31 Best Japanese Dramas You Can Stream from Home in 2024

Often shortened to J-Drama or referred to as ドラマ (dorama), Japanese dramas are easy to dive into thanks to endearing characters and captivating storylines. They can be exciting, heartwarming or hilarious, and tend to be short and sweet—making them that perfectly bingeable snack you might be craving. 

Read on for 31 of the best Japanese drama series available for streaming today.

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1. “Shōgun”

Episodes: 10
First aired: 2024
Genre: Historical Drama, Adventure

This newly released Japanese-American miniseries is based on the 1975 novel of the same name. It’s set in the year 1600 in Japan as Lord Yoshii Toranaga struggles against his enemies on the Council of Regents.

When English sailor John Blackthorne (loosely based on the historical figure William Adams) gets shipwrecked in a Japanese fishing village, an unlikely alliance is formed and drama ensues. 

Watch it on: Hulu

2. “First Love” (初恋)

Episodes: 9
First aired: 2022
Genre: Romance

This romantic series follows a couple who grew up together during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As teenagers, they were carefree and in love. Fifteen years later, they meet again at very different points in their life. 

With unfulfilled dreams and the challenges of being adults, the two turn to their memories in an attempt to rekindle their love and fill a missing piece in their life. This series is very emotional and beautifully crafted—get ready for some tears!

Watch it on: Netflix

3. “Midnight Diner” (深夜食堂)

Episodes: 50
First aired: 2009
Genre: Comedy, Drama

“Midnight Diner” is the story of a quaint little eatery that only opens from midnight until dawn and the lost souls who pass through. Each episode brings a new customer with a new story that’s touching, funny or surprising.

If you like the series, you can watch the 2014 movie of the same title and the sequel, “Midnight Diner 2.” You can also make the dishes you see on this show thanks to my favorite Japanese recipe website, Just One Cookbook.

Watch it on: Viki

4. “Terrace House” (テラスハウス)

Episodes: 98 in the original series (many variations have followed)
First aired: 2012
Genre: Reality

Where American reality shows attempt to ignite drama, the Japanese reality show “Terrace House” takes a much more subdued approach. The show places three women and three men in a house and follows their interactions.

It deviates from other reality shows in that all participants are free to come and go whenever they want. The show is beautiful, full of aesthetic shots and serene silences—as well as a variety of realistic interactions between housemates. 

Watch it on: Netflix

5. “Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo” (イタズラなKiss～Love in Tokyo)

Episodes: 32
First aired: 2013
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Kotoko Aihara isn’t very bright. But what she lacks in smarts, she makes up for in spirit! So it’s not exactly a match made in heaven when she falls in love with the smartest boy in her school, Naoki Irie.

Shortly after Naoki rejects her, an accident displaces Kotoko’s family and they move in with some of her father’s childhood friends—and surprise! It’s Naoki’s home. As you can imagine, a lot of (generally wholesome) shenanigans ensue.

Watch it on: Viki | Sling | Amazon | Crunchyroll

6. “Re:Mind” (リマインド)

Episodes: 13
First aired: 2017
Genre: Thriller, Mystery

A group of Japanese high school girls wake up chained to chairs around a large dining table. They have no idea how they got there or why it’s happening. 

Every time the lights go out, one of them disappears. Can they figure out who’s doing this to them… and why? “Re:Mind” is a bit of a slow burner, but it definitely pays off for fans of classic mysteries.  

Watch it on: Netflix

7. “Atelier” (アンダーウェア)

Episodes: 13
First aired: 2015
Genre: Drama

Mayuko is fresh out of college with big dreams but no idea what to do next. She has a passion for fabric and design, and she finds herself working in a high-class lingerie shop with a demanding boss. 

As the series progresses, she learns what it takes to survive in the business world. This visually stunning show is about growth, inner beauty and finding your place in the world. And it will give you an insider look at the lingerie industry!

Watch it on: Netflix

8. “Angel Heart” (エンジェル・ハート)

Episodes: 9
First aired: 2015
Genre: Mystery, Crime, Sci-fi

This drama is full of action, noir elements, humor and heartwarming moments. A police detective named Kaori and an assassin named Xiang-Ying are living on opposite sides of the law—until their lives become inextricably linked.

