Muhammad Ahmad
Updated on: December 25, 2023
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Watch NHK On Demand Online With a VPN in 2024:
- Step 1: Download and install a good streaming VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN as it always works with NHK On Demand and has very fast speeds that are excellent for streaming.
- Step 2: Connect to a server in Japan. Scroll through the list of servers, find a server in Japan, and click to connect to it. If you’re not located in Japan, you can theoretically watch NHK with the help of a VPN. But keep in mind that this violates the user terms of NHK on Demand, and it may be regarded as copyright infringement.
- Step 3: Log into your NHK On Demand account. Find your favorite shows and start streaming.
NHK On Demand is only available in Japan. So, if you live outside the country, you won’t be able to watch any of its content. This is because the site has strict licensing agreements about where its content can be shared. Your IP address tells the site where you’re connecting from.
A VPN can change your IP address by connecting you to a server in another country. Theoretically, if you connect to a server in Japan, you’ll be assigned a Japanese IP address, which could let you watch NHK On Demand without being in Japan. But, this goes against the site’s Terms of Service and may be considered copyright infringement, which SafetyDetectives does not support.
If you want to watch NHK On Demand with VPN protection, there are some good options. While all of the VPNs I’ve included on this list work great with NHK, my favorite is ExpressVPN since it has excellent streaming support for NHK On Demand, blazing-fast speeds, and top-notch security features.
Best VPNs for Watching NHK On Demand Content in 2024
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for watching NHK On Demand.
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Secure VPN for streaming NHK On Demand.
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Easy-to-use VPN for NHK On Demand.
- Comparison of the Best VPNs for NHK On Demand in 2024.
The SafetyDetectives team strongly discourages copyright infringement. The VPNs we highlight below don’t log your activities, so they don’t monitor or control what you do. As a result, it’s up to you how you use a VPN. We urge you to always comply with all relevant rules and regulations.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Watching NHK On Demand in 2024
ExpressVPN is the best for watching NHK On Demand content as it has excellent streaming support and works with NHK On Demand all the time. My colleague in Japan tested the VPN with NHK On Demand 10+ times, and it always worked without issues.
Plus, its speeds are impressive. In my speed tests, all the videos in HD and 4K loaded and started playing instantly, and it was great that there wasn’t any buffering or lag in any of my videos. This is not really surprising, seeing as how ExpressVPN is ranked as the fastest VPN on the market.
ExpressVPN’s apps are user-friendly. It divides servers by region and makes it easy to quickly find the Japanese servers in the Asia Pacific region. Also, the apps let you save this location to your Favorites for quick access. Still, my favorite feature is Shortcuts, which lets you create 1-click shortcuts for apps and sites (like NHK On Demand) that pop on your screen once you connect to a server.
The VPN offers a split-tunneling feature, too, which allows you to decide which apps use the VPN connection and which apps use your local network. This way, you can watch NHK On Demand and also use apps that typically block VPNs (like banking apps) without needing to disconnect from the VPN.
ExpressVPN has a smart DNS tool, called MediaStreamer, that will let you watch NHK On Demand on devices that do not support VPN apps, like gaming consoles. Plus, it has a really intuitive Amazon Fire Stick app and works with Roku, so you can use it on the go.
The provider also comes with advanced security features. These include full protection against IPv6, WebRTC, and DNS leaks so your real IP address is never exposed — NHK On Demand won’t know your actual location. In addition, ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers (wipe all data on each reboot) and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session. Also, it has Threat Manager, which protects you from shady sites.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $6.67 / month, which is pricier than most competitors. However, considering its superb speeds and top-notch features, it’s well worth the cost. Plus, a 30-day money-back guarantee is available on all its subscription plans.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great VPN for Securely Streaming NHK On Demand
Private Internet Access (PIA) has excellent security features for watching NHK On Demand in Japan (my colleague in Japan had no problems watching shows on the site while connected to the VPN). It offers full leak protection, which I tested multiple times and never found any leaks, uses perfect forward secrecy and RAM-only servers, and has an audited no-logs privacy policy. It also regularly publishes transparency reports that detail the data requests it receives and how it doesn’t comply with them.
PIA’s speeds are really good, but it’s slightly slower than ExpressVPN. When I tested it, all HD videos loaded instantly, and 4K videos took about 2 seconds to load. Still, I didn’t experience any buffering, which is great.
I like how beginner-friendly PIA’s apps are. They list the last 6 server locations you connected to for quick access, and the apps also display the server latency, so it’s easy to see which server location will offer better speeds. Also, PIA offers unlimited connections, so you can connect as many devices as you want under a single subscription.
PIA offers a good level of customization, too, which allows you to switch between 128-bit AES encryption and 256-bit AES — the former is usually able to provide faster speeds. In addition, the VPN lets you customize the layout of the app so your most used features are at the top, and you can enable the VPN to auto-connect to your preferred VPN server when it detects a certain type of network, like an unsecured Wi-Fi network.
It’s also great that PIA lets you split-tunnel both apps and websites. This means you can route all of your NHK On Demand site traffic through the VPN, instead of routing the entire browser traffic through the VPN tunnel.
Private Internet Access offers budget-friendly plans starting at $2.11 / month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN for NHK On Demand
CyberGhost VPN has intuitive apps that are great for beginners that want to stream NHK On Demand (when my colleague in Japan tested it, he was set up in under 2 minutes). The apps make it super easy to find the Japanese server location and let you mark it as a Favorite so you don’t have to scroll through the entire server list to find it.
