These days there is an overwhelming amount of resources out there for learning Japanese. There are websites, apps, browser extensions and more. This article will list some of the best websites for learning Japanese.
1. Easy Japanese by NHK
NHK offers a variety of short video clips on their website for you to learn Japanese. The videos each contain a different scenario, and offer subtitles in a multitude of languages. There are subtitles, so you can easily check all the words you don’t know. The site also offers travel tips and beginner kanji.
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/program/video/easyjapanese/?type=tvEpisode&
2. Italki
Italki is one of the most popular websites for learning Japanese. Through the site, you are connected with a native Japanese teacher of your choice. This website is not free, and you pay based on the hourly rate of the teacher.
There is an online community where you can ask questions and have them answered, or post your written Japanese work to be checked. Unfortunately the community section is only available through the app and not via your PC.
3. SmileNihongo
This website offers mini courses for beginner learners of Japanese, suitable for those undertaking JLPT N5 or N4. They also have lots of free resources for perfecting your Japanese skill and understanding the culture.
URL: https://smilenihongo.com/
4. Matcha
Matcha has many articles written in Japanese that will teach you about Japanese culture, travel and trends. The articles have all the kanji written with furigana as well, so you can practice reading with ease. It’s great for people of intermediate level who have some vocabulary knowledge and want to practice their reading skill while learning more about Japan.
URL: https://matcha-jp.com/easy/
5. JapanesePod101
JapanesePod101 is a website which contains thousands of audio lessons which range from beginner to advanced. As the audio lessons take the form of podcasts, they are really easy to listen to on the go. The website also offers lesson notes to go with each podcast, flashcards, grammar and vocabulary lists as well as learning videos. The basic membership is free, or you can pay for the premium membership. As there is so much content, it can be a bit confusing to navigate, so it’s best to follow their lesson paths, eg “JLPT N5 lesson path”.
Their lessons are high quality and would make an excellent supplement to in-person lessons.
URL: https://www.japanesepod101.com
6. Tofugu
Tofugu is a site for serious learners which offers Japanese grammar guides, vocabulary guides, writing lessons, podcasts, textbook reviews and more.
URL: https://www.tofugu.com/learn-japanese/
7. Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese
This guide is a great resource for people who want to learn Japanese but often find grammar explanations confusing. This website explains everything in a logical and intuitive way which is easy to understand. It has a section for basic grammar, intermediate grammar and advanced grammar. There are also special expressions and some tutorials like “effective writing practice”.
URL: http://guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar
8. Nihongo Master
Nihongo Master is a fun resource for any level. They have an online community of over 50,000 students whom you can join group lessons with or even compete against game-style. They offer over 100 lessons along with an advanced Japanese dictionary including examples of how to use the word. There are drills, practice sheets and study lists, along with podcasts about Japanese language and culture. The leaderboards to recognise the best performers are a fun addition.
URL: https://www.nihongomaster.com
9. Lingodeer
Lingodeer is an online learning tool which can be used on the website or as an app. It is similar to Duolingo, but perhaps better when it comes to Japanese as it focuses on Asian languages.
Users learn Japanese by completing many different types of exercises, which are repeated as necessary for memorization. It includes good grammar explanations and opportunities to review what you have already studied. At the end of each unit there is a short video with captions and comprehension questions to go with it. The audio is recorded by native speakers and is quite a bit clearer than in similar websites.
Most of the content is free, but the full course is paid, although not too pricey.
URL: https://www.lingodeer.com
10. NativShark
This website aims to teach natural and authentic Japanese that can be used in real life. This is very similar to the goal of Toranomon Language School so NativShark would be a good website to use in combination with face-to-face lessons at TLS.
All the vocabulary and grammar is taught along with the real-world context so that you know when you should actually use it, and all the audio clips are recorded by native speakers with a natural intonation. They also offer notes about living in Japan along with end of unit reviews. The whole point is to get you able to use Japanese as soon as possible.
URL: https://www.nativshark.com
These are 10 great websites for learning Japanese, give them a try, they are best used in conjunction with an in-person class!