While Kaori dies in a freak accident, Xiang-Ying tries to end her own life but is brought back from the brink of death thanks to a new heart—Kaori’s. Xiang-Ying now remembers both her own memories and Kaori’s. 

Watch it on: Crunchyroll

9. “Switched” (宇宙)

Episodes: 6
First aired: 2018
Genre: Thriller, Fantasy

Using the astrological powers of the Red Moon, an unpopular depressed girl switches bodies with one of her school’s most popular, beautiful students. The two soon find out how true their friends really are, and what it means when your beauty is only skin-deep.

Based on a manga series by Shiki Kawabata, this show explores themes of social anxiety and depression. 

Watch it on: Netflix 

10. “Good Morning Call” (グッドモーニング・コール)

Episodes: 27
First aired: 2016
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Nao thinks she’s finally getting her own apartment, but discovers she’ll be sharing it with Hisashi, a beloved (and very good-looking) boy from her class. Oh, and they have to keep their arrangement a secret.

At first, Nao finds Hisashi aloof and self-centered. But as they get to know each other, she finds herself warming up to him. Feelings blossom as Nao struggles with schemes, bullying, love triangles and more. 

Watch it on: Netflix

11. “The Days” (日々)

Episodes: 8
First aired: 2023
Genre: Drama

This exciting Japanese series focuses on the real life events that took place after the Tohoku Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which occurred on March 11, 2011.

In the show, Fukushima nuclear power plant officials race the clock to avoid an even worse outcome than total meltdown. The show gets into the politics and government decisions regarding one of the world’s worst ever nuclear disasters. It’s pretty real seeming, so if you’re particularly sensitive to this disaster, view with caution.

Watch it on: Netflix

12. “Erased” (僕だけがいない街)

Episodes: 12
First aired: 2017
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery

Satoru can travel back in time to prevent terrible incidents from occurring. He’s convinced that his mother’s recent death is linked to a serial killer. Determined to get her back, he heads 18 years into the past to try and stop a series of child killings.

Of course, time travel is never simple and every action has consequences. Will Satoru manage to save everyone? How is his mother’s death connected to a series of killings nearly two decades ago? Watch to find out!

Watch it on: Netflix

13. “Meet Me After School” (中学聖日記)

Episodes: 11
First aired: 2018
Genre: Romance

Hijiri and Akira are falling in love. Unfortunately, she’s a 25-year-old teacher and he’s her 15-year-old student. Meanwhile, Hijiri is engaged to a successful businessman while Akira has an admirer among his classmates.

Will these star-crossed lovers find a solution to their predicament? This show tells this taboo story without glamorizing the relationship. It explores the emotional turmoil and social consequences of what most would consider an abuse of power.

Watch it on: Viki

14. “Kakegurui” (賭ケグルイ)

Episodes: 15
First aired: 2018
Genre: Drama

At the prestigious Hyakkaou Private Academy, students are ranked based on their gambling skills. Those who win gain fame, money and a place among the school’s ruling elite. And those who lose must serve them.

When Yumeko transfers in, she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. Luckily, beneath her innocent exterior, she happens to be a compulsive gambler—and she does not play to lose. As she claws her way up the social ladder, the stakes keep getting higher. 

Watch it on: Netflix

15. “Miss Sherlock” (ミス・シャーロック)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0FIUz5OpT4

Episodes: 8
First aired: 2018
Theme: Crime

The famous detective Sherlock Holmes has had many interpretations over the years. “Miss Sherlock” reimagines the brilliant sleuth yet again, as a woman in modern-day Tokyo.

The show follows consulting detective Sara “Sherlock” Shelly Futaba and her roommate Dr. Wato Tachibana as they solve crimes together. Warning: this is a rather dark reimagining that features some horrendous deaths. 

Watch it on: Apple TV | Google Play | Hulu | YouTube | Prime Video | Max

16. “The Naked Director” (全裸監督)

Episodes: 16
First aired: 2019
Genre: Biographic Drama

“The Naked Director” is a docu-drama about Toru Muranishi, the man who revolutionized the world of pornography in Japan. Toru chances upon a career in the adult media industry after he finds his wife cheating on him.

He begins by peddling audio of couples in hotel rooms, moves on to racy magazines and finally lands squarely in the film industry. This show follows the ups and downs of the so-called “Emperor of Porn,” making it an oddly inspiring underdog story.

