Published on: June 14, 2023 Updated 4 times since publishing
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Watch NHK On Demand From Anywhere in 2026:
- 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.
- Connect to a server in Japan. Scroll through the list of servers, find a server in Japan, and click to connect to it.
- 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. The VPNs on my list also work great with NHK On Demand and will secure your streaming.
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.
Editor’s Note: 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. The SafetyDetectives team strongly discourages copyright infringement.
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Watch NHK On Demand Content on Any Device
1. Get a VPN that reliably accesses NHK On Demand.
I suggest ExpressVPN, as it works with NHK On Demand 100% of the time and is the fastest VPN on the market, which is great for streaming without any interruptions.
2. Download the VPN app on your devices.
Download the right VPN app for your device from the provider’s website or get it from the device’s app store. Follow the installation guide — it only takes a couple of minutes.
3. Connect to a server from the server list in the VPN app.
Then, open the NHK On Demand app or visit the website. Search for your favorite show and start watching!
Quick Summary of the Best VPNs for Watching NHK On Demand Content in 2026
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Watching NHK On Demand in 2026
Basic 12-Months plan: $3.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
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.
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.
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.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great VPN for Securely Streaming NHK On Demand
6-month plan: $7.50 / month
1-month plan: $11.99 / month
Private Internet Access (PIA) has excellent security features for watching NHK On Demand in Japan. It offers full leak protection, which I tested multiple times and never found any leaks.
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 for streaming NHK On Demand. In addition, 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.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN for NHK On Demand
6-month plan: $6.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
CyberGhost VPN has intuitive apps that are great for beginners that want to stream NHK On Demand — setup takes less than 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.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Editor's Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Quick Comparison Table
Editor's Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
How to Choose the Best VPN for Watching NHK On Demand in 2026
- 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.
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.
Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
