Eng 
日本語 
Learning Japanese can be a fun and engaging experience, not just a series of textbooks and quizzes. We know your interest in learning Japanese has sparked from watching Japanese anime or playing games made by Nintendo, Sega, or Capcom. In our previous blogs, we’ve also shared some exciting ways to start learning the language, such as learning Japanese with video games and kanji games. Now, we are ready to introduce another new game, tested by our staff and teachers, that’s perfect for beginners who want to learn Japanese in a fun way: Wagotabi. In this blog, we will explore how the Wagotabi game works, its benefits, and why it is an excellent tool for anyone learning Japanese.
About Wagotabi
Why Wagotabi? A few weeks ago, the Wagotabi development team reached out and invite us to try their newly launched game. We never heard about the game before, but as soon as we did, we were intrigued and excited to give it a go. Here’s our take on it!
Wagotabi is more than just another Japanese learning game. It’s an immersive and interactive language-learning RPG game designed to help players practice and learn Japanese by teaching vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and kanji recognition exercises throughout the game. Released recently, this game was created to make studying Japanese fun for passionate language learners by providing experiences that take them on a journey through Japan’s geography, history, and local culture. We love how detailed the developers were when designing the game. While we were exploring the city, we saw the architecture in the game, which is almost the same design as the real-life one, and we were mindblown. We all think this game is entirely accessible to beginner learners because the level of the game starts from zero, following the JLPT N5 content introduction, and begins with easy vocabulary and grammar. It teaches most practical Japanese words and grammatical concepts. One thing to mention also is that this game is localized in 7 languages.
Wagotabi is made by a small indie team of four people passionate about learning Japanese and want to make this process fun and enjoyable. Read below to learn more about them:
We are a team of four passionate Japanese language learners from different countries and backgrounds who decided to unite to create our dream game based on our own experience of learning Japanese from scratch to a high level of proficiency. We wanted to create an immersive experience that could keep learners motivated throughout their Japanese learning journey— the type of game we would have loved to have when we first started learning the language. All Wagotabi members have either studied or worked in Japan. One of our team members works professionally in the game industry and has already shipped several games, which helped us release the game smoothly and solve technical issues.
Wagotabi Team
The origin of the name Wagotabi is also very interesting. The word “Wagotabi” is derived from “Wago” (和語), meaning Japanese language or words, and “tabi” (旅), meaning journey. Hence, the game’s title suggests the players take on a “journey through the Japanese language,” progressing through different challenges as they improve their Japanese skills.
Wagotabi draws inspiration from the beloved game Pokemon but with a unique twist. Instead of catching Pokemon, the players collect Japanese words, grammar expressions, and characters! As they progress through the towns, the players will earn Hanko stamps from Japanese Masters in their traditional castles by battling with them with Japanese knowledge. We believe those challenges will help sharpen your Japanese skills. Wagotabi’s interactive elements, such as ordering food, asking for directions, and expressing interests, provide a practical and enjoyable way to learn Japanese.
Features On Wagotabi
- Role Play: Players can customize their characters, talk to the NPCs, and learn Japanese during conversations.
- Real-life Scenes: All the scenes shown in the game are based on actual Japan’s geography, allowing you to travel to Japan virtually.
- Lessons: The game uses bite-sized learning, introducing each concept in an easy-to-understand and suitable portion.
- Smart Test: With more than 15 question types, the built-in Spaced Repetition System allows players to focus on difficult-to-remember words.
- Mini Games: The game includes several mini-games that allow players to learn enjoyably.
- Boss Fight: To proceed to each adventure, the player must fight bosses that challenge their Japanese skills.
- Interactive Dictionary: Review all the Japanese words, vocabulary, and more anytime with the dictionary. The players can also practice writing the kanji in the game!
- Fill Your Kanjidex: Collect’em all ! Look for all the Japanese words during the journey!
- Progress Tracking: The Dynamic dashboard will closely monitor the player’s improvements.
- Leaderboards: Share your scores and compete with your friends and the community
Partnerships with Japanese Prefectures
Wagotabi’s immersive and engaging Japanese learning approach is further enhanced by its partnerships with Japanese prefectures. We were very surprised and impressed that a Japanese learning game could collaborate with the government when we first heard of it, which is why we want to share this game so much with you. More information about the partnership is that the game’s first map, based on Kagawa Prefecture, features town elements inspired by real-life architecture. The developer has said that future collaborations with other prefectures will happen. It will promise to provide an authentic and immersive learning experience rooted in real Japanese locations and culture.
How Do You Learn Japanese Through Wagotabi?
In short, through interactive quests in the game!
