How to Watch Amazon Prime Video Outside Japan (in 2024)

Amazon Prime Video basically avails contents like movies, TV shows, live shows, and sporting events. The content available on this platform is either produced by Amazon Studios or licensed to Amazon as an Amazon Original.

Even though the platform is available worldwide (except in China, Iran, North Korea, and Syria), Amazon Prime has region-specific content. In that light, only users in Japan (with a Japanese IP address) will be able to access content exclusive to Japan.

That is an issue that poses a challenge to netizens around the world. Does that mean foreigners or Japanese citizens outside Japan cannot watch interesting Japanese movies on Amazon Prime?

This article sheds light on how to deal with that geo-restriction embargo.

How to Watch Amazon Prime Video with a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) masks your real (abroad) IP address with a Japanese one, making it seem to the streaming platform that you’re in Japan. As a result, you get undiluted access to the very best of Japan’s Prime Video Originals.

Follow the steps in the outline below to set up your choice VPN for Amazon Prime Video

1. Open an account with the VPN with an active email address and password.
2. Install: Download the VPN software for your device.
3. Login
4. Select a Japanese server: Click the Location section and scroll through to select Japan.
5. Edit options and advanced features.
6. Stream Amazon Prime videos.

Top VPNs for Accessing Amazon Prime Video Outside Japan

We shortlist five top VPNs with outstanding streaming qualities for Prime Video as discussed below

Overall Best in Our Tests

ExpressVPN

Overall score: 9.8

• Super-fast servers
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Supports private protocol, Lightway
• Money-back guarantee

Try ExpressVPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

This VPN service easily tops the list of every VPN enthusiast, and rightfully so. The praises of ExpressVPN can’t quantify the extent of its efficiency in the cyber world. It has 3,000+ servers across the globe, and you can rely on any of its Japanese servers to always get you through.

ExpressVPN doesn’t cause any significant drop in browsing speed; in most cases, reviews say that it actually improves speed. More on speed, the servers are rapid to unblock geo-restricted Prime Video content. The VPN service delivers a smooth streaming experience and offers unlimited bandwidth of data to stream all contents.

Even though the servers are stable, this VPN implements a kill switch so that your data transmission stops if your VPN connection drops. To that effect, no hacker can take advantage of a drop in connection to snoop on your traffic. Also, ExpressVPN operates under a standard no-log policy. This VPN provider developed its own Domain Name System (DNS). Since it uses a private DNS, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can’t throttle your traffic transmission, and data security is enhanced.

The VPN service makes use of the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). That encryption standard is termed “uncrackable,” so you can rest assured about data integrity. ExpressVPN has various advanced features like the split tunneling feature that routes only select apps via the VPN. It also gives you the allowance to stream Amazon Prime on up to five devices with one subscription.

Finally, ExpressVPN is also a good choice for watching Japanese TV abroad in general, letting you also access other shows overseas such as GYAO or TVer.

Cheapest Option

NordVPN

Overall score: 9.6

• Incredibly fast servers
• Great security features
• Verified no-logs policy
• Unblocks streaming platforms

Try NordVPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

NordVPN could only come second to ExpressVPN. It’s just as good, though it has a broader network of servers of over 5,400 around the world. 80 NordVPN servers are dedicated to Japan, and that provides a wide range of servers to select from. There’s no doubt concerning the speed at which this VPN operates.

For the purpose of streaming, NordVPN dedicates a SmartPlay technology that aims at making your streaming experience exciting. The excitement comes in the form of bolt-fast speed, zero buffering, high-quality video streams, and unlimited bandwidth of data. NordVPN seems too good to be true, but it remains the fact that it is the real deal.

In addition to its streaming prowess, NordVPN is great with privacy and security. The company operates a strict no-log policy and a kill switch system. The approach ensures that your online activities remain private (to you and you alone), while the kill switch is designed to make sure your data is transmitted only when you’re connected to the VPN service.

NordVPN uses military-grade encryption to secure your data against all forms of cyber snooping and hacking efforts. Also, you get the privilege of a DoubleVPN feature that encrypts your data via two VPN servers. This VPN service makes a couple of security protocols available to you, and it integrates the services of DNS leak protection. NordVPN has a mighty ad-blocking power, which comes in handy when you’re streaming on the Prime Video platform. You can use NordVPN services on six devices simultaneously with just one subscription payment.

If you want to watch other Japanese TV shows abroad, NordVPN will also help you with that. NordVPN works well with letting you access other streaming plattforms such as Japanese Netflix and Japanese Hulu.

Best for Connecting Multiple Devices

Surfshark

Overall score: 9.5

• Allows unlimited simultaneous connections
• Integrates Stealth mode
• Multihop feature available
• 3,000+ servers

Visit Surfshark

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

This is another top-tier VPN service in the service of delivering excellent streaming conditions and standard security regulations. Surfshark offers a little over 3,500 server options for users to connect to around the world, and it wouldn’t make this list if it doesn’t have servers in Japan. The servers are of high speed and are steady enough to keep you connected for as long as you want.

