Japanese TV channels live online: one by one
In Japan, NHK streams its channels on NHK ONE, and the five big commercial networks stream their evening programmes live for free on TVer. For the rest of the world, NHK runs NHK WORLD-JAPAN in English.
Japanese TV channels list: live at home and abroad
Where each channel streams live at home, and what happens abroad.
All Japanese TV channels: 155 more
These Japanese channels do not have a full guide yet. Where we found one on Wikipedia, we list what it is, its official website and its article; the rest are names only for now. Where to watch them live, and whether that works abroad, is not checked yet. From Wikipedia, Wikidata and our own research (3 November 2026); we opened every official website the same day.
Show 107 more channels
More Japanese channels: names only
Channels we know of that have no details here yet: no website, nothing checked.
Japanese TV online: how it works
NHK ONE is NHK's internet service, with simultaneous and catch-up streaming of programmes. It took over from NHK Plus in October 2025. NHK says households that already pay the reception fee need no extra contract or payment.
TVer is the free official service of Japan's commercial broadcasters, owned by the five big Tokyo networks. Since 11 April 2022 Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV stream their prime-time programmes live on it, from about 7 pm to 11 pm, a little behind the broadcast. TVer says live streams cannot be watched in its TV app.
How to watch Japanese TV abroad
NHK WORLD-JAPAN is NHK's international service. It reaches the world in several languages, and its English channel streams live on its website.
We found no official way to watch the five commercial networks live outside Japan. Their own paid services say they work only in Japan: Hulu Japan (Nippon TV), U-NEXT (TBS and TV Tokyo) and TELASA's live streams (TV Asahi). Fuji TV says FOD SHORT, its short-drama app in the US and Canada since 15 April 2026, is its first platform outside Japan.
In North America, Jme, which streams NHK WORLD PREMIUM, closes on 31 March 2027; NHK WORLD PREMIUM is also on Sling TV and DISH.
Japanese TV in the USA, Canada, Australia and more
Japanese TV in the USA and Canada
No official way that we found for Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo.
Japanese TV in Australia, the UK and Germany
- NHK: NHK WORLD-JAPAN
No official way that we found for Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV.
Japanese TV: common questions
Can I watch NHK outside Japan?
NHK's international service, NHK WORLD-JAPAN, streams live in English on its website, for viewers around the world.
What is NHK ONE?
NHK's internet service since October 2025, with simultaneous and catch-up streaming. It took over from NHK Plus.
Do I pay extra for NHK ONE?
NHK says households that already pay the reception fee need no extra contract or payment.
Which Japanese TV channels are free to watch online?
In Japan: Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV stream live for free on their official apps, websites or YouTube channels (some ask for a free account). The others need a TV licence or reception fee, a subscription or a TV login.
Which Japanese channels can I watch abroad?
Partly: NHK (NHK WORLD-JAPAN in English). No official way abroad that we found: Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV. Each channel page has the details.
Which apps carry Japanese TV channels?
NHK ONE (Japan): NHK. NHK WORLD-JAPAN (worldwide, free): NHK. TVer (Japan): Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi, TV Tokyo and Fuji TV. Hulu Japan (Japan only): Nippon TV. U-NEXT (Japan only): TBS and TV Tokyo. TELASA (Japan only, live): TV Asahi.
Can I watch Japanese TV in the USA?
Partly. NHK: NHK WORLD-JAPAN. Fuji TV: FOD SHORT (not the channel itself). No official way that we found for Nippon TV, TBS, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo.
Where the facts come from
- NHK ONE (official)
- NHK WORLD-JAPAN: live
- NHK WORLD-JAPAN: about
- App Store: NHK WORLD-JAPAN (free; iPhone, iPad, Apple TV)
- App Store (Japan): TVer, free; live mainly in the evening, not in the TV app
- Phile-web: all five Tokyo networks live on TVer from 11 April 2022
- Hulu Japan: Hulu cannot be watched from outside Japan
- U-NEXT help: watching abroad (the service is for Japan only)
- TELASA help: live streams can only be watched from inside Japan
- Fuji TV (PR TIMES): FOD SHORT, its first platform outside Japan (15 April 2026)
- Jme: discontinuation of Jme on 31 March 2027
Last checked: 3 November 2026. Prices and rules change: the official pages always win.