How & Where To Watch Haikyuu: The Ultimate Guide

Haikyuu!! is a popular anime series that has taken the world by storm. It was one of the most-streamed animes in 2020. It follows Hinata Shoyo’s dream of playing volleyball after seeing Karasuno’s Little Giant in a news broadcast. 

Unfortunately, not all streaming websites host Haikyuu!! content. This sports anime is often exclusively available in certain areas. 

The good news is, with the advancement of technology, VPNs exist. There are web browsers with built-in VPNs, but you can also install one on your favorite browser.

Thanks to VPNs, you can now watch Haikyuu!! to your heart’s content. In this article, we’ll discuss how and where to watch Haikyuu!!.

In What Order Should You Watch Haikyuu?

The Haikyuu!! series comprises 4 seasons (85 episodes), 4 movies, and 6 OVAs. Since the movies are just recaps, there is a debate among fans as to how to watch the series. 

Some fans have recommended a specific order of watching the anime series, while others religiously follow the order of release. Let’s look at the first one: 

Recommended Order

The recommended way to watch Haikyuu!! does not involve movies. This order only includes the seasons and OVAs. 

Following the recommended order lets you understand the storyline with a shorter runtime. Here is how it goes:

1. Haikyuu!! First Season
2. Haikyuu!! Lev Genzan! (OVA)
3. Haikyuu!! Second Season
4. Haikyuu!!: Vs. “Akaten (OVA)
5. Haikyuu!! Third Season
6. Haikyuu!!: Riku Vs. Kuu (OVA)
7. Haikyuu!!: Boru no Michi (OVA)
8. Haikyuu!! To the Top
9. Haikyuu!! To the Top Part 2

The four seasons focus on Hinata and the rest of the Karasuno High School Volleyball Team. You will see more of Nekoma High School in the second season’s training camp episodes and the Lev Gensan! OVA. 

You can also witness the clash between Tokyo’s strongest volleyball teams in the Riku vs. Kuu OVA. Nekoma, Fukurodani, Nohebi, and Itachiyama fight to enter the National Spring Tournament. 

Release Date Order

If you want the full Haikyuu!! experience, follow the release date order. It lets you enjoy the entire series and see how it evolves with every installment.

Below is Haikyuu’s release date order:

1. Haikyuu!! Season 1
2. Haikyuu!! Lev Genzan! (The Arrival of Lev!) [OVA]
3. Gekijō-ban Haikyuu!! Owari to Hajimari (Movie)
4. Gekijō-ban Haikyuu!! Shousha to Haisha (Movie)
5. Haikyuu!! Season 2
6. Haikyuu!! Vs. Akaten (Vs. Failing Grades) [OVA]
7. Haikyuu!! Season 3
8. Special Feature! Betting on the Spring High Volleyball (OVA)
9. Haikyu!! Sainou to Sense (Movie)
10. Haikyuu!! Concept no Tatakai (Movie)
11. Haikyuu!!: Riku Vs. Kuu (Land vs. Sky) [OVA]
12. Haikyuu!!: Boru no Michi  (The Path of the Ball) [OVA]
13. Haikyuu!! To The Top (Season 4)

The first two movies are retellings of Haikyuu's first season. Owari to Hajimari features how Hinata and Kageyama met. 

In the second movie (Shousha to Haisha), Kageyama Tobio and his team face Aoba Johsai High and his senior in middle school, Oikawa Tooru. 

In Concept no Tatakai, you will see Karasuno’s intense match against Shiratorizawa Academy. Their team happens to be led by Oikawa’s longtime rival – Ushijima Wakatoshi. 

Both the recommended and release date sequences are arranged in chronological order. However, the latter lets you immerse in more content with the presence of the movies. 

Now the question is, where can you access all the Haikyuu!! content? Let’s go over that in the next section! 

Websites To Stream Haikyuu

Other than TV channels, you can watch Haikyuu!! in official streaming platforms using any web browser for as low as $7.99 per month. There are also websites like Crunchyroll and 9AnimeTV that lets you watch the Haikyuu!! series for free. 

Below is a list of paid and free platforms you can use to stream:

Majority of Haikyuu!! content is only officially available on Crunchyroll. They even have dubbed versions of selected episodes. 

Crunchyroll lets you watch the first season for free. However, you need to subscribe to a premium plan for the following seasons as well as for the OVAs and movies. It costs $7.99 to $14.99 per month. 

Netflix also used to have all four seasons of the anime series, but their license to stream ended in 2021. 

Watch Haikyuu For Free

It’s possible to watch Haikyuu!! without spending money. Here’s how:

• Torrenting: You can download Haikyuu!! content for free via a torrent client. However, this qualifies as a copyright infringement – so it’s illegal.
• Free Streaming Websites: Free streaming websites allow you to watch Haikyuu!! series for free. However, access to these websites is exclusive in some regions.

You can torrent safely and access free streaming websites anywhere by using a VPN. It masks your IP address to make you and your browsing activity anonymous. 

While there is the possibility of tracking someone's location using their phone number, installing a VPN can help you stay anoynymous even with your Android phone.

VPNs can also hide your activity from your ISP. This makes it impossible to determine your real-time location.

Some of the best VPNs you can use are:

All the VPNs listed above are capable of letting you watch Haikyuu!! on free streaming sites. NordVPN even has ad-blocking features, so you are guaranteed to have the best viewing experience. 

Below are the steps to use NordVPN to watch Haikyuu: 

1. Download the NordVPN app. Read the terms and conditions. Install it. 

2. Sign up for an account and choose the best subscription plan that works for you. 

3. Log in. Choose a server. 

4. Open your browser and go to any free streaming sites. 

Now that you installed a VPN, you can enjoy watching Haikyuu!! without worrying about your privacy or security. 

However, it is still possible that you can’t access Haikyuu!! — even with paid or free sources. Certain regions block the anime series due to copyright laws. 

If that happens, you’ll need to avoid geo-restrictions. Continue reading to find out how. 

Haikyuu Geo-blocking Workaround 

You can bypass the geo-restrictions set by Crunchyroll or any streaming sites with a VPN. It tricks websites into thinking you’re from a location where Haikyuu!! is available.

Here are the steps on how you can avoid geo-blocking using your VPN: 

1. Open your VPN app and log in.

2. Choose a server where Haikyuu!! is available. Your best choices are Japan and US servers

3. Open your browser. Head over to your preferred streaming site.

4. Start watching your favorite Haikyuu!! episodes, OVAs, and movies.

If you still can’t access Haikyuu!!, connect to another server. Most VPN services have multiple servers in one country. 

The Takeaway

If you’re a sports anime fan, Haikyuu!! series is a must-watch. With a VPN, you can access it on streaming platforms wherever you are. 

There are many VPN options you can choose from. However, it’s best to pick one that has capable server networks. Choose one that avoids geo-restrictions while blocking annoying ads for the perfect viewing experience.