This VPN comes as “the one” for unblocking geo-restricted content like the one on Japanese Amazon Prime Video. Apart from the fact that Surfshark opens access to those geo-blocked content, it is worthy of note that it does that swiftly, cancels out video buffering, and offers unlimited bandwidth to download and upload as many as you can.

As soon as you are in contact with a Surfshark server, it is imperative that your privacy and security is sealed, air-tight. It operates a kill switch and a no-log policy. Those features are on standby to prevent and neutralize the efforts of any form of cyber crook.

Just in the same build-up as the first two VPNs discussed earlier, Surfshark does a great deal of securing your connection as it uses AES-256. Als0, this VPN uses a MultiHop system that tunnels your traffic via multiple servers for increased protection. Surfshark generates many good reviews with its Whitelister (split tunneling feature) and the fact that there’s no limit to the number of simultaneous connections allowed.

Surfshark is as ExpressVPN and NordVPN also working with unblocking other TV shows. If you also want to access similar shows such as U-Next or dTV overseas, Surfshark will be a good choice.

Offers the best money-back guarantee

CyberGhost

Overall score: 9.3

• 45-day money-back guarantee
• 7,000+ reliable servers
• Strict no-log policy
• Tough security features

Visit CyberGhost

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

This list will not be complete without a provider like CyberGhost. It is reliable in virtually all aspects required of a top VPN service— Speed, censor bypassing, security, and anonymity. In addition to all that, CyberGhost comes with a very easy-to-operate user interface. The VPN also delivers a wild server count of 7,000+, with 71 being modified with Japanese IP addresses.

The servers offer fantastic connection speed, especially while streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video. With CyberGhost, Japanese content like “Good Doctor” and “99.9: Criminal Lawyer” slides through your screen without glitches. The streaming is flawless with no buffering, and you also get the freedom to download and upload as much content data as you want.

This premium VPN service has a perfect sense of customer privacy, and as a result, does not keep a data log of users’ online activities. Since they do not keep the records, they’ve technically rid themselves of potentially selling you out. CyberGhost also uses a kill switch so that your connection remains entirely secure as data transmission continues.

Furthermore, this VPN provider makes a couple of security protocols and leak protection details available for an enhanced approach to data integrity, even while you’re streaming Prime Video Originals. The protocols include OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard®. CyberGhost also uses military-grade encryption and allows you to protect up to seven devices at once. CyberGhost is also a good choice for accessing the similar streaming plattform DAZN overseas.

Best VPN with a Free Version

ProtonVPN

Overall score: 9.4

• Free version available
• Strong security features
• Reliable no-logs policy
• Allows Perfect Forward Secrecy

Visit ProtonVPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

This Swiss VPN is all-around pro-privacy. The great thing is, privacy is not the only highlight of ProtonVPN; it does exceptionally well in bypassing geo-censors. The VPN has over 1,000 servers in different countries around the world. However, ProtonVPN dedicates 23 of the thousand to Japan alone. That also contributes to ProtonVPN being a hotspot for Amazon Prime in Japan.

With ProtonVPN, intent comes to play because the VPN has servers optimized explicitly for streaming purposes. This VPN has a free version and three subscription plans— Basic, Plus, and Visionary plans. The free and Basic plans will not give you as much quality output as the other two plans when you stream. However, when you connect to any of the Plus or Visionary servers dedicated to streaming, you can be sure to get the absolute best of top-tier streaming delivery when you launch Amazon Prime Video. You also get unlimited bandwidth.

Switzerland has one of the world’s finest privacy policies, and that helps the VPN not to keep records of users’ traffic and timestamps. ProtonVPN also has a kill switch and an Always-On feature that keeps you within the VPN network.

You don’t have to worry about the government snooping on you. However, hackers will remain hackers. To tackle that, ProtonVPN encrypts your data and connection with 256-bit AES. It also implements the Perfect Forward Secrecy policy to keep your data and identity secure even if hackers decrypt the encryption key in the future. When you get a Plus or Visionary ProtonVPN subscription, you can connect up to ten devices simultaneously.

How to Choose a Good VPN for Amazon Prime Video 

All five of the VPNs discussed in this review are spot-on premium quality, but they come in variants. The best VPNs still differ in the tiniest details, but the feature to consider actually depends on the potential user’s relative preference and what he needs the VPN for. 

We enumerate the most important VPN features to put into consideration when making a decision on which VPN to bank on.

1. Device Compatibility 

It will make no logic if you download the software of a VPN that doesn’t support your device’s operating system. However, the VPNs in this article have software for all major operating systems— Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, etc.

2. Server(s) in Japan

In this case, it is important to look out for a VPN with at least one server in Japan. Having multiple servers might be an advantage over others. Having a server in Japan gives a VPN the potential to bypass the geo-restriction on Amazon Prime.

3. Connection speed and streaming quality

The best way to know how fast a VPN is is by user’s review because you wouldn’t expect a VPN company to talk down its speed. However, you can take speed tests to measure the rate. Also, it is important that the streaming is knitted with zero-buffering.

