Looking for fun Netflix shows to binge watch? Here are the best Japanese Netflix shows for you to enjoy!
I love canceling plans to stay home and binge-watch Netflix shows. It’s a gold mine of shows and movies that can keep you hooked for hours. Netflix truly is the best place to lose track of time, perfect for those chilly winter mornings, rainy days, and weeknights.
Since I am such an avid binge-watcher, I am always on the lookout for the best shows to spend all my time with (since I, currently, have no social life – thanks to Covid)
Recently, I came across some of the best Japanese Netflix Shows that are so good you will be stuck in front of the screen for hours and hours. If you love discovering new shows, I’m sure you will love this list of best Japanese Netflix shows.
Best Japanese Netflix Shows — Quick Summary
| Best Japanese Netflix Shows | Genre | Editor’s Rating |
| Giri/Haji | Crime, Drama | 7.9/10 |
| Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman | Comedy | 7.6/10 |
| Midnight Diner | Comedy, Romance, Food | 8.4/10 |
| The Naked Director | Historical Drama | 7.8/10 |
| Aggretsuko | Comedy | 8.0/10 |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion | Cyberpunk | 8.5/10 |
| Terrace House: A New Beginning | Reality TV | 7.8/10 |
| Million Yen Women | Mystery | 7.7/10 |
So, get ready to binge-watch some of the best Japanese Netflix shows from the best Japanese manga turned anime to Japanese drama series when the mood strikes.
Top Japanese Netflix Shows
Giri/Haji
Genre: Crime, Drama | Age Rating: 18+ | Editor’s Rating: 7.9/10
If you are into shows that are all about crime and drama, you will definitely enjoy watching Giri/Haji.
The show includes a lot of the regular crime and violence, chopping fingers and katana stabbings that you can see in other Japanese crime shows and movies.
You will also see that the show has a lot of London gangsters, Albanian mafias, and an American gangster. The story has also been spiced up with the addition of sex and drugs.
This is a great package that has all of this along with some heart-wrenching family drama that keeps you hooked to the screen.
Giri/Haji means Duty/Shame in English, and the show portrays these things quite perfectly. The story takes place in two places – Tokyo and London.
The language spoken is a 50/50 mixture of English and Japanese. This is great if you do not want to be stuck on reading the subtitles for the entire duration of the show.
This is a show that is worth all the time that you spend watching it.
Key Features:
- One of the most popular crime dramas that there is
- Contains finger chopping, katana stabbings, and regular crime and violence
- Contains London gangsters, Albanian mafias, as well as a London gangster
- Family drama completes the entire package
- Contains a half-half mixture of English and Japanese
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 8 | 55 mins |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Related: Best Japanese Horror Movies
K Antaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman
Genre: Comedy | Age Rating: 7+ | Editor’s Rating: 7.6/10
This is the perfect show for people who are way too passionate about food. This show has a lead in the form of the titular, Kantaro who gives excellent reactions and loses himself in ecstasy with every single bite that he takes.
The fantasy world created by him when he looks at and eats all the delicious delicacies is something that I love watching.
It really takes me to a new world, and I am sure you will resonate with this feeling when you sit down to binge-watch it.
The show has a lot of exaggerated acting that brings forward fun and enjoyable time, making you want to keep watching more.
The main lead of the show is a salaryman who is obsessed with sweets. In each of the episodes, you will see a new dessert being introduced.
However, the show is now all about food and the reactions given by Kantaro. It also portrays the toxic and bitter working culture of Japan.
Kantaro, who is a salaryman, enjoys sweets during the short time that he gets. Each episode creates a sort of suspense where we keep worrying about what would happen if Kantaro gets caught during his stints.
Key Features:
- Perfect for those who are passionate about sweets
- Story of Kantaro, a salaryman, who is obsessed with sweets
- A new sweet is introduced in every episode, thus giving us a food tour
- Also portrays the toxic and bitter working culture of Japan
- Kanataro’s love for food and the work culture bring together the entire storyline
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 12 | 24 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Midnight Diner
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Food | Age Rating: 18+ | Editor’s Rating: 8.4/10
This is a show that you must not miss out on, no matter what. The show is based on a Manga of the same name. The story revolves around a diner where people come and pour out their hearts and talk about their stories. You will find a different story in every episode.
