How to Watch Spirited Away on Netflix in the US with a VPN (2026)

Spirited Away (2001) is currently available on Netflix in Italy under the title La città incantata. The official Netflix Italy page confirms that Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli animated fantasy is part of the country’s streaming catalog, with original Japanese audio, English dubbing, and English subtitles.

However, Spirited Away is not currently available on Netflix US, where it streams on HBO Max. If you’re in the United States, you can explore Italian VPN server options from Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, or NordVPN. All three providers offer Italian IP addresses.

Keep in mind that connecting to Italy does not guarantee access to the movie, and you should follow the VPN provider’s and Netflix’s applicable terms. According to Netflix’s VPN guidelines, the service may recognize VPN connections and limit the available catalog to titles with worldwide licensing rights.

How to watch Spirited Away on Netflix with a VPN

Netflix Italy currently carries Spirited Away. If your VPN use complies with the applicable service terms, the following steps explain how to establish an Italian connection and check Netflix availability.

1. Choose a VPN. Private Internet Access is our first recommendation for its Italian server selection, followed by ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN application on your device.
3. Connect to a server in Italy.
4. Fully close Netflix if it is already open.
5. Reopen Netflix after the VPN connects.
6. Sign in with your existing Netflix account.
7. Search for Spirited Away.
8. Start playback if the movie appears and your subscription permits access.

Italy is a verified Netflix region for the movie because the Netflix Italy listing displays La città incantata without an unavailability warning. It confirms Japanese, English, and Italian audio, several subtitle languages, and offline downloads.

If Spirited Away does not appear under its English name, search for La città incantata. This is the Italian title for the 2001 movie about Chihiro, a young girl who enters a mysterious spirit world after her parents undergo a magical transformation.

Netflix may still identify your VPN connection and restrict regional playback, regardless of the IP address displayed by your VPN application.

Best VPNs for watching Spirited Away on Netflix

Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN all provide Italian VPN locations. PIA offers a streaming-optimized option, ExpressVPN provides three named Italian locations, and NordVPN maintains more than 60 Italian servers.

VPN	Italy locations	Option to try first
Private Internet Access (Editor’s Choice)	Milano, Naples (virtual, hosted in Germany), IT Streaming Optimized	IT Streaming Optimized
ExpressVPN	Cosenza, Milan, Naples (virtual, hosted in Germany)	Cosenza
NordVPN	60+ Italian servers; Milan, Rome, Palermo	Automatic Italy server selection

These are officially documented VPN locations, not confirmed Netflix-compatible servers. Netflix may recognize any of their IP addresses and restrict access to movies available only in Italy.

1. Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is our Editor’s Choice for its selection of Italian VPN locations, including a dedicated IT Streaming Optimized option and standard connections in Milano and Naples.

According to the official PIA server directory, updated October 1, 2026, the available Italian locations are IT Milano, IT Naples, and IT Streaming Optimized.

IT Streaming Optimized is the provider’s specialized Italian streaming connection. PIA designed this option to support streaming performance, although it does not guarantee compatibility with Netflix or any particular movie.

To locate it, open the PIA application, go to the VPN SERVER section, and search for Italy or streaming. Select IT Streaming Optimized to establish an Italian connection.

Milano is another available location. Naples offers a separate Italian IP option, although it uses a different infrastructure arrangement.

According to PIA’s virtual server documentation, IT Naples is a virtual location physically hosted in Frankfurt, Germany.

This means the server provides an Italian IP address, but the underlying hardware operates in Germany. Websites generally identify the country associated with the VPN IP address rather than the physical server’s location.

PIA does not list Milano among its virtual locations. However, its public documentation does not specify the exact physical hosting arrangements of every endpoint within IT Streaming Optimized.

PIA supports WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols. WireGuard is a practical starting point for an encrypted VPN connection because its lightweight design can help maintain efficient performance.

If a connection experiences technical problems, you can switch between the available Italian servers, reconnect, or change VPN protocols. Actual speed will depend on your internet service, device, and selected server.

