Many of the announcements we cover end with a stream: an episode on ABEMA first, a special on YouTube, a radio show on radiko or Onsen. If you live outside Japan, the question is whether you can open it at all. We checked each service’s own help pages on October 18, 2026. Availability changes, so follow the links if you are reading this later.
The short version
Japan only
TVer, radiko, Onsen, d Anime Store, Bandai Channel
Depends on the program
ABEMA, Niconico
They work from many countries, but some content is blocked.
Usually available
Official YouTube channels
Unless the uploader restricts a video by country.
Using a VPN to get around these limits is unsupported by the services and is not something we cover.
Service by service
| Service | From outside Japan? | What its help pages say |
|---|---|---|
| ABEMA | Partly | Usable in most countries except some regions, but some countries and TV programs cannot be watched. A separate page says the “only accessible within Japan” error appears for access through a VPN, a proxy or an overseas IP address. |
| TVer | No | Video viewing is limited to Japan and cannot be done from overseas. |
| radiko | No | A Japan-only service; it cannot be listened to from overseas. |
| Onsen (onsen.ag) | No | A service for Japan only; it cannot be used from overseas. |
| Niconico | Partly | Since October 30, 2024, some videos on Niconico Video and Niconico Channel are hidden for overseas access, and the smartphone browser version cannot be used; the app is recommended instead. |
| d Anime Store | No | Available only in Japan. |
| Bandai Channel | No | Intended only for access from Japan; it cannot be watched from abroad. |
| YouTube (official channels) | Usually | A video can be unavailable in your country if its owner limits it to certain countries, usually for licensing reasons, or to comply with local law. |
Streaming
ABEMA is the one that most often surprises people. Its help page answers “Can I use it from overseas?” with “yes,” but adds that some countries and TV programs are not available. Some anime stream first on ABEMA in Japan, so check the specific show rather than assuming the service works the same everywhere.
TVer, the free catch-up service for Japanese TV, is Japan-only for video. So are the paid anime services d Anime Store and Bandai Channel.
Niconico has restricted overseas access to parts of its service since October 30, 2024: some user and channel videos no longer appear, and on a phone you need the app, because the smartphone browser version does not work from abroad.
Outside Japan, anime series are often streamed by services that license them for your region. The fact that a Japanese service is Japan-only does not mean the show is unavailable where you live.
Radio shows
Anime radio is harder. radiko, which carries Japan’s commercial radio stations online, is Japan-only, including its paid plans. Onsen, the internet radio station for anime, game and voice-actor shows, is also for Japan only.
The way in from abroad is usually YouTube. Bunka Hoso says that some of its programs can also be heard on YouTube, and some anime web radio shows post each episode there: the official Dandivine radio show, for example, is streamed on YouTube. When a radio announcement includes a YouTube link, that is the version to try.
A note on VPNs
The services say plainly that VPNs are not a supported way in. ABEMA calls VPN viewing outside its recommended environment and shows an error for VPN and proxy access, and TVer says VPN viewing is outside its support. We do not cover ways around these limits.
Before you click: a checklist
- Is the stream on TVer, radiko, Onsen, d Anime Store or Bandai Channel? Then it is for Japan only.
- Is it on ABEMA or Niconico? Try the specific program; availability differs by title.
- Is there an official YouTube upload? That is usually the most accessible version.
- For a regular series, look for the service that streams it in your region instead.
If you are after merchandise rather than streams, see our guide to buying from Japan’s official shops.
Service policies in this guide were checked against official help pages on October 18, 2026. Anime On Record has no affiliate or business relationship with any service mentioned.