JLPT — Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (opens provider site in a new tab)
Official test information and sample questions. Picking a level gives your study a concrete target.
Japanese
Kana, kanji, and grammar — a realistic path from zero to reading real Japanese.
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16 picks · 11 free · 14 providers · curated by Rowland Kuru
Editor's intro
Editor's intro
Japanese is a long-haul language for English speakers: three writing systems, unfamiliar grammar, and thousands of kanji. It's also deeply rewarding, and far more achievable than its reputation suggests if you use good tools. This feed is built around the approach most successful self-learners converge on — learn kana immediately, study grammar from a clear guide, and use spaced repetition for vocabulary and kanji.
Don't wait to learn the writing system; romaji becomes a crutch within weeks. Once kana is solid, run a textbook or grammar guide alongside a daily flashcard habit, and add listening and graded reading as soon as you can. JLPT levels give useful milestones even if you never sit the exam. Advanced picks are mostly in Japanese.
Start here
Learn Hiragana: The Ultimate Guide
Tofugu's Learn Hiragana guide gets the first Japanese writing system into your head in days rather than weeks, using memorable picture mnemonics for each character and a sensible order of study. It's free, well illustrated, and followed by an equally good katakana guide. Learning kana first means every other resource in this feed becomes usable — you'll read real Japanese from the start instead of leaning on romanization. Do a few characters a day and review them the next morning.
This week added
Nihongo no Mori (opens provider site in a new tab)
JLPT N1–N2 grammar and vocabulary taught in Japanese. Demanding and very effective.
Aozora Bunko (opens provider site in a new tab)
Thousands of public-domain Japanese literary works, free. The ultimate advanced reading library.
All picks
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Beginner · 8
Hiragana and katakana first, then core grammar and vocabulary with spaced repetition. Expect this to take months.
Anki (opens provider site in a new tab)
The flashcard app serious learners rely on. Start with a vetted core-vocabulary deck.
Free iOS app paid
Duolingo Japanese (opens provider site in a new tab)
Helpful for a daily habit and kana practice. Pair it with a real grammar guide.
Free Paid tier optional
Easy Japanese (NHK World) (opens provider site in a new tab)
Free story-based lessons from Japan's public broadcaster, with audio and text. Well produced.
Free
Japanese Ammo with Misa (opens provider site in a new tab)
Misa explains grammar nuances clearly with many examples. Ideal for "but why?" questions.
Free
Jisho (opens provider site in a new tab)
Fast, free Japanese–English dictionary with kanji breakdowns and example sentences.
Free
Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese (opens provider site in a new tab)
A free, logical grammar guide that explains Japanese on its own terms, not by English analogy.
Free Free to read online
GENKI: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (opens provider site in a new tab)
The textbook most universities use. Structured and thorough; pair it with its workbook.
Paid
Rosetta Stone Japanese (opens partner site in a new tab)
Immersive picture-based lessons with speech recognition. Good for pronunciation confidence.
Paid Partner
Intermediate · 5
Kanji in volume, JLPT-aligned grammar, and your first real reading.
JLPT — Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (opens provider site in a new tab)
Official test information and sample questions. Picking a level gives your study a concrete target.
Free Exam fees apply New
NHK News Web Easy (opens provider site in a new tab)
Real news rewritten in simple Japanese with furigana. Your first steps into native reading.
Free
Bunpro (opens provider site in a new tab)
Spaced-repetition grammar drills organized by JLPT level. Makes grammar review systematic.
Paid
Satori Reader (opens provider site in a new tab)
Graded stories with explanations for every sentence. Makes native-level text feel achievable.
Paid Sample articles free
WaniKani (opens provider site in a new tab)
Spaced-repetition kanji with mnemonics. Slow and steady gets you past two thousand kanji.
Paid First levels free
Advanced · 2
Native literature and exam-level material, much of it taught in Japanese.
Aozora Bunko (opens provider site in a new tab)
Thousands of public-domain Japanese literary works, free. The ultimate advanced reading library.
Free New
Nihongo no Mori (opens provider site in a new tab)
JLPT N1–N2 grammar and vocabulary taught in Japanese. Demanding and very effective.
Free New