4. Bandwidth limit

None of the VPNs in this review have a limit to how much data you’re allowed to download and upload during a browsing session or a day.

5. Privacy and Security features

A premium VPN should have a no-log policy and a kill switch to assure your anonymity. Also, it should integrate the services of 256-bit AES because it is the most reliable encryption standard in the cyber world today. Having multiple security protocols is also worthy of note.

6. Advanced features

These special features might be the cutting edge to help you make a final decision on the VPN to choose. The advanced features include split tunneling, multiple encryption features, ad blocker, etc.)

7. Price and money-back guarantee

You don’t have to break the bank to secure the services of a good VPN. On the brighter side, all the VPNs in this guide have money-back guarantees.

8. Reviews

Information is wild and broad. To make a well-informed decision, you might need to check out reviews by past and current users because their experience can help. Expert reviews also carry weight and you can trust their words because they have nothing to lose.

How to Watch Amazon Prime Video Outside Japan on Amazon Fire TV

Firstly, it’s noteworthy that you can watch Amazon Prime Video on more than mobile and computer devices. So, you can unblock Amazon Prime Video Japan on the Amazon Fire TV. Both services are Amazon creations, hence the cross-platform compatibility. So, the Amazon Fire TV comes with the Prime Video app.

Fortunately, Amazon Fire TVs are compatible with VPNs. However, VPN apps aren’t on the default Amazon App Store. Thus, you have to sideload your VPN app onto your Fire TV. Furthermore, you can watch Amazon Prime Video outside Japan with Amazon Fire TV Sticks. 

These devices convert your regular TV to a smart TV. However, some Amazon Fire TVs and Fire TV Sticks aren’t compatible with VPNs. We mean that you cannot install a VPN on these devices. Specifically, the first-generation Amazon Fire TV sticks don’t have in-built VPN support. There’s no VPN app for these sticks except you root them.

Fortunately, though, there’s a way out. You can set up your VPN connection on a router and connect your Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick. Notably, you can use a physical router. Conversely, you can convert your laptop into a virtual router through its WiFi hotspot. 

Once you set up your router’s VPN connection, it protects every device connected to it. In addition, you can also unblock Amazon Prime Video outside Japan with your Amazon Fire TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick. 

Can You Watch Amazon Prime Video Outside Japan for Free?

No, you cannot watch Amazon Prime Video outside Japan for free with a VPN. This is because the VPN merely unblocks the streaming platform. You’ll then need an Amazon Prime Video subscription to access content on this streaming platform. Furthermore, there’s a 30-day free trial for new subscribers. Finally, once you subscribe, you can watch Amazon Prime Video on three different gadgets.

Frequently Asked Questions on Watching Amazon Prime Video Outside Japan

What’s the best VPN for watching Japanese Amazon Prime Video?

The best VPN for watching Japanese Amazon Prime Video is ExpressVPN. However, NordVPN is another exceptional service you can use to unblock Amazon Prime video. ExpressVPN takes the apex spot because of its unrelenting dedication to providing the best service to users every year. In addition, it has servers in Tokyo and Yokohama that ensure you will watch Amazon Prime Video outside Japan. Furthermore, it provides exceptional service in terms of security, privacy, and support. 

Can a free VPN service give me access to Japanese Amazon Prime Video?

Yes, some free VPN services might give you access to Amazon Prime Video’s Japanese library. However, in most cases, you’ll have a hard time enjoying the experience. This is because free VPN services have limits that will make your experience less pleasurable. For example, most free VPNs limit the number of servers you can use. Additionally, they set a cap on the amount of data you can use daily or monthly. For example, a VPN with a daily data cap of 500MB is useless to someone that uses at least 1GB daily. Besides having limits, free VPNs are also less secure than paid ones; some are malware-spreading applications. 

Will a VPN give me access to other country-specific libraries apart from Japanese Amazon Prime Video?

Yes, a  VPN gives you access to other country-specific Amazon Prime Video libraries. However, your access depends on two things: the server network of the VPN and the unblocking power of those servers. With top VPN services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, you will have little or no worries unblocking content from the countries their servers reside.  

Why is my VPN service provider not giving me access to Japanese Amazon Prime Video?

Sometimes, using a VPN does not guarantee you will have access to Japanese Amazon Prime Video. As we mentioned above, it depends on the unblocking power of the VPN service you use. You can always reach out to your VPN service provider if you have any issues unblocking the Japanese library of Amazon Prime Video. However, there might be some cases where you can fix the issue without needing the help of the support team of your VPN. Sometimes all you need to do is clear cookies and cache, turn off your GPS, change your DNS servers, etc.

Conclusion

Either you’re a Japanese that is not in the country at the moment, or you’ve never been to Japan, but you find solace in watching Japanese movies; the most important thing is that you can lift the geo-restriction embargo on contents. With any of the VPNs reviewed in this piece, you’ll get yourself a surreal streaming experience with adequate privacy and security checks and balances.