Each episode also brings forward a range of delicious delicacies such as rice omelet, egg tofu, ramen, and others.
Midnight Diner is a place where you will find the perfect amalgamation of charm, food, and talks. It is the perfect balance that gives an outsider the insight into the cultural aspect of Japan.
The show has all kinds of people coming in the diner and pouring their heart out. Writers, teachers, businessmen, dancers, and others make their appearance, and you are bound to resonate with them.
Key Features:
- Based on a manga of the same name
- Revolves around a diner where people meet and pour out their hearts
- Different story in every episode
- Also brings forward a range of delicious dishes
- Perfect amalgamation of charm, food, and talks
- Gives a cultural insight of Japan
- Gives you a story that you can resonate with
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 2 | 20 | 25 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
The Naked Director
Genre: Historical Drama | Age Rating: 18+ | Editor’s Rating: 7.8/10
This is a Netflix original that revolves around a Japanese porn director, Muranishi. Since the story revolves around this aspect, there is bound to be a lot of sex involved in the show.
This is a show that will get you hooked, simply because the storyline is pretty awesome.
The story brings to us a number of aspects from the life of our lead character. The first episode starts with a masturbation scene, which may not be what you are looking for.
However, I would recommend that you continue watching and finish Episode two before deciding on whether to continue or stop watching. It’s one of the top Japanese drama on Netflix.
I love how the story unfolds and tells us about the director, who starts off his journey as a salesman. The story becomes fun when our hero enters the porn industry.
The show balances facts and fiction perfectly to bring us something that is fun and addictive.
Key Features:
- Revolves around a Japanese porn director
- Has a lot of sexual scenes
- Tells us a lot about the journey of our lead character
- Perfect balance between facts and fiction
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 8 | 45 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Related: Best Japanese Movies on Amazon Prime
Aggretsuko
Genre: Comedy | Age Rating: 13+ | Editor’s Rating: 8.0/10
Although this is an animated Japanese show, it is not for children. The story is about a death metal singing red panda who portrays the problems of the corporate world and the resentment of the employees.
The main character of the show is Retsuko, who turns into Aggretsuko when she uses music as a medium to vent out all her frustrations and rage.
During the day, Retsuko is an office lady who handles the accounting department.
But, when the day turns into night, we see her as a person who rages through death metal karaoke.
We also see that the office our Retsuko works in is filled with characters that we most often see in our offices – everyone from the pleasers to mean girls can be seen there.
Key Features:
- Animated Japanese show that is not for children
- Story about Retsuko who is a death metal singing red panda
- Protrays the problems of the corporate world and the frustrations of the workers
- Retsuko becomes Aggretsuko when she uses music to vent out her pent up frustration
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 3 | 30 | 15 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Genre: Cyberpunk | Age Rating: 18+ | Editor’s Rating: 8.5/10
This is one of the most popular anime series of all time. The show originally came out in the year 1995 and focused on the famous robot genre. The show combined this genre with complex characters to show a world of mythology.
The mind-bending plot will keep you hooked with the psychoanalytic theory. The story revolves around a teenage character named Shinji. He has been recruited to fight off a giant alien called ‘Angels’.
Anime is an extremely popular medium in Japan, and if you are into it, I am sure you will enjoy watching this series.
Key Features:
- One of the most popular anime series of all time
- Combines robot genre with a psychoanalytical plot
- Keeps you hooked with its mind-bending plot
- Story revolves around a teengaer, Shinji, who has been deployed to fight off a giant alien
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 26 | 25 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Terrace House: A New Beginning
Genre: Reality TV | Age Rating: 13+ | Editor’s Rating: 7.8/10
If you love reality shows, I am sure you will enjoy watching this tremendous Netflix original series. The show has a balance of everything – from love, friendship and longing to jealousy.
It brings out all these aspects perfectly and gets you addicted. The show has just the right amount of drama to keep you excited throughout the journey.