The provider also publishes a streaming support guide covering streaming-optimized locations, application updates, and browser troubleshooting.

An important limitation is that PIA’s current streaming guidance explicitly instructs customers to use server locations matching their physical country and prohibits using its service to circumvent streaming providers’ geographic restrictions. Follow those conditions when using PIA.

Even where VPN usage is permitted, Netflix may recognize PIA’s IP addresses and restrict access to regional titles. PIA cannot guarantee that Spirited Away will appear or play.

2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another option for obtaining an Italian IP address. The provider maintains three Italian server locations, allowing users to choose between different cities and connection routes.

The official ExpressVPN server directory lists Italy – Cosenza, Italy – Milan, and Italy – Naples.

Cosenza is a practical first connection to consider. To select it, open the ExpressVPN application, search for Italy, and choose Cosenza from the available locations.

Milan provides another Italian connection, while Naples offers a third option. These locations may differ in latency and routing, depending on your physical location and current network conditions.

ExpressVPN supports Lightway, WireGuard, and OpenVPN at its listed Italian locations. The available protocols may vary by operating system and application version.

Lightway is ExpressVPN’s proprietary VPN protocol, designed for efficient encrypted connections. WireGuard is another option for devices that support it.

There is an important distinction between ExpressVPN’s Italian server locations. According to its virtual server documentation, Italy – Naples is a virtual location physically hosted in Germany.

Selecting Naples therefore gives you an Italian IP address even though the server hardware operates outside Italy. Virtual server arrangements can influence connection routing and latency, but they still provide an IP address registered to the chosen country.

ExpressVPN does not list Cosenza or Milan among its virtual locations. Its documentation distinguishes these connections from the virtual Naples option, although it does not publish the hardware details of every individual server.

ExpressVPN’s Italian network provides several alternatives for technical troubleshooting. If you experience an unstable VPN connection, you can try another Italian location or switch protocols.

However, ExpressVPN’s ability to provide an Italian IP address does not mean Netflix will display Italy’s full catalog. Netflix may detect the VPN and restrict access to Spirited Away or other region-specific titles.

3. NordVPN

NordVPN provides Italian IP addresses through a network of more than 60 servers, with automatic server selection and several city-level options.

According to NordVPN’s official Italy server page, the provider currently advertises more than 60 Italian servers. Its documented cities include Milan, Rome, and Palermo.

For the first connection, open NordVPN, select Italy, and allow the application to choose an available server automatically. This is a straightforward starting point if you do not have a preferred location.

You can also choose Milan manually. Rome and Palermo provide additional options if you need to connect through another Italian city.

NordVPN’s server-selection system uses an algorithm to choose a connection based on your location and network requirements. Its advertised server count may change as the company expands or adjusts its infrastructure.

The official server directory confirms Italian IP support but does not publish the exact physical hosting arrangements of every individual endpoint.

NordVPN also includes SmartPlay, a feature that combines VPN encryption with DNS technology to support secure streaming.

According to NordVPN’s SmartPlay documentation, this feature activates automatically when you connect through the NordVPN application.

You do not need to enable SmartPlay separately, install another browser extension, or change your DNS settings. It works in the background as part of your VPN connection.

NordVPN also offers NordLynx, a protocol based on WireGuard technology. It aims to deliver efficient encrypted connections with relatively little overhead.

If you experience connection problems, reconnecting to another Italian server may help. You can choose Milan, Rome, or Palermo or return to automatic server selection.

However, SmartPlay does not guarantee access to Spirited Away or any other movie licensed to a particular Netflix region. Netflix may recognize NordVPN’s IP addresses and restrict the available catalog.

