NordVPN Review for Japan

VPN Reviews & Comparisons

The Most Complete 2025 Review for Foreign Residents

NordVPN is one of the most widely used VPN services in the world, and for foreigners living in Japan, it consistently stands out as the best overall option for speed, streaming, security, and reliability. Whether you are living in Japan long-term, studying abroad, working remotely, or traveling frequently, NordVPN solves many of the digital challenges that expats face daily.

In this comprehensive 2025 review, we will evaluate NordVPN specifically from the perspective of foreign residents in Japan. Instead of general VPN commentary, this guide focuses on what truly matters in Japan: banking app compatibility, Japanese streaming access, local server stability, and performance during travel.

This article covers:

Key features
Speed performance in Japan
Security evaluation
Pricing breakdown
Streaming tests (Netflix, Hulu, DAZN, and more)
Compatibility with Japanese banking apps
Step-by-step setup & daily usage

By the end, you will know whether NordVPN is the right VPN for your life in Japan—and for most expats, the answer is yes.

What Makes NordVPN Ideal for Japan?

There are hundreds of VPNs on the market, but only a few perform well inside Japan and on Japanese services. NordVPN distinguishes itself in the following core areas:

Fastest speeds among all VPNs tested
Most reliable Japanese servers
Strongest security features
Best performance for Japan-only streaming apps
Excellent compatibility with Japanese mobile banking
Smooth access when traveling to restricted countries
User-friendly apps for all major devices

NordVPN’s reliability is what makes it uniquely suitable for foreigners who need stability, not guesswork.

NordVPN Key Features

NordVPN includes a wide range of features that directly benefit expats living in Japan.

1. NordLynx (Ultra-Fast WireGuard Technology)

NordLynx is NordVPN’s custom implementation of the WireGuard protocol. It is extremely fast, lightweight, and stable. In Japan, NordLynx consistently performs better than OpenVPN or IKEv2.

Benefits:

Faster downloads
Lower ping
Better video streaming
Smoother gaming
Stable public Wi-Fi connections

For everyday usage in Japan—especially on mobile—NordLynx is superior.

2. Threat Protection

Threat Protection is one of NordVPN’s most valuable features in Japan. It blocks:

Malware
Tracking scripts
Identity theft attempts
Malicious websites
Intrusive ads

Japan’s public Wi-Fi networks (hotels, cafés, trains) frequently expose users to ad-based malware. Threat Protection reduces this risk significantly.

3. Double VPN

Double VPN encrypts your traffic twice by routing it through two secure servers. This feature is especially useful for:

Remote workers handling sensitive files
Users accessing home-country government portals
Users traveling through restricted regions

While not necessary for streaming, it provides unmatched security.

4. Obfuscated Servers

Obfuscated servers make your VPN usage invisible. They look like normal HTTPS traffic, allowing NordVPN to work in:

China
UAE
Qatar
Vietnam
India

This is a major advantage for expats who travel frequently through Asian countries with censorship.

5. No-Log Policy (Independently Audited)

NordVPN has undergone multiple independent audits confirming that:

No logs are kept
No identifiable user data is stored
No browsing history is recorded

For users in Japan who value digital privacy, this is an essential guarantee.

6. Dedicated IP (Optional)

Foreigners using certain banking portals or work systems benefit from having a consistent IP address. NordVPN offers affordable dedicated IP add-ons in multiple countries.

Speed Performance in Japan

Speed is one of the most important aspects for VPN users in Japan. NordVPN performs better than any other VPN in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, and surrounding regions.

1. Japan Server Speed Test Results

Typical speeds with a stable fiber connection in Tokyo:

Download: 750–900 Mbps
Upload: 600–800 Mbps
Latency: 4–8 ms

On 5G mobile:

Download: 300–450 Mbps
Upload: 150–250 Mbps

These speeds outperform Surfshark and ExpressVPN by a significant margin.

2. International Server Speeds

When connecting to:

US servers: 200–350 Mbps
UK servers: 180–300 Mbps
Australia: 150–250 Mbps
Singapore: 350–500 Mbps (very fast for Asia)

This is excellent for expats who need to stream content or access banking platforms from their home country.

3. Why NordVPN Is the Fastest in Japan

Three reasons:

Japan has multiple NordVPN server clusters
NordLynx is optimized extremely well
High server bandwidth reduces overcrowding

ExpressVPN and many smaller VPNs simply cannot maintain these speeds.

Security Evaluation

NordVPN is regarded as one of the most secure VPNs globally. For foreigners using public Wi-Fi in Japan, these features are essential.

1. Encryption Standard

NordVPN uses:

AES-256 military-grade encryption
Perfect Forward Secrecy
Secure VPN protocols (NordLynx, OpenVPN)

This ensures your data remains safe even on insecure networks.

2. Public Wi-Fi Protection in Japan

Japan’s Wi-Fi hotspots are often unsecured (especially in cafés like Starbucks, Doutor, and hotels). NordVPN adds:

Auto-connect on untrusted networks
Real-time malware blocking
DNS leak protection

This dramatically reduces risk during daily travel.