Watch it on: Netflix

17. “Tokyo Girl” (東京少女)

Episodes: 11
First aired: 2018
Genre: Comedy

Aya moves to Tokyo from the small town of Akita. Over the next 17 year, we watch her navigate a her life, career and relationships. Each episode focuses on a different part of Aya’s life, following her as she moves into the different Tokyo neighborhoods. 

This show has many wholesome and heartwarming moments. It’s also a great way to see different parts of Tokyo from the point of view of someone who’s not a Tokyo native. This show mostly casts women, meaning that it’s also a good opportunity to hear “ladylike slang” or 女らしい (おんな らしい ) — onnarashii slang.

Watch it on: Amazon

18. “In-house Marriage Honey” (社内マリッジハニー)

Episodes: 7
First aired: 2020
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Miura and Haruta meet each other and immediately get married. But rather than love at first sight, it’s a marriage of convenience—they both have their reasons for wanting to get married hastily.

Even though they didn’t marry for love, it has a way of sneaking into your heart when you least expect it. Watch this adorable couple learn to trust one another. Because sometimes, first comes marriage and then comes love.

Watch it on: Viki

19. “Alice in Borderland” (今際の国のアリス)

Episodes: 16
First aired: 2020
Genre: Thriller, Action

Gamer Ryohei Arisu is great at logic games. One day, he’s transported into a parallel version of Tokyo, where his survival depends on his ability to solve some crazy puzzles. One mistake can mean death for Arisu and his friends.

Arisu must use everything he knows about gaming and logic to make his way out alive. This thrilling drama is a bloodier twist on “Alice in Wonderland,” with playing cards being central to the plot and a character named Usagi (Japanese for “rabbit”). 

Watch it on: Netflix

20. “Cherry Magic!” (30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい)

Episodes: 12
First aired: 2020
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy

This series’ full title is “Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!” When Kiyoshi Adachi turns 30, somehow his virginity gives him the power to hear people’s thoughts when he touches them.

One day, he discovers that his coworker Yuichi Kurosawa is in love with him. What’s an inexperienced guy to do? This wholesome queer romance drama features an adorable budding relationship and ultimately a beautiful love story.

Watch it on: Crunchyroll | Amazon

21. “JU-ON: Origins” (呪怨：呪いの家)

Episodes: 6
First aired: 2020
Genre: Horror, Mystery

The Ju-On movies, known in America as “The Grudge,” were big international hits. “JU-ON: Origins” is presented as the true story that inspired the films. When an actress hears footsteps in her house at night, she contacts a psychic reader.

He tries to uncover the mystery behind the haunted house that curses anyone who comes into contact with it. The emphasis is less on jump scares and more on a growing feeling of dread, but there are some pretty brutal moments.

Watch it on: Netflix

22. “An Incurable Case of Love” (恋はつづくよどこまでも)

Episodes: 10
First aired: 2020
Genre: Romantic Comedy

The lovesick Sakura pursues a career as a nurse just so she can be near Doctor Kairi Tendo. But when she finally gets to work alongside him, she discovers he’s a stickler and perfectionist who’s cruelly blunt to his co-workers.

This doesn’t stop Sakura from proclaiming her love for him. Her persistent and passionate nature shines through in her work, and Sakura gradually gains respect from her co-workers. And she seems to be thawing Tendo’s heart!

Watch it on: Viki | Netflix

23. “The Ingenuity of the Househusband” (極主夫道)

Episodes: 10
First aired: 2021
Genre: Short Comedy

This is a spin-off miniseries of the “househusband” anime and live-action shows, which focus on Tatsu, who was once a yakuza leader. But now, he’s abandoned that life to become a househusband.

This strangely entrancing show shares a series of vignettes of a househusband dealing with chores. He’s serious and meticulous about his work. Each of the 10 episodes is only about 3 or 4 minutes so you can watch this in one sitting.

Watch it on: Netflix

24. “For You in Full Blossom” (花ざかりの君たちへ)

Episodes: 13
First aired: 2007
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Mizuki is a Japanese-American high school student with an idol: high jumper Izumi Sano. When Izumi decides to end his athletic career, Mizuki disguises herself as a boy and enrolls in his school, even getting to room with him.

From her insider position, Mizuki aims to get close to Izumi and help him regain his love for high jumping. Expect plenty of comical situations and romantic entanglements, but also some lessons about life, love and passion.

