How to Listen to Radiko Outside Japan

One way to enhance learning a language is through listening and if you are learning Nihonggo, the best radio station where you could learn the language is through Radiko. Unfortunately, Radiko is only available for those who are in Japan. Though this is the case, there is still a way for one to access Radiko even though he or she is not in the country.

Why can’t I listen to Radiko outside Japan?

Japan is one of the countries that do not accept any forms of copyright infringement. Hence, as a practice, they often use geotagging to prevent this. Geotagging is used to restrict IP addresses that are not in the region or in the country. In this case, since Radiko uses geotagging, if you are outside Japan, you will not be granted permission to access or listen to Radiko.

Is there a workaround to listening to Radiko outside Japan?

As mentioned above, there is a way for one to be able to access Radiko even though you are not in Japan and that way is through the use of a Virtual Private Network or more commonly known as VPN. Through a VPN, you will be able to use a Japanese IP address which will be able to connect you to the radio station even though you are in your own country. This is made possible by sending your traffic through a Japanese server which you have connected to.

You will have to take note though, that the only way to be able to listen to Radiko outside Japan is through connecting through a Japanese server only. Hence, ensure that the VPN service provider that you will be choosing has a server located in Japan.

Best VPN to use to listen to Radiko outside Japan

1. ExpressVPN ( Visit Website )

ExpressVPN is one of the most reputable and trusted VPN service providers and has proved to be one so. ExpressVPN offers privacy, security, speed and unlimited bandwidth. They have a huge network of servers located in many different countries worldwide including Japan which means, you will be able to listen to Radiko without any problems.

For security measures, ExpressVPN comes with high quality security features such as strict no logs policy that ensures they do not record any of your browsing history or your internet activities, 256-AES encryption function, PPTP and OpenVPN protocols.

Through ExpressVPN, you will be able to connect automatically to Radiko without any difficulties and enjoy all of its content. However, in case you encounter any problems, do not fret as their 24/7 customer service would gladly provide any assistance that you would need.

ExpressVPN is available on Android, Linux, Mac and iOS.

2. NordVPN ( Visit Website )

Though NordVPN has not been in the industry for a long time, they have proven themselves to be efficient and reliable in terms of their performance and services. With this, we could say, they are an amazing option to be used to listen to Radiko. Currently, they have wide network of servers located in about 59 countries all over the world and they have about 82 servers that are located in Japan alone. In addition to that, they have top notch security features which ensures that your connection is kept private and secured from the prying eyes of any government, third parties and hackers.

NordVPN is available on Android, Mac, Linux and iOS.

3. Trust.Zone

Trust.Zone is another great option with its fast speed and security features. They have numerous servers scattered in about 87 zones all over the world. They offer three-day trial version wherein you get to check if their services will suit your needs. They offer military grade encryption and since they are not part of the 14 eye countries, this ensures its users that their internet connection traffic and logs are kept highly secured.

4. ProtonVPN

When listening to Radiko one of the requirements is having a fast connection and with ProtonVPN, this will never be your problem. They are widely known for providing one of the fastest connection in the industry. They have about 526 servers located in about 42 countries worldwide. As for its privacy policy, they ensure their clients and subscribers that their connection and identity are kept concealed. They also have a 256-bit AES military grade encryption features and in case you encounter any problems, ProtonVPN’s customer support would be happy to assist you.

5. HideMyAss ( Visit Website )

HideMyAss is another popular VPN service provider that comes with high quality level of security features with their military grade 256-bit encryption function and kill switch. They also allow their clients and subscribers to connect up to maximum of five devices simultaneously. Their network connection is also fast which only means, you will never have to worry about buffering and lags which is definitely good when listening to Radiko.

How do you know which VPN to choose?

Choosing the right VPN is a tricky task. However, having certain criteria would help you make a sound decision. Below is a list of criteria which we recommend you consider before choosing a VPN service provider.

1. Server location – ensure that they have a server in a location where you would like to access a restricted content or site. In this case, you would need a VPN service provider that has a server in Japan
2. Number of simultaneous connection – this gives you the flexibility to have other devices to connect to VPN.
3. Cost – yes of course budget is one of the most important things you would need to consider. Ensure that the VPN you will be subscribing to would be cost-effective and within your budget.
4. Geo-restrictions – there are a lot of sites and content that are geographically restricted. Make sure that your VPN will be able to circumvent restrictions imposed by sites.
5. Bandwidth and speed – this is important especially when you are fun of streaming and downloading torrents.

Can I use a free VPN instead?

The answer is yes. However, take note that we highly discourage the use of free VPNs. Why? Here are a few reasons why we do not recommend the use of free VPNs:

1. Many VPNs are slow- this means, you will encounter a lot of buffering and lags which could be very frustrating when you are streaming or listening to Radiko.
2. Many VPNs do not have servers in Japan. This means you will not be able to access the geo-restricted, Radiko.
3. Many free VPNs record your logs. This means, they could sell your data to third parties.

When is it illegal to use a VPN?

1. When it is used for hacking. Since VPN could hide your identity, VPN could be used as a tool by hackers in trying to conceal their activities.
2. Trading and downloading on the Dark Web.
3. Cyberstalking and Cyberbullying.
4. Illegal file sharing. There are some documents that would need permission before you could share. Since VPNs could make you anonymous and difficult to track, there are some individuals who would share files that are not allowed to be shared without the author’s consent.

How to use VPN to listen to Radiko programs?

1. Choose a good VPN that has a server in Japan
2. Download, install and add the VPN extension to your browser.
3. Connect to server in Japan
4. Look for Radiko on your device
5. Start listening to Radiko and enjoy!