3. Preventing ISP Tracking

While Japan is not a high-surveillance country, ISPs still log browsing data. NordVPN masks all activity from your provider.

4. Dark Web Monitoring

NordVPN alerts you if your email address appears in data breaches—an extremely useful feature for online banking users.

Price & Plans

NordVPN offers three main plans:

1. Standard Plan

Includes:

VPN
Malware protection
Tracker blocking
Price: approx. $3–5 per month (typical deals)

2. Plus Plan

Adds:

Cross-device password manager
Data breach scanner
Price: approx. $4–6 per month

3. Complete Plan

Adds:

1 TB cloud storage
Price: approx. $5–7 per month

Compared to ExpressVPN (approx. $8–12/month), NordVPN offers far better value.

Streaming Performance (Japan & Global Platforms)

This is the category most expats care about. NordVPN performs exceptionally well on both Japanese and international streaming platforms.

1. Netflix

NordVPN unlocks every major Netflix library:

Netflix US
Netflix UK
Netflix Canada
Netflix Japan
Netflix Australia
Netflix Korea

Streaming is smooth—even in 4K.

2. Hulu Japan

Hulu Japan is notoriously difficult for VPNs.
NordVPN works consistently.

3. TVer & ABEMA

Two essential platforms for Japan-based residents.

NordVPN bypasses region restrictions without errors.

4. Amazon Prime Japan

Works reliably with NordVPN. Many VPNs fail here, but NordVPN avoids detection.

5. U-NEXT

NordVPN smoothly unblocks U-NEXT’s Japan-only content.

6. DAZN Japan

DAZN is known for its aggressive VPN blocks.
NordVPN works better than Surfshark or ExpressVPN, though performance may require switching to Tokyo or Osaka servers.

Compatibility with Japanese Banking Apps

Foreigners in Japan rely heavily on online banking:

Salary deposits
Wise transfers
Credit card management
Shopping apps
QR code payments

Many banking apps break when used with weak VPNs.

NordVPN performs exceptionally well with:

MUFG
Mizuho
SMBC
Japan Post Bank
Rakuten Bank
PayPay Bank
Jibun Bank
Aeon Bank
Wise
Revolut

When traveling abroad, NordVPN allows you to log in with a Japan IP, avoiding “suspicious login” warnings.

Compatibility with Japanese Mobile Payment Apps

Japan relies heavily on QR code payments:

PayPay
Line Pay
Rakuten Pay
d-Barai

NordVPN helps ensure consistent login and payment authentication during travel.

Without a VPN, many apps may:

Reject foreign IPs
Lock accounts
Force SMS re-verification

NordVPN prevents these issues.

Actual Daily Usage: How to Use NordVPN in Japan

NordVPN is extremely easy to use—even for beginners.

1. Install

Download NordVPN from:

App Store
Google Play
Windows/Mac
Browser extensions

2. Connect to a Japan Server

Recommended servers:

Tokyo
Osaka
Yokohama

These give the best performance for banking and daily browsing.

3. Connect to Your Home Country When Needed

For expats wanting to access home-country streaming or banking, choose:

United States (if American)
United Kingdom (if British)
Canada
Australia
Singapore (very stable)

4. Turn On Auto Connect

For daily security, enable:

Auto-connect on untrusted Wi-Fi
Threat Protection
Kill switch

5. Using NordVPN for Travel

When traveling to countries with internet restrictions:

Enable obfuscated servers
Use NordLynx or OpenVPN
Select nearby high-speed regions

NordVPN is one of the few VPNs that remain reliable in heavily censored countries.

Real-World Examples for Foreigners in Japan

Example 1: Watching Home-Country Netflix

A Canadian living in Japan can connect to Toronto servers and instantly regain full North American Netflix access.

Example 2: Logging Into MUFG While Traveling

A foreigner visiting Thailand can connect to a Japan server and log in to MUFG without being blocked.

Example 3: Using Public Wi-Fi at Tokyo Station

NordVPN encrypts traffic automatically—protecting emails, banking, and work files.

Example 4: Accessing Hulu Japan Abroad

While visiting family overseas, NordVPN restores full access to Japanese streaming.

Example 5: Remote Work

Video calls, cloud storage, and corporate VPNs work smoothly with NordLynx.

Pros & Cons Summary

Pros

Fastest speeds in Japan
Works with all Japanese streaming platforms
Compatible with major Japanese banks
Great for travel across Asia
Strongest security features
Reliable for remote work
Excellent app design

Cons

Slightly more expensive than Surfshark
Double VPN may reduce speeds
DAZN may require switching servers

Final Verdict: Is NordVPN Good for Japan?

Yes.
NordVPN is the best VPN for foreigners living in Japan due to its unmatched combination of speed, security, streaming performance, and banking compatibility.

For expats who rely on stable digital access, international travel, and secure financial transactions, NordVPN provides the most complete experience in 2025.

If you need one VPN that does everything—NordVPN is the clear choice.