Wagotabi offers a series of quests or missions that take players through different storylines and environments that focus on Japanese culture. These quests and missions work by asking the players to complete a sentence by choosing the correct particle or the proper kanjis. As players progress, they will face more challenges that require them to use the Japanese knowledge they gained in Wagotabi creatively and practically.
During these journeys, the game will gradually introduce more advanced grammar, characters, vocabulary, and kanjis. As the players progress, they will face more challenges that require them to use the Japanese knowledge they gained in Wagotabi creatively and practically.
Now, instead of looking through and memorizing the endless vocabulary list, people can learn Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, grammar, and more as they appear in the Japanese learning adventure. The content used in the game is derived from the JLPT N1-N5 levels. Is the content accurate? No worries. 300 teachers and natives have tested this game, and we played through them! Here are some statistics for you to know about Wagotabi:
- +190 carefully selected words and grammar points
- +100 Kanji
- +250 example sentences
- +750 voiced Japanese dialogues
- +190 unique NPCs in-game
- +300 teachers in +60 countries reviewing the app
Wagotabi releases new content regularly, featuring new lessons, areas, and improvements, so stay tuned!!
Benefits of Learning Japanese Through Wagotabi
First, we want to share that Wagotabi and Coto’s approach to teaching Japanese to passionate learners is the same: making learning fun. At the same time, both of us want to provide opportunities for the learners to immerse themselves in Japanese culture; hence, Wagotabi created these amazing in-game arts, and our school has rolled out multiple Japanese cultural activities for students to participate in.
Gamification Makes Learning Fun
One advantage of learning Japanese through Wagotabi is its gamified approach. Traditional language-learning methods often need to be more varied and varied. However, by integrating fun challenges, storylines, and rewards, Wagotabi keeps Japanese language learners engaged and motivated.
Active Learning and Immediate Feedback
Wagotabi encourages active learning by requiring players to interact with the language in the game. Many features in the game help reinforce memory retention. The instant feedback feature lets the players know if they have selected the correct word or proper grammar. For the parts that the players have struggled with, they can always go back to review and practice as many times as they want to.
Personalized Japanese Learning Path
Wagotabi allows players to learn Japanese at their own pace. The game starts at a beginner level, and the difficulty increases as you progress. However, if you are an experienced learner, you can also advance the journey by skipping some of the stories. However, it is recommended that you play the game throughout. If the players are stuck, no worries; the game is designed so that you can focus on areas that need improvements.
Rich Cultural Insights
Wagotabi also collaborates with the local prefectures to give players a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. Many of the game’s quests are themed around traditional and modern Japanese life, helping learners understand everything about Japan. This cultural context makes language learning feel more meaningful and relevant and can enrich your travel or study experience in Japan.
How Learning Through Wagotabi Reflects Coto Teaching Methods
We are convinced that the best way to learn is through interactions. We believe that learning Japanese should be fun and immersive. At Coto, we do our best to get students out of the classroom and immersed in practical, everyday situations.
From the moment we heard about Wagotabi—a game designed to teach Japanese through fun and engaging missions—it immediately caught our attention. We couldn’t help but draw a parallel with our courses at Coto Japanese Academy, where interactive and practical learning is at the heart of what we do.
In our Crash Course— where our students practice real-life skills like asking for directions or buying an item at the convenience store— Wagotabi helps learners apply Japanese in context. Both methods focus on learning by doing, allowing students to build confidence and develop practical communication skills they can use immediately.
We also share a philosophy: there are many ways to learn a language. At Coto, we encourage a mix of methods to complement classroom learning—be it interactive games like Wagotabi, focused reading exercises, or conversation practice. By combining these approaches, learners can engage with Japanese in a dynamic, adaptable way suited to their personal goals.Whether through our classes or Wagotabi’s challenges, the goal is to make Japanese learning effective, enjoyable, and memorable. That’s the power of interactive learning.
How to Download the Free Wagotabi Demo
How to Download the Full Version of Wagotabi
Other Wagotabi Links
FAQ
How do you download the Japanese learning game Wagotabi?
You can download the game here
Is learning Japanese through games effective?
Yes, learning Japanese through games can be highly effective. They make practicing language skills fun and engaging. They can help you learn vocabulary, grammar, kanji, characters, and pronunciation naturally.
What are some popular Japanese language learning games?
- Wagotabi: An RPG-style game that takes you on a virtual journey through Japan.
- Influent: Japanese: A game designed to put sticky notes all over their homes to learn Japanese.
- Learn Japanese to Survive: An RPG game that teaches Japanese games through Hiragana Battle, Katakana War, and Kanji Combat.
What is Wagotabi?
Wagotabi is a unique RPG-style Japanese language learning game combining immersive gameplay and effective language instruction. It takes the players on a virtual journey through towns in Japan, where they learn Japanese by collecting Japanese characters.
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