How to watch Abema TV outside Japan
Jeff
Jeff, TV analyst for WatchTVAbroad hails from Pennsylvania, United States and after growing up disinterested in sport found his sport calling in his late teenage years. Now he loves nothing more than streaming boxing, MMA and other combat sports.
If you’re from Japan or just a fan of Japanese programming then you’ve probably heard of Abema TV. In this guide I’m going to show you how you can watch Abema TV outside Japan.
If you’re living outside Japan or you just can’t get enough of Japanese language shows or cartoons and you’ve tried to watch Abema TV then you’ll know like me that you’re blocked from watching.
Abema is restricted to viewing from within Japan only and without the aid of a little tool that I’ll explain to you in this guide you won’t be able to watch.
So let’s find out how you can watch Abema TV outside Japan from anywhere in the world using a simple app called a VPN.
What you need to watch Abema TV outside Japan
When you visit the Abema TV website outside Japan rather than being able to select the channel or network you want to watch you’ll instead be hit with a screen that tells you that “AbemaTV is only accessible within Japan”.
If you want to watch your favourite Japanese shows then the above block can be really annoying.
To bypass this block you’re going to need to get yourself a VPN service.
A VPN is a way to encrypt your internet connection and alter your online location. When you visit any website it knows which country you’re from and even which city.
With a VPN you can alter your country so that you appear elsewhere.
Where to get a VPN
There are many companies that offer VPN services but not all are suitable to watch Abema TV outside Japan.
If fact, almost all are blocked by Abema these days.
The first and most important feature is that the VPN provider offers a Japanese “server”. The second most important feature is that the VPN provider offers fast speeds, fast enough to stream video from Abema TV to wherever you are located.
I’ve been testing a selection of VPN services and found that ExpressVPN is most suitable for the job, not only do they have a Japanese server but they’re also fast and competitive on price.
All you need to do is click the button below to get started with ExpressVPN and then continue reading below once you’ve signed up to their service.
Alternatively, NordVPN is also currently working so you’re free to choose.
30-day money back guarantee
How to stream Abema TV in any country
Once you’ve picked a VPN to sign up to the process is super-simple.
Step 1
Head over to the ExpressVPN site, choose a subscription length to suit you and sign up.
Step 2
Download the correct software for your computer either PC or Mac or you can download the apps for Android or iOS.
Install and Run the app.
Step 3
Press Selected Location then search Japan.
Enjoy streaming anywhere with ExpressVPN.
Step 4
Press Connect.
The ExpressVPN app will now make connection to Japan for you.
Once it is connected you should visit the Abema website and rather than see the block message that you saw earlier you’ll be able to choose from all the different channels and stream whatever shows you want wherever you are in the world.
Summary
If you’re missing all your favourite Japanese content, Abema TV is the service for you.
Sadly, it’s blocked when you’re outside of Japan. By using a VPN you can watch anywhere.
The great news is that you can use the VPN service from ExpressVPN for other purposes too and to access other TV services from around the world such as TVer and Gorin plus many others.
After you’ve finished watching Abema.tv why not take a look around our website as there are hundreds of other TV services both in Japan and around the world that you can unblock with your new VPN service.
✔ Beginner-friendly
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Hello, I’m using my MacBook Pro, and I set the location to Japan but it’s not working… I choose the server “Japan – Tokyo #007”
Hi,
What VPN service are you using?
I’m using SurfShark
Hi,
I think Surfshark stopped working a week or two ago unfortunately. Things change quite rapidly. If you’ve just signed up you can use their 30-day money back guarantee.
Hi, I tried using 4 VPNs (NordVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN and UltraVPN ) but none of them worked on mobile.
Do you know any other solution? Thanks.
Is it possible you can try on a desktop or laptop?
Also did you enable the false GPS option on the Surfshark app?
Same here… apparently mobile app uses something else to detect you are outside Japan. Access from PC / Mac via VPN is possible though.
Probably GPS or your sim card. Two solutions. Try enable “airplane mode” and then reenable Wi-Fi and try again. Or use Surfshark’s mobile app which lets you fake your GPS location.
Hi there,
I would like to know if Surfshark and NordVPN still both work? I run a youtube channel about Japanese voice actors and my viewers are looking for a VPN that allows them to watch their favorite voice actors on Abema TV.
Thank you so much Chris!
Hi Yalu,
Surfshark definitely works as of today. NordVPN was also working when one of our readers commented and we tested ourselves.
You may want to give it a whirl yourself as they both have 30-day money back guarantees and you can get a refund if you have any concerns. Let me know how you get on or if you have anymore questions.
I tried it out a few days ago and it was fine, but unfortunately, it seems to be no longer working. Is it the same for you?
Hi Yalu,
Still working here. Just connect to their ‘Japan’ option. We’re using Google Chrome on a Windows PC.
Surf Shark is not working for me
Hi,
Just tested, still working although was a little slow today. Best using a desktop or laptop rather than their app as you’ll get better results.
As someone else said, NordVPN also works (just tested too) > https://www.watchtvabroad.com/link/nordvpn
Surfshark VPN is now working as of March/April 2020.
NordVPN it works too!
Thanks for the recommendation! It didn’t used to work.
surfshark vpn can open Abema TV right now?
Hi Sammy,
Yes, just checked now. Works.
Very frustrated trying to watch jp tv live. Attempting to ajatt so it would be really helpful. Anyone know other ways to watch online?
Unfortunately sites like Abema have pretty much locked down to anyone outside Japan, sadly we know of no working method right now.
i heard that netflixvpn work but i am not sure. does anyone have experience with it??
We don’t hear good things about netflixvpn, best avoided.
My wife is japanese and we can use a vpn appliance pyramid with a fire stick but not a fire tablet. So came here trying to see why.
Unfortunately Abema TV has blocked most VPNs from accessing its service. However, if you can access on a Fire Stick, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to access on a Fire Tablet too.
VPNGate worked, but it don’t seem can be used for any security reasons
Good suggestion, although yes, you shouldn’t use it for anything sensitive or important.
I’ve previously used NordVPN to watch the Sumo on AbemaTV, unfortunately it no longer works. Do you have any workarounds?
Cheers.
Hi Brad,
Just tested NordVPN and can confirm it’s not working. Unfortunately also tested 4 other VPNs and none of these worked either. Seems like there is no workaround right now 🙁
Even ExpressVPN?
Including ExpressVPN sadly 🙁
I just tried using express vpn for abema tv today but it’s not working on my ipad idk why It getting worse when i open the apps its blocked. If without vpn i can open the app successfully but i cant get the special service
Yes, unfortunately it seems Abema is blocking all VPNs right now.
Do you think they started to trace vpn or non genuine ip and started to block them?
Yes, they probably blocked IP address with multiple users streaming from them with the assumption they’re VPN services. We’ll keep testing and update the article accordingly.
Just came across this article and wanted to know if this is still current with ExpressVPN that you are still able to access Abema TV. I have NordVPN and I am unable to watch Abema TV.
Hi Tony,
Sadly not. I just tested on your behalf and discovered it’s not working. I also tested at least 4 other VPN services and none of those worked either.
I’ve been using a VPN to watch sumo on Abema.tv but this month, when I tried accessing Abema through my VPN, it says I can’t use it because I’m not in Japan.
What VPN service are you using Stephen?