Last updated on April 16th, 2024 at 09:36 am
Learning a new language nowadays can be easy with the number of free resources you can find online. However, there are so many websites and apps that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed very fast.
Besides, not every site is well done. Of course, you can also still use more ‘traditional’ resources such as textbooks and exercise books; then again, the choice is vast! And it’s your lucky day; I even have some books to recommend to you!
I love learning new languages, and I have been learning Japanese for about five years now (on and off), so I have tried my fair share of online resources and what not to help me learn Japanese. That’s why I thought regrouping the best online resources to learn Japanese in one post could help you out.
Those websites cater to all levels, and some will be for beginners and some for the more advanced degrees. This means everybody can find what they might need.
I will split all the resources into different categories so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for.
The Best Resources To Learn Japanese By Yourself
Hiragana/Katakana
Before anything, when you want to learn Japanese, the first thing to do is to learn hiragana and katakana to read as Japanese doesn’t use the Roman alphabet. It’s effortless to find; any website or simply a board would do the job to learn them.
Simply googling Hiragana and Katakana will show you thousands of boards you can learn from.
Textbooks
Minna no Nihongo I&II – They are entirely in Japanese, but you can also buy an additionally translated version.
This is what we used at university; they got all the grammar you need to know. Also, there’s a different website to help you with the vocabulary and kanjis you can find in each lesson.
Additionally, the Genki book also offers some suitable elementary lessons and vocabulary if you’re a beginner and is popular among both Japanese students and teachers, so that’s something. It is ideal for absolute beginners, classroom learning and people aiming for the JLPT N5 and N4.
It may also be less intimidating than the Minna No Nihongo as it is not entirely in Japanese; therefore, you don’t need to buy an additional book to get the translation.
Writing practice & Grammar
When you study/learn Japanese, you can’t neglect the writing part. I see many people thinking that they can only learn to speak it and that it will be fine, but that’s not true. It would be best if you learned to write as well with all the grammar correct grammar rules.
When learning, you need to know hiraganas/katanas, and more importantly, kanjis; you might find some basic lessons written in romaji, but that won’t take you far.
- Lang-8 – is a great site where you can write an entry in whatever languages you wish to and native correct your writing. You can also do the same for whoever learns your language.
- Nihongo – a website where you can find Japanese lessons based on the Minna No Nihongo. Even if you don’t own the book, it’s a good tool by itself.
Kanji
Kanjis are by definition “a system of Japanese writing using Chinese characters, used primarily for content words”, and anyone who learns Japanese can tell you they are an actual pain in the neck (that and Keigo, of course)
This meme is pretty accurate about what it feels like to be learning Japanese sometimes.
Here are some valuable resources to tackle your kanji learning.
Although the key to learning kanji is the consistent practice there’s just so much to memorise.
If you’re a French-speaking person, I advise you to buy the Kanji Kakitai textbook.
Learning Japanese Vocabulary
The more vocabulary you know, the better, and that goes for every language. You will struggle a lot if you have the grammar but not the wording. Here are the best resources to use to learn Japanese vocabulary.
- Japaneseclass.jp practise vocabulary
- Jisho.org – dictionary
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Listening To Japanese Audio
It’s always good to listen as much as possible to the languages you want to learn, this way; you can memorise the intonation and pronunciation of words you may have read but not heard before.
- Nihongomori on YT – this channel isn’t only listening as it caters to everything, grammar, vocabulary, kanji…
- MyKikitori – Listening comprehension
- JapanesePop101 is a YouTube channel with a wide choice of videos. They also have a great website.
Speaking – Practising Japanese
Practising your speaking skills is one of the hardest things to do when learning a language independently. Of course, you can practise by saying words and sentences aloud, no matter how stupid you feel, that helps. But that’s not enough to know the proper pronunciation or intonation. It would be best if you put it in some words.
Your best bet is to find penpals to practise.
JLPT Resources:
The JLPT, or Japanese Language Proficiency Test, is a certifying you have reached a certain level in Japanese. The levels go from N5 (easiest) to N1(most challenging). You need to learn a certain number of Kanji, vocabulary, and grammar rules for each level.
You can find sample questions for each level on the official JLPT website.
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Other useful resources:
Studying can be a little tedious sometimes; that’s why you can throw some fun in and find different ways to learn and enjoy it, such as watching TV shows, playing a
TV
- KeyHoleTV – provides Japanese TV in real-time. You can find links on Google to download it for Windows, IOS, Android…
- Nico Douga – to watch online videos and whatnot, you can find everything there.
Blogging
The leading blogging platform in Japan is, without a doubt, Ameba; you can open a blog and post about whatever you want to practise your Japanese; however, people won’t correct you there.
It can be an excellent exercise to learn how to navigate the website, though.
Game
Shiritori is a fun word game where you must create a word with the last kana of the previous word. It is forbidden to end your word by the “n” kana, though!
Useful App to learn Japanese:
- Imiwa? – an online dictionary which also includes all kanji from all the JLPT. (AppStore Only)
- HelloTalk – an app to find strangers to talk to! You can also share in your feed
- AnkiDroid – (Android Only) using flashcards to learn vocabulary or anything you would like. You can find already-made Anki deckss by people on the website to download.
- Japanese by Renzo Inc. – a good app that uses the flashcards principle to learn Kanji and vocabulary. Organised by the different JLPT levels.
It’s always tricky to start learning a new language, so hopefully, those will help you!
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BEST RESOURCES TO LEARN JAPANESE
✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
If you need help planning your next trip, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered! Here are my favourite websites and apps to plan a trip!
✈ How To Find Flights?
My favourite website for booking flights is Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
Google Flight is also a good help when it comes to comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
The best sites to book accommodations are Booking.com or Expedia. They both allow you to collect points for a discount; it’s worth comparing the two as they often have different pricing for the same hotels.
Another perk about Booking.com and Expedia is that you can get bundle deals for flights and accommodations, which can sometimes help you save a lot of money. And don’t worry; you can also select to add accommodation for only a specific part of the trip if you’re not only staying in one place.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
My go-to website when I need to book an activity is GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
I always check if the price is the same, though, as the whole point is for it to be easier but not more expensive.
If I don’t find the activity I want on GetYourGuide, I like to check Viator for more options!
You can also check out Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them. It was a great help when we needed a place to keep our luggage safely while we left the city for a few days.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe. It is very reliant and easy to use.
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Disclaimer: This resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. These links help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
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