The story follows the lives of six people who enter the Terrace House. These strangers come together and so, the story unfolds. You will come across everything that we see in our daily lives, which makes us resonate with various situations.
Key Features:
- A reality show that follows the lives of six strangers who enter the Terrace House
- A perfect balance of different emotions
- You can see love, friendship, longing, and jealousy in just the right ratio
- Enough drama and excitement to keep you hooked
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 6 | 49 | 40 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Million Yen Women
Genre: Mystery | Age Rating: 16+ | Editor’s Rating: 7.7/10
This is a show that will make you want to snuggle in your blanket for hours just to finish it in one go. The mystery revolves around Shin, a struggling novelist.
In the show, five mysterious women show up in Shin’s house, and so begins the story. In exchange, the women pay him one million yen each. However, Shin is not allowed to ask questions in return.
The show is a mixture of a lot of emotions. It is silly and fun, but also mysterious. You will also find it to be heartwarming and intense. It’s one of the best Japanese Netflix series.
Key Features:
- Mysterious show that revolves around Shin, a struggling novelist
- Five mysterious women show up in his house
- A compilation of several emotions, including heartwarming and mysterious feelings
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 12 | 24 minutes |
Check out the best Japanese Netflix shows below!
Alice in Borderland
Genre: Drama; Science fiction; Thriller / Age Ratings: PG 13 / Editor’s Ratings: 7.6/10
Well if you’re looking for a Japanese thriller show that will keep you hooked throughout the series, watch Alice in Borderland. This show is about a guy named Arisu who is a big-time gamer and finds himself stuck in midst of Tokyo without anyone but his friends.
If they want to survive, they have to compete in dangerous games. I love this series because each character has something unique that kept the story going. I also really liked the backstories of the main characters like Arisu and his friends that the show introduces.
It’s directed by Akira Morii and is definitely one of the production house’s finest works. I honestly can’t wait for the second season of Alice in Borderland. It’s one of the top Japanese Netflix series.
Key Features:
- intriguing show that will keep you engaged
- Provides backstories of the main characters
- Great to watch people who are into gaming and computers
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 12 | 45 minutes |
Followers
Genre: Drama, Romance / Age Ratings: 15+ / Editor’s Ratings: 6.7/10
Followers is one of the most famous Japanese Netflix shows directed by Mika Ninagawa. The show presents the harmful results of social media in contemporary society. The show is extremely heartwarming and teaches a big lesson on how to live in the online world.
The show charts a parallel story of Limi, and Natsume on Instagram after posting a picture. Followers show gave a strong feeling of feminism as the entire series is led by main female roles. I also love how the show discusses themes like fame, growth, and struggle.
Followers is one of the best Japanese shows on Netflix that I’ve watched recently, for sure.
Key Features:
- Female-led show
- Discusses important themes like growth, struggle, and fame
- Teaches about the harmful effects of social media
| No. of Seasons | No. of Episodes | Avg Episode Length |
| 1 | 9 | 40 minutes |
Which is the best Japanese Netflix Show to watch?
One of the best Japanese Netflix shows that you must not miss out on is Neon Genesis Evangelion. This show has grabbed the eyes of every Japanese show lover, thanks to the mind-bending plot and brilliant techniques used. This is one anime show that you must watch.
Best Japanese Netflix Show: FAQs
Which is the best thriller Japanese show on Netflix?
If you want to watch a thriller Japanese show on Netflix, do watch Alice in Borderland and Giri/Haji. Both of the Japanese series have amazing plots and will keep you hooked.
Is Tokyo Diner available on Netflix?
Tokyo Diner is a reality show available on Netflix. The story revolves around a diner where people come and pour out their hearts and talk about their stories. You will find a different story in every episode.
Are you ready to sit back and relax?
I hope you enjoyed this list of the best Japanese Netflix shows. These are the shows I go for when I want to spend snuggled inside my blanket. If you are a lover of all things Japanese, I am sure you will enjoy these Netflix shows just as much as I do. Are you ready to have them all on your watchlist? Wait no more! Grab your popcorn and a blanket and spend hours laughing and crying with these excellent Japanese shows.