19 Best Tried and Tested Online Japanese Resources [2022]

There are a ton of great resources for learning Japanese online for free, but there are so many to choose from, where do you start?

You’ve come to the right place.

We tested 19 of the best free resources online, from formal classes to targeted websites, and compiled a list of the best ones for all your learning needs. 

Using these awesome resources, you can set up your very own Japanese course that suits your own pace and time frame, whether you’re partaking in hardcore daily study, just taking it up as a hobby or are aiming for a casual once-a-week study session.

The best part is, most of these resources have some free components, so you can get started without having to pay.

Contents

• Best Range of Learning Materials: JapanesePod101
• Best for Immersive Learners: FluentU
• Best for Intuitive Learners: Rosetta Stone
• Best Course for the Basics: CosCom Japanese
• Best for Beginners: Japanese From Zero!
• Best for Learning Romaji: Japanese-Lesson.com
• Best Structured Course: edX
• Best JLPT Course: Yuko Sensei
• Best Grammar Course: Wasabi’s Online Japanese Grammar Reference
• Best Course for Short Attention Spans: NihongoShark
• Best Course for Modern Learners: NHK World’s Online Japanese Lessons
• Best In-Depth Course: Japanese Ammo
• Best Audio Course: Loecsen Japanese
• Best Course for Travelers: Japan Society NYC
• Best Cultural Course: The Japanese Page
• Best for Specific Skills: Kanshudo
• Best Flexible Course: Marugoto
• Best Paid Course: Coto Academy
• Best Tutor Support: Nihongo-Pro.com

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19 Best Tried and Tested Online Japanese Resources

We did all the hard work for you.

We scoured the internet and tested all kinds of Japanese learning courses for the most reputable options, breaking down the best ones for different types of learners. So let’s dive in and see what courses will suit you best!

Best Range of Learning Materials: JapanesePod101

Summary: High-quality video and audio lessons that cover vocabulary, grammar, JLPT materials and more. 

Price: Free, basic, premium and premium+ accounts are available, and each level gives you access to more videos and lessons. Pricing information.

What makes it special? JapanesePod101 is a good course to start off with. It’s easy to use and excellent if you’re a visual or auditory learner, as it includes plenty of videos and audio clips. If you’re studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, it will hook you up with more resources for that, as well. You can use JapanesePod101 to shape your own course and work out which is the best way for you to learn.

JapanesePod101 also includes vocabulary flashcards and a word bank to really personalize your learning experience and help you focus on words you struggle with.

Start off with a free account, then upgrade if you decide that you enjoy the experience. Although you can continue using your free “trial” as long as you’d like, you’ll need to subscribe to one of their paid plans to unlock the full potential and all the features of the program.

See our full review of JapanesePod101 here. 

Best for Immersive Learners: FluentU

Summary: Video lessons using authentic Japanese media clips with interactive subtitles, flashcards and quizzes. 

Price: Monthly subscription with a discount for signing up for an annual plan. A free trial is available. Pricing information. Blog offers free lessons.

What makes it special? FluentU is a video-based learning program that uses authentic Japanese videos as the foundation of its learning system. The videos are short clips from Japanese dramas, sports programs, news reports, movie scenes and more. 

Each video has interactive subtitles, so you can click on any unfamiliar words to see the English definition, example sentences and other videos where the word shows up in. 

The platform also offers multimedia flashcards and personalized quizzes to form a comprehensive Japanese language learning system.

Best for Intuitive Learners: Rosetta Stone

Summary: Course that focuses on picking up Japanese naturally by using an intuitive learning system. 

Price: There’s an option to download full 12-month or 24-month courses, or download each level individually. There’s also a short free trial. Pricing information.

What makes it special? Rosetta Stone is one of the few online courses for individual learning that monitors and helps you improve your accent and intonation, something that can often be overlooked when studying without a physical, human teacher.

Rosetta Stone’s philosophy is to teach new languages in the same way you learned your first language, by associating pictures with words and introducing grammar later on. It’s a lot of fun to use. Go ahead and test it out with its free trial!

Best Course for the Basics: CosCom Japanese

Summary: Japanese lessons that cover vocabulary, grammar and the writing system. 

Price: Basic online materials are free, but intermediate lessons and add-ons for both levels can be purchased with a one-time fee. Pricing information.