What I personally like the most about CyberGhost is the level of automation it offers via its Smart Rules feature. For example, it lets you launch the NHK app automatically after you connect to the Japanese server.
CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs out there. In my speed tests, all HD videos loaded instantly, and there wasn’t any buffering, even when I connected to more distant servers. And it took only about 3–4 seconds for 4K videos to load. That being said, it’s still slower than ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access.
You get great security and privacy features, too. It uses RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy, protects against DNS and WebRTC leaks, and has a no-logs policy that has been independently confirmed.
CyberGhost VPN is an affordable VPN (prices start at $2.03 / month). Its long-term plans are backed by a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, while the monthly plan comes with a 14-day risk-free refund window.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Comparison of the Best VPNs for NHK On Demand in 2024
How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching NHK On Demand in 2024
- Find a VPN with servers in Japan. NHK On Demand is only available in Japan, so you need a VPN that has servers in that country to watch shows on the site. Every VPN on my list has at least 1 server in Japan.
- Select a VPN that works with NHK On Demand 100% of the time. All the VPNs I recommend work with NHK On Demand without any issues.
- Pick a VPN with fast speeds. All VPNs encrypt your data, which slows down your speeds. That said, this is barely noticeable with a top VPN — ExpressVPN, for example, is the fastest on the market.
- Check for good privacy and security features. Each VPN on my list comes with industry-standard security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch that disconnects you from the internet when your connection to the VPN drops, and a strict no-logs policy.
- Opt for a VPN with intuitive apps. The VPNs included in my list enable you to locate and link to a server in Japan in just a few simple clicks.
- Find a pocket-friendly VPN that offers good value. Each VPN I recommend has reasonably-priced plans, allows multiple simultaneous connections, and offers at least a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Watch NHK On Demand Content on Any Device
How to Watch NHK On Demand Content on Your PC or Mac Device
- Find a VPN with good streaming support. ExpressVPN is my top choice because it always works with NHK On Demand and has easy-to-use apps for macOS and Windows devices.
- Download and install the VPN app. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard. It won’t take more than 1–2 minutes to do it.
- Connect to a local server in Japan. Find your favorite shows on NHK On Demand and enjoy.
How to Watch NHK On Demand Content on Your Smartphone or Tablet
- Get a good VPN that works with NHK On Demand. My favorite is ExpressVPN as it has excellent apps for Android and iOS.
- Download and install the VPN app. The installation wizard will guide you through the steps. This usually takes 1–2 minutes.
- Connect to a local Japanese server. You can now watch your favorite show on NHK On Demand!
How to Watch NHK On Demand Content on Your Smart TV
- Choose a VPN that works with NHK On Demand. I recommend ExpressVPN as it’s the fastest on the market, it’s very easy to install on a smart TV, and it has a dedicated router app.
- On Android TVs. Download the app from the Google Play Store and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
- On non-Android TVs. Set up the VPN on your router. Make sure you configure the router to use a local Japanese server.
- Open the NHK On Demand app on your smart TV. Search for your favorite show and start watching!
How to Watch NHK On Demand Content on Amazon Fire Stick
- Subscribe to a VPN with excellent streaming support. It should have an easy-to-use app for Amazon Fire Stick and very fast speeds. I personally recommend using ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN on your device. Follow the on-screen instructions to install and set up the VPN on your device.
- Connect to a local Japanese server. Now go to NHK On Demand and watch your favorite shows!
How to Watch NHK On Demand on Your Gaming Console
- Find a VPN that comes with router support. For me, the best pick is ExpressVPN because it’s one of the only VPNs on the market that has a router app, which is super easy to set up and use.
- Configure VPN on your router. Make sure you connect to a local server in Japan. This way, your gaming console will be able to use the VPN connection through the router.
- Launch NHK On Demand. Log into your account, and you’re all set — you can now watch NHK On Demand content on your PlayStation or Xbox!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will using a VPN affect my streaming quality on NHK On Demand?
Yes, as VPNs typically slow down your traffic. This is due to the encryption process and the extra distance your data has to travel to get routed through one of the VPN’s servers. But the impact is generally minimal if you’re using a high-quality VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because it works really well with NHK On Demand, and it has the fastest speeds on the market.
Can I use a free VPN to access NHK On Demand?
Probably not. Although it’s technically possible to access NHK On Demand with a free VPN, it’s highly unlikely to work because a lot of free VPNs don’t have servers in Japan. Plus, I don’t generally recommend free VPNs because they often limit data usage, which means you can only stream for a couple of hours a month, have slow speeds, and some even lack basic security features, which puts your data at risk.
Instead, I recommend getting an affordable VPN that works with NHK On Demand, has great speeds, and has excellent security (my favorite is ExpressVPN).
Can I use a VPN on any device to watch NHK On Demand?
Yes, top VPNs have apps for all major operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. The VPNs on my list also have smart TV apps, work with Amazon Fire Stick, and include a smart DNS tool that lets you watch NHK On Demand content on devices that don’t support VPNs.
I recommend ExpressVPN because its apps are user-friendly, and I really like that it has a smart DNS and a dedicated router app that’s very easy to install and use.