What to do if Spirited Away does not appear

If Netflix does not display Spirited Away after you establish an Italian VPN connection, it may be using earlier location information, or it may have recognized the VPN. Where your VPN usage is permitted, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Close Netflix completely.
2. Disconnect from the VPN.
3. Reconnect to Italy.
4. Try another server or location in the same country.
5. Clear Netflix cookies and your browser cache.
6. Open a private or incognito browser window.
7. Reopen Netflix and sign in again.
8. Search for Spirited Away.

For ordinary connection troubleshooting, PIA users can check IT Streaming Optimized, Milano, or Naples, subject to the provider’s geographic-use restrictions. ExpressVPN users can choose between Cosenza, Milan, and Naples. NordVPN users can reconnect automatically or select Milan, Rome, or Palermo.

Try searching for La città incantata, the Italian title of Spirited Away. You can also look for the original Japanese title, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi.

Make sure you select the 2001 Studio Ghibli movie directed by Hayao Miyazaki, featuring Chihiro, Haku, Yubaba, and No-Face.

If the movie still does not appear, Netflix may be restricting regional titles because it recognizes your VPN connection. The Netflix missing titles guide explains other potential causes, including licensing changes, profile maturity settings, and language preferences.

Netflix recommends disconnecting a VPN when it causes regional catalog or playback problems. Switching servers cannot guarantee that a title will become available.

Netflix may detect the VPN

A VPN changes the public IP address Netflix sees when your device connects to the service. For example, connecting to an Italian VPN server generally presents an Italian IP address instead of your regular US address.

However, an Italian IP address does not guarantee access to Netflix Italy. Netflix may recognize the connection as VPN traffic and limit the available movies and shows.

According to Netflix’s official VPN support page, people connecting through a VPN may only see movies and shows for which Netflix holds worldwide licensing rights.

That means Spirited Away may not appear in your Netflix search results even when the VPN application indicates that your connection is in Italy.

Netflix may also display an error message or prevent playback. These restrictions depend on Netflix’s detection systems and content licensing arrangements, which can change.

No VPN provider can guarantee access to every Netflix region or title. If Netflix identifies your VPN connection, its recommended approach is to disable the VPN and use the catalog available in your actual location.

Can you use a Netflix ad-supported plan with a VPN?

No. Netflix currently states that VPN connections are not supported with its ad-supported experience.

If you subscribe to Netflix with ads, you may encounter playback errors or VPN-related restrictions when using Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, or NordVPN.

Netflix confirms this limitation in its VPN support documentation. To use an ad-supported subscription normally, disconnect your VPN.

An ad-free Netflix subscription avoids this specific restriction. However, Netflix may still recognize VPN connections and limit access to movies available only in particular countries.

Does changing the VPN location change your Netflix account?

No. Connecting to an Italian VPN server does not change your Netflix email address, password, profiles, or account credentials.

The VPN changes the public IP address Netflix sees. It does not automatically convert your US Netflix subscription into an Italian account or change your billing information.

You can continue signing in with your existing Netflix credentials. However, the catalog Netflix displays may depend on licensing agreements, account settings, and whether the service recognizes your VPN connection.

Current US streaming listings for Spirited Away identify HBO Max and HBO Max Amazon Channel rather than Netflix. These provide alternatives for watching the movie in the United States without changing your VPN location.

When you disconnect from your VPN, Netflix generally recognizes your regular internet location again without modifying your account settings.

Which VPN should you use?

Private Internet Access is our first recommendation for its Italian server selection, including IT Streaming Optimized, Milano, and Naples. These offer different connection options, but PIA’s terms explicitly prohibit circumventing streaming platforms’ geographic restrictions, so use the service only in permitted circumstances.

ExpressVPN offers Italian locations in Cosenza, Milan, and Naples, including a virtual Naples server hosted in Germany. NordVPN offers more than 60 Italian servers across cities including Milan, Rome, and Palermo, plus SmartPlay, which activates automatically.

Netflix Italy currently carries Spirited Away (2001) under the title La città incantata. However, licensing agreements, VPN detection, and provider terms affect access, so connecting to Italy does not guarantee that the movie will appear or play from the United States.