The Learner's Map
Japanese learning roadmap: from kana to JLPT N1
After kana, learn the 1,500 most common words with spaced repetition, work through one grammar guide, and start listening to and reading easy Japanese at the same time. This roadmap shows what to study at each stage from hiragana to JLPT N1, with the tools to use, and a 4-question plan if you want one made for you.
The roadmap by stage
The whole path as a list. Tap any step for its tools and advice.
🏁 Phase 0: Kana
Hiragana and katakana first · 2–4 weeks
You are here🟢 Phase 1: Basics
N5–N4 · 3–6 months
You are here🟣 Phase 2: Building
N4–N3 · 6–18 months
You are here🟡 Phase 3: Intermediate
N3–N2 · 1.5–3 years
You are here🔴 Phase 4: Advanced
N2–N1 · 3–6+ years
You are here🔵 Learning Pillars
Core skills that run across every phase
You are here🟩 Tools & Resources
Apps, sites, and study materials by category
You are here🌸 Motivation
Why and how to stay on track
You are here⚠️ Watch Out
Common traps and misconceptions
You are here📐 Fundamentals
Principles that never change
You are hereHow to use this map
The map shows the path from kana to fluency. Every box opens the tools and advice for that step. Use the filters to focus on one stage, or search for a tool by name.
Learning stages
Other categories
Price labels
Tip: pinch the map to zoom, or use the + and − buttons.
The roadmap at a glance
Typical times vary a lot with how much you study each day. Treat them as rough ranges, not targets.
| Stage | JLPT level | Typical time | Focus | Start with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 0: Kana | Before N5 | 2–4 weeks | Read hiragana and katakana on sight | Tofugu Kana Quiz, Real Kana, a kana chart and stroke order for writing |
| Phase 1: Basics | N5 to N4 | 3–6 months | 500–1,500 words, one grammar guide, beginner listening | Kaishi 1.5k deck in Anki, Tae Kim's Grammar Guide, Nihongo con Teppei for Beginners, Tadoku graded readers |
| Phase 2: Building | N4 to N3 | 6–18 months | 3,000–5,000 words, sentence mining, kanji in words, a daily listening and reading habit | Yomitan, jpdb, Genki, RRTK 450, NHK News Web Easy |
| Phase 3: Intermediate | N3 to N2 | 1.5–3 years | Native content, regular speaking, an intermediate textbook | Satori Reader, Tobira, italki or HelloTalk, Shin Kanzen Master |
| Phase 4: Advanced | N2 to N1 | 3–6+ years | Volume and variety, Japanese-Japanese dictionaries, corrected output | Novels and news, Aozora Bunko, Shin Kanzen Master N1, a professional tutor |
Japanese learning tools by category
Every tool on the map in one list, with how it is priced, where it runs, and the levels it suits. Within each category, widely used tools come first.
Kana: hiragana and katakana
4 tools
- Tofugu Kana QuizFree
Free browser quiz from Tofugu that tests hiragana and katakana recognition with instant feedback.
- Real KanaFree
Pick the kana columns you want and type the romaji for each one. A fast recognition drill once you know the shapes.
30-day course app for hiragana and katakana, with about 250 everyday words and basic speaking and pitch practice.
Animated stroke order for every hiragana row, for learning to write kana by hand.
Vocabulary and flashcards
7 tools
- Kaishi 1.5k deckFree
The standard starter Anki deck: 1,500 of the most frequent Japanese words, each with audio and an example sentence. A common pace is 10 to 20 new cards a day.
- AnkiFree
Widely used spaced repetition app. It takes some setup, but you can study any deck and control every setting.
- jpdbFree
Dictionary and flashcard site that builds vocabulary decks from the anime, novels, and games you want to read or watch, ordered by how often each word appears.
- Immersion KitFree
Search a word and get example sentences from anime and drama, with audio and screenshots. Useful for sentence mining.