Watch it on: Viki

25. “Unnatural” (アンナチュラル)

Episodes: 10
First aired: 2018
Genre: Forensic Drama

This series follows Mikoto Misumi, a forensic pathologist who works at the UDI (Unnatural Death Institute) lab. Mikoto and her team investigate suspicious and unusual deaths to uncover the truth behind them.

At the center of each week’s mystery is an exploration of the complexities of human nature, and the very real effect that a loved one’s death can have on the people they leave behind.

Watch it on: Viki | Netflix

26. “MIU404”

Episodes: 11
First aired: 2020
Genre: Crime, Mystery

Detective Shima Kazumi is brilliant, but he’s not very good at working with others. So of course, he’s paired up with rookie Ibuki Ai, an intelligent officer who simply needs a bit more knowledge and experience to become a detective. 

The show focuses on the partners’ dynamics as they work together to bring justice to the complex cases they investigate. The contrast between the analytical detective and the impulsive officer makes for a lot of drama.

Watch it on: Netflix

27. “Your Turn to Kill” (あなたの番です)

Episodes: 20
First aired: 2019
Theme: Suspense

If you’ve ever seen Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train,” you’ll know the premise: You kill my target, I kill yours and no one will ever be able to track us to our victims. This is the idea behind “It’s Your Turn to Kill,” except in this case, it’s 13 people playing the game.

At the center of this murder swap are Nana and Shota, a newlywed couple who just moved into the building. What do they do when strange deaths start happening all around them?

Watch it on: Amazon

28. “Ossan’s Love” (おっさんずラブ)

Episodes: 15
First aired: 2018
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Haruta is a real estate office worker who finds himself on his own when his mother moves away. He’s left pretty much helpless, unable to do even basic things like cooking or washing his clothes.

Haruta moves in with Maki, a male coworker who’s good at housekeeping, and for a while, things seem stable. But then Soichi is swept up into a love triangle when both his roommate and his boss confess their feelings for him.

Watch it on: Viki

29. “You’re My Pet” (きみはペット)

Episodes: 16
First aired: 2017
Genre: Romantic Comedy

In “You’re My Pet,” a successful journalist deals with getting dumped by her fiancé and demoted by her misogynist boss. While walking home one day, she finds a young homeless man in a box and has a strong urge to keep him as a pet. …So she does.

What follows is a story their relationship and how it shapes both characters. As they grow closer and get to know each other better, what will become of the couple?

Watch it on: Viki

30. “The Full Time Wife Escapist” (逃げるは恥だが役に立つ)

Episodes: 12
First aired: 2016
Genre: Romantic Comedy

The recently graduated 25-year-old Moriyama finds herself unemployed. In an attempt to find stability, she takes on a temporary job as a housekeeper for a bachelor. The two end up agreeing to enter into a sham marriage.

Now they must navigate the challenges of married life while keeping their arrangement a secret. The drama is surprisingly relatable, showing the challenges of balancing personal aspirations and societal pressures.

Watch it on: Viki | Netflix

31. “Quartet” (カルテット)

Episodes: 10
First aired: 2017
Genre: Musical Drama

A chance encounter brings four musicians together. They start a quartet and spend the winter living in Karuizawa. As the musicians navigate their personal and professional lives, each character’s secrets and pasts are revealed.

Through their shared passion for music and their interactions within the Quartet House, they learn to support and understand each other, forming unlikely friendships and finding their own paths in life.

Watch it on: Netflix

Where Can I Watch Japanese Dramas?

If you’re a J-drama fan living outside Japan, you’re in luck. There are plenty of places where you can stream these shows online. Here are just a few options:

• Viki: This website offers many Japanese shows and movies you can watch for free. To remove ads, you can purchase a Viki Pass for $5.99 to $9.99/month.
• Netflix: As you can see from the list above, Netflix has a large selection of Japanese series. Many are available with subtitles and/or dubbing in other languages. You can also download episodes onto your device to watch offline.
• Prime Video: Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service is another popular place to find Japanese dramas and other content. Even if you don’t have an Amazon Prime subscription, many shows offer the option to rent or buy episodes or the whole season.

 

Japanese dramas have a way of capturing our hearts and minds, no matter what the topic. Whether you’re in the mood for a cheesy romance or an action-packed romp, you’ll find a Japanese drama for you on this list!