What makes it special? CosCom Japanese offers to-the-point lessons that focus on all the Japanese basics. These basics include vocabulary and grammar topics and tackle the Japanese writing systems.

All the words and phrases included in the online lessons have recorded authentic Japanese audio and English translations. CosCom also offers invaluable add-ons to their lessons such as short world news updates in simple Japanese, the most common 200 Japanese verbs and instruction on how to type hiragana, katakana and kanji on computers.

Best for Beginners: Japanese From Zero!

Summary: Video lessons that focus on gaining a foundation in Japanese as a newbie. 

Price: Some online material and YouTube videos are free. Additional materials and the full Japanese From Zero! course can be purchased for a fee. Pricing information (a free account is required to view this page and upgrade your membership level.)

What makes it special? Japanese From Zero! was created by a Japanese learner named George Trombley who attained fluency in Japanese and went on to interpret the language around the world for companies such as Microsoft and IBM.

The first course, which is comprised of 13 full lessons, is available completely for free with sign-up on the website. The additional four courses must be purchased in either their online or textbook formats.

If you’re looking for something completely free, however, the online and textbook courses are supported by the Japanese From Zero! YouTube channel. The channel itself can be used on its own to learn Japanese, and the videos are sorted in a logical order for learning Japanese from scratch.

Best for Learning Romaji: Japanese-Lesson.com

Summary: Online lessons that focus on essential Japanese words using romaji. 

Price: Free.

What makes it special? Japanese-Lesson.com offers 10 completely free lessons that cover essential Japanese words and phrases for complete beginners. Each lesson focuses on phrases and words associated with a certain lesson topic, and includes audio files for key terms.

Lessons also include grammatical and cultural explanations under the “Tips” section, and there are three different drill exercises to help solidify your knowledge in each lesson.

Best Structured Course: edX

Summary: Exceptional university-type courses that cover the Japanese language basics made by vetted professionals. 

Price: Free course audits, with an optional paid certificate course.

What makes it special? Started by Harvard and MIT, edX offers high-quality courses on a wide variety of topics—including Japanese—from universities all over the world.

edX’s Japanese courses are presented courtesy of Waseda University in Japan. There are two levels of in-depth beginner courses taught in English by enthusiastic professors. Students have the option to sign up for individual classes or purchase a full three-part program course. (Information on their beginner course is available here.) Every course is free to audit, though you get more materials and quizzes with a paid certificate course.

One of their unique offerings is a course on Japanese pronunciation, which teaches students the proper pronunciation and intonation of Japanese, as well as how to employ techniques such as shadowing to improve Japanese pronunciation.

Best JLPT Course: Yuko Sensei

Summary: YouTube videos focusing on JLPT levels N5, N4 and N3. 

Price: Free on YouTube. Additional courses are offered on Yuko Sensei’s website at a price.

What makes it special? Yuko Sensei has created short video lessons in Japanese that are available on YouTube. Yuko Sensei is a native Japanese speaker, so the language used in her videos is authentic and she gives real-world situations to contextualize her lessons.

Yuko Sensei has a variety of lessons for beginner and intermediate learners. Such videos are incorporated in playlists for Basic Japanese, hiragana, katakana and listening practice.

Additional materials and lessons are available on Yuko Sensei’s website for a price, but she does offer a beginner’s Japanese mini-course for free.

Best Grammar Course: Wasabi’s Online Japanese Grammar Reference

Summary: Reference page that goes in-depth about specific Japanese grammar points. 

Price: Wasabi’s grammar reference is available for free online, but lessons come at a cost. Pricing information.

What makes it special? At its base, this online course is true to its name: It’s a Japanese grammar reference. Grammar lessons follow a chronological order and are actually structured quite like a textbook.

The lessons progress through basic, essential and advanced grammar topics, eventually covering all major concepts in the Japanese language. Each lesson has a detailed breakdown and examples of the topic as well as a summary section at the end. As originally intended, the reference is best used in conjunction with Wasabi’s online lessons, but the free resource on its own functions as a complete grammar course.

Best Course for Short Attention Spans: NihongoShark

Summary: Entertaining lectures on a wide variety of Japanese language topics. 

Price: Free trial with basic, premium and lifetime pricing plans. Pricing information.

What makes it special? With a philosophy of effective and quick Japanese instruction, Nihongo Shark offers a series of over 1,000 detailed Japanese lessons. Its comprehensive lectures are entertaining and make even the most confusing aspects of Japanese easy to understand. It’s accessible for the complete beginner and a valuable tool for the advanced speaker.