- RenshuuFree
Practice platform covering vocabulary, grammar, kanji, and listening, with schedules and quizzes by JLPT level.
- Kitsun.ioPaid
Spaced repetition platform with community decks and a polished phone app.
Crossword puzzles built from JLPT vocabulary lists. A break from flashcards that still reviews the words.
Kanji
3 tools
- RRTK 450Free
Free Anki deck of 450 kanji that trains you to recognize components and shapes, not readings. Useful when look-alike kanji still trip you up.
- WaniKaniFreemium
Web-based kanji and vocabulary course with mnemonics and spaced repetition. Covers about 2,000 kanji and 6,000 words.
Kanji course inside the Fluency Tool app: the 1,026 kanji Japanese children learn in grades 1 to 6, in a word-first order for adult learners.
Grammar
6 tools
Free, widely read grammar guide that covers N5 to N4 grammar and beyond, in order.
- Nihongo no MoriFree
YouTube channel with JLPT grammar playlists from N5 to N1, taught by native teachers.
In-depth online grammar reference from the Tofugu team, good for looking up one pattern at a time.
- BunproPaid
Grammar practice with spaced repetition: you review grammar patterns in sentences, organized by JLPT level.
Approachable YouTube grammar series by a native speaker. Good for a grammar point that still feels unclear.
- IMABIFree
Very detailed grammar reference. Best used for lookups by intermediate and advanced learners.
Reading and word lookup
13 tools
Free graded stories for beginners, starting at level 0, with furigana.
- YomitanFree
Browser extension for computers: hover over a Japanese word (hold Shift) to see its reading and definition.
- Jisho.orgFree
The standard online Japanese-English dictionary for learners.
- AkebiFree
Offline Japanese dictionary for Android with handwriting input, stroke order, and example sentences. No ads.
- Shirabe JishoFreemium
Japanese dictionary for iPhone with furigana, stroke order, and pitch accent data.
Simplified Japanese news with furigana. A good step from graded readers to real articles at N4 to N3.
- MokuroFree
Runs on a computer: turns manga page images into pages with selectable text, so Yomitan lookup works on manga.
- Satori ReaderPaid
Graded Japanese stories with audio, grammar explanations, and vocabulary tracking, roughly N4 to N2.
- NativelyFree
Community library that rates the difficulty of Japanese books, manga, and shows, so you can find something at your level and track what you read.
- Aozora BunkoFree
Free online library of Japanese literature whose copyright has expired, from Natsume Sōseki to Akutagawa. The site is in Japanese.
- MangaTranslateFreemium
OCR and translation for manga images and PDFs. A full-page comprehension check for exchanges you still can't follow after looking up the words.
Reading app with daily news, Aozora Bunko classics, and Japanese Wikipedia articles, with furigana and tap-to-look-up definitions.
Paste any Japanese text to break it down by word, reading, and grammar.
Listening and podcasts
7 tools
Short, slow episodes about everyday topics, made for beginners. A common first podcast.
The main show: Teppei speaks naturally but clearly about everyday topics. The step after the beginner series.
- JLPT StoriesFree
Short stories narrated at JLPT levels from N5 to N1. Structured listening practice.
- asbplayerFree
Browser extension for computers that loads Japanese subtitle files onto streaming video. Pair it with Yomitan to look up words in the subtitles.
Dozens of Japanese learning shows and native Japanese podcasts. Search "nihongo" to start.
- JapanesePod101Freemium
Library of audio lessons organized into courses. Works best as a supplement to a main course.
- Language ReactorFreemium
Browser extension for computers that adds dual subtitles, word lookup, and saved vocabulary to Netflix and YouTube.
Speaking, tutors, and language exchange
7 tools
Most cities run conversational Japanese classes through their ward office (区役所) or local international association, often taught by volunteers. CLAIR's page explains where to ask.
- italkiPaid
Large online tutor marketplace. Community tutors for conversation practice; certified teachers for structured lessons with feedback.
