free VPNs — slow, often unsafe, and almost always blocked by streaming services
• Unknown brands without audits — risk of logging and selling your data