Its “HJS Four Phases” divides Japanese into four sections: introductory, beginner, intermediate and advanced. The courses in each phase are further divided into sections that accommodate your Japanese needs, whether you’re learning from scratch, studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or looking to learn the language for a trip to Japan. Each course is self-paced, so you can take your studies as quickly or as slowly as you want.

Best Course for Modern Learners: NHK World’s Online Japanese Lessons

Summary: Lessons made by native Japanese speakers with videos and quizzes. 

Price: Free.

What makes it special? NHK’s online Japanese course was created by native Japanese speakers for learners of the Japanese language.

Since you’re getting Japanese lessons straight from the source, this means that you’re learning real, relevant, everyday Japanese words and phrases. This site offers realistic scenarios, quizzes and videos, which is similar to BBC’s Japanese learning course. Free, downloadable lessons are also available to use for later review.

As a bonus, all the content is presented with fun, colorful illustrations and tons of personality, making the learning process very enjoyable!

You can now access a “new” version of the lessons, which features even more lessons, a fresh new format, a charming “My Haru-san” tracker to hold you accountable for studying every day and a number of other fun features.

Best In-Depth Course: Japanese Ammo

Summary: YouTube videos that go in-depth about Japanese grammar and phrases. 

Price: Free.

What makes it special? Japanese Ammo is run by Misa, an upbeat language enthusiast whose videos go into the fine details of the Japanese language.

Aimed at beginners and intermediate learners, she explains particulars of Japanese grammar in-depth, including points that may be easily confused by learners of the language. She also thoroughly explores how words are used by native Japanese speakers, offering valuable insight that can help viewers sound natural.

No stone goes unturned in her videos, either—every aspect she touches on gets a clear, easy-to-understand explanation, so you’ll know exactly why every Japanese word or expression is used the way it is.

Her playlists contain a treasure trove of Japanese lessons, offering help for absolute beginners and tourists, as well as listening practice for those looking to improve their Japanese comprehension. You can also find her on Twitter!

Best Audio Course: Loecsen Japanese

Summary: Flashcard-based courses with audio that focus on beginner Japanese. 

Price: Free.

What makes it special? Loecsen offers language courses that learners can follow at their own pace. In the Japanese course, there are 17 completely free lessons (called “themes”). These are interactive flashcard-based lessons complete with vocabulary lists and quizzes.

Lessons revolve around topics such as colors, the beach and taking a taxi. Learners first review the words included in each lesson along with audio recordings and helpful visuals. Next, you complete the quizzes that include various activities to help you learn the words and phrases.

The “Read Aloud” function allows you to hear Japanese readings from anywhere on the web. Simply copy and paste a text and get an automated audio recording and translation of it.

The course also includes and supports writing in hiragana, katakana, kanji and romaji.

Best Course for Travelers: Japan Society NYC

Summary: YouTube videos with a classroom-like setting that focus on beginner and travel Japanese. 

Price: Free.

What makes it special? The Japan Society of New York City offers 24 completely free video lessons on YouTube, covering essential Japanese. While no writing of hiragana, katakana or kanji is taught, this course is perfect for those looking for a traveler-style Japanese course for tourists.

Each lesson is taught like a university lecture with explanations and grammar tips. The last part of the lesson gives viewers an opportunity to practice by translating words and phrases from English into Japanese.

If you’re interested in the cultural aspects of Japan and its language, the Japan Society’s main YouTube channel covers many modern issues important to Japanese people.

Best Cultural Course: The Japanese Page

Summary: Japanese lessons with a cultural focus on living and working in Japan.

Price: Free.

What makes it special? The Japanese Page is a great place to start learning about Japanese culture as well as beginner language skills. It can give you a feel for really learning the language before you decide to commit yourself to a paid service.

The Japanese Page is a completely free website that offers help with typing Japanese words on your keyboard, hiragana and katakana lessons, some extra helpful advice about Japanese culture and insight into what it’s like to live in the country. There are polls, and links to places where you can find a language partner and there’s also a forum that the administrator regularly visits to answer questions and concerns.

However, one of the website’s coolest features is Makoto, a monthly e-Zine. For just $3 per month, you receive a 46-page digital magazine packed with learner content like stories with tons of vocabulary explained, cultural tidbits, jokes and puns and so much more. Plus, by signing up for this magazine, you also get access to more features on the website, like weekly shadowing sentences for beginners and intermediate learners.