- HelloTalkFreemium
Language exchange app for text, voice, and video chat with native Japanese speakers, with built-in corrections.
- PreplyPaid
Online tutoring platform with Japanese teachers, lesson plans, and progress tracking.
- CafetalkPaid
Online lesson marketplace with many Japan-based teachers and a wide range of lesson formats.
- TandemFreemium
Language exchange app for finding Japanese conversation partners, with video calls, voice messages, and text chat.
Shadowing app: listen to native audio, record yourself, and compare, with short speaking drills.
Pitch accent
2 tools
In-depth pitch accent course taught in English, with a free introduction on YouTube.
See pitch patterns and hear native pronunciation, to build pitch awareness before habits set in.
Textbooks and JLPT prep books
6 tools
JLPT prep books with separate volumes for grammar, kanji, vocabulary, reading, and listening at each level from N3 to N1.
- Genki I and IIPaid
Widely used university Japanese textbook. Two volumes cover roughly N5 to N4.
- Minna no NihongoPaid
Textbook written entirely in Japanese, with translated grammar notes sold separately. Widely used in language schools in Japan.
Practical, conversation-focused textbook series. Moves faster than Genki.
- Quartet I and IIPaid
Intermediate textbook from Genki's publisher, in two volumes. The usual next step after Genki II.
Content-rich intermediate textbook covering roughly N4 to N2.
My Senpai guides
4 tools
Explains the Leitner system, the box method behind spaced repetition apps like Anki.
How to learn Japanese vocabulary systematically and keep it.
How to build a Japanese reading habit you can keep up.
Why people quit Anki, and how to prevent and recover from review burnout.
About this guide
This roadmap is maintained by the My Senpai team as an independent reference for Japanese learners. Here is how it decides what to list and recommend.
- A tool is listed when learners at that stage commonly use it and it does one job well. Within a category, widely used tools come first, and a good free option comes before a paid one.
- The study plan picks tools by level, goal, device, and price, using the same rules for every tool. You can read how it works and the tests it has to pass in the page's source.
- My Senpai also makes some learning apps. They are marked By My Senpai, get no extra weight in the rankings, and lose any tie to an independent tool.
- This page has no affiliate links, and no tool pays to be listed.
- Free, Freemium, and Paid describe how a tool is usually offered. Prices change, so check the tool's site before you pay. Where we read a price on the tool's own site, the listing says when.
- The tools and links on this page were last reviewed on October 28, 2026. Spotted a broken link or a tool that changed? Tell us on X.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
The questions people ask before starting the map above, answered directly.
How long does it take to learn Japanese?
For English speakers, reaching basic conversational ability (JLPT N4) typically takes 6–18 months of consistent daily study. Intermediate fluency (N3–N2) takes 1.5–3 years. Native-level comprehension (N1 and beyond) takes 4–7 years for most learners. The timeline depends heavily on daily study time, hours of listening and reading, and whether you practice speaking. The US Foreign Service Institute places Japanese among the hardest languages for English speakers, at about 2,200 classroom hours for professional working proficiency.
Should I learn hiragana and katakana before anything else?
Yes. Both kana scripts should be automatic before you study vocabulary or grammar. Learning vocabulary in romaji builds habits you have to unlearn later, and most people can learn kana in 2–4 weeks of focused practice. A kana quiz such as Tofugu's or Real Kana, a hiragana and katakana chart, and a stroke order guide make this step fast.
What is the best way to learn Japanese vocabulary?
Spaced repetition software (SRS) is the most efficient method for learning vocabulary, backed by decades of research on the spacing effect. Anki with the Kaishi 1.5k deck is the standard recommendation for beginners: 10–20 new cards a day, with reviews every morning. At intermediate level, sentence mining (adding words from your own reading and listening to a custom deck, with the full sentence) replaces premade decks. The Yomitan browser extension connects to Anki for one-keystroke card creation while you read.