Best for Specific Skills: Kanshudo

Summary: Beginner lessons on specific skills such as vocabulary, grammar and kanji.

Price: First 20 beginner lessons are free, followed by paid intermediate courses. Pricing information.

What makes it special? A personalized learning experience that provides structured lessons as well as free plans.  By setting your own challenges, you can focus on the areas of Japanese that you want to learn. The program’s tracking system lets you see exactly what your progress is in vocabulary, grammar, kanji and specific study points.

In addition to lessons, Kanshudo offers a ton of games that allow you to reinforce your studies, as well as graded reading material to practice reading. Its vast library of Japanese vocabulary, grammar and kanji lets you look up any term and its kanji.

One of Kanshudo’s notable points is that it offers textbook support, so if you’re learning with a Japanese textbook series like “Genki” or “Minna no Nihongo,” this is a great supplemental resource.

Best Flexible Course: Marugoto

Summary: Website of structured courses that focus on finding your own study preferences.

Price: Free.

What makes it special? Marugoto is a textbook series as well as a website, developed by the Japan Foundation. Based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR),  it provides structured courses for beginners that aim to give them real power to communicate in Japanese.

Marugoto offers self-study courses provided through the Minato website. There are two options that you can choose from based on your study style: “Katsudoo” for casual studies and “Rikai” for more serious studies.

You can review your progress at any time with “My Page,” a profile that keeps records of your study progress and your learning portfolio.

Both self-study and tutor-supported options are available online. Options include a wide range of topics, like writing general language and anime-specific courses. While many of the most popular courses use English as a base language, a number of lessons are also available in seven other languages, including Spanish, French, Thai and Mandarin Chinese.

Best Paid Course: Coto Academy

Summary: High-quality course options much like those you would find in a school setting, with vetted teachers and materials. 

Price: Varies based on lesson package. Pricing information available for each type of lesson.

What makes it special? Based on an in-person learning academy in Tokyo, Coto Academy offers online courses that users can take anywhere in the world.

After checking your Japanese level for free, you’ll then be able to select the best course option for you. Depending on how you learn best, you can take lessons either privately or in a group. There’s no need to worry about getting materials—Coto will send you everything you need.

Coto Academy also offers JLPT prep courses and Business Japanese Courses, making Coto a fantastic resource for those looking to advance professionally with their Japanese.

Best Tutor Support: Nihongo-Pro.com

Summary: Website that connects you with Japanese tutors for one-on-one lessons. 

Price: Reasonable rate for a 50-minute lesson, and discounts if you purchase 30 lessons or more. Pricing information.

What makes it special? This website is great for you if you do want a real, physical teacher who can Skype with you and help you learn Japanese at your own pace. Obviously, the previously mentioned sites are better if you want to learn 100% by yourself, but if you’re looking to learn Japanese with a teacher in the comfort of your own home, Nihongo-Pro.com is a good place to start.

This article is about learning on your own, and there are many good things about that. However, there are advantages to having a real teacher, too. He or she can:

• Help you improve your pronunciation and intonation

• Encourage you to keep going when you’re struggling

• Help you get from beginner level to fluent

• Give you personalized tips and

  study suggestions

• Be someone to practice with

• Introduce you to other native speakers (who could be potential

  language exchange partners

  or friends)

• Give you advice for if you want to go to Japan (that’s more personal than a travel blog)

You can try out some lessons to help you decide if it’s right for you. You can choose your own teacher and buy private lesson “tickets” which you can use at any time, whenever you’re ready and available. This is much better than strictly scheduled lessons, because you won’t miss out or be left behind if you need to take a break or go on vacation. There are also a few freebies like leveled quizzes and kanji games.

 

You don’t have to be living in Japan or even near a Japanese school to commit yourself to learning this wonderful language. Learning privately gives you the chance to work at your own pace and on any aspect you’d like to focus on, whether that’s grammar, reading and writing kanji or starting your own language exchange.

With these websites, you’ll be pera-pera (speaking fluently) in no time at all. And all without stepping outside!

Be sure to check out other ways to study by yourself, too, such as Japanese books, how to learn Japanese in your car and learning by watching TV.

No matter which way you go, or how much time you spend studying online, the key is to have fun!

Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)