What should I study after finishing the Kaishi 1.5k deck?
Move from a premade deck to sentence mining: add the words you meet in your own reading and listening, with the sentence they came from. Keep doing reviews every day and keep new cards around 10–20 a day. At the same time, work through a grammar textbook at your level (Genki II, then Quartet or Tobira) and read and listen to easy native content daily. Yomitan and jpdb make mining faster.
Do I need a textbook to learn Japanese?
A textbook is useful but not required. Tae Kim's Grammar Guide is a free, thorough alternative that covers N5–N4 grammar. For learners who prefer structured progress, Genki I and II are widely used university textbooks that cover the same range. At intermediate level, Quartet and Tobira bridge into N3–N2. Most successful learners combine a textbook or grammar guide with spaced repetition and lots of listening and reading, rather than relying on a textbook alone.
What is JLPT and which level should I aim for first?
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels: N5 (beginner) through N1 (near-native). N5 is a reasonable 6-month goal for dedicated beginners. N4 covers everyday conversation. N3 shows solid intermediate ability. N2 is the level many Japanese employers and universities ask for. N1 is near-native and required for some professional roles. The JLPT is held twice a year (July and December) in most countries.
What is immersion learning and how do I do it for Japanese?
Immersion learning means spending a lot of time with native Japanese content (anime, drama, manga, news, podcasts, novels) instead of relying only on structured study. At beginner level, start with easy content like slice-of-life anime and the Nihongo con Teppei for Beginners podcast. On a computer, the Yomitan browser extension and the asbplayer subtitle tool make reading and listening manageable. The goal is not 100% comprehension. It is steady exposure at the hardest level you can stay engaged with.
Is Anki necessary for learning Japanese?
Anki is not required, but spaced repetition in some form is strongly recommended. Anki is the most flexible free option on computers and Android (the iPhone app, AnkiMobile, is paid). It supports audio and images and has a large library of shared decks. Alternatives include WaniKani (structured, kanji-focused), Kitsun.io (a more polished phone app), and Bunpro (grammar-focused SRS). The specific tool matters less than the daily review habit.
How do I get better at speaking Japanese?
Speaking needs output practice that passive study cannot replace. The most effective approaches are regular conversation lessons through italki, language exchange through HelloTalk or Tandem, and a few minutes a day of shadowing: repeating native audio right after you hear it. Start speaking imperfectly and early. Waiting until you feel "ready" creates a gap between understanding and speaking that gets harder to close the longer it lasts.
What is pitch accent in Japanese and do I need to learn it?
Japanese is a pitch-accent language: the high and low pattern of syllables in a word can change its meaning and affects whether you sound natural. Pitch accent is not required to be understood, but it changes how natural you sound. Most learners benefit from building awareness in Phase 2 (N4–N3), before habits set in. Dogen's pitch accent course on Patreon is an in-depth English-language resource, and dictionaries such as Shirabe Jisho show the pitch pattern of each word.
What is the best Japanese learning app?
There is no single best app, because different tools serve different skills. For vocabulary and kanji: Anki (free and flexible), WaniKani (structured, paid after a free start), or Kitsun.io. For grammar: Bunpro. For speaking: italki or HelloTalk. For reading: Satori Reader (graded stories with audio) or NHK News Web Easy (simple news with furigana). Duolingo is widely known but not enough on its own: it lacks the vocabulary depth and grammar coverage needed for real fluency.
Can I learn Japanese for free?
Yes. The core path works with free tools: Anki (free on computers and Android), Tae Kim's Grammar Guide (free PDF), the Kaishi 1.5k deck, Nihongo con Teppei (free podcast), NHK News Web Easy (free news), Yomitan (free browser extension), and Tadoku graded readers (free stories). Together they cover vocabulary, grammar, listening, and reading from beginner through intermediate. Paid tools like the Genki textbooks, WaniKani, or Satori Reader add structure but are optional.