Learning Japanese can be a fun and exciting journey. It helps you understand a rich culture, connect with people from Japan, and enjoy a language with unique characters. The best part is you don’t have to spend much money to get started. Many free online resources exist for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners.

Getting Started Learning Japanese Online for Free

Starting a new language (or starting again) can feel like a steep, overwhelming mountain that’s impossible to traverse, however, apps can be a great way to make language learning much less intimidating. Tackling any huge goal, like getting fluent in another language (or climbing Mt. Everest), takes breaking things down into actionable steps which is what many apps do very well! 

Instead of a vague and rather overwhelming goal like “get fluent in Japanese”, apps instead break down the language into different categories such as:

• Hiragana ひらがな
• Katakana カタカナ 
• Food & Drinks
• Hobbies
• Etc.

Each of these steps are achievable and, therefore, more rewarding which helps motivate you to continue learning. So we picked out some of the best free apps and tools at doing just that! 

We could only name a few so if you’re interested in discovering more apps hand-picked by professional teachers, please check out our blog, Top 30 Apps To Learn Japanese in 2025.

Best Free Apps to Kickstart Your Japanese Learning Journey (A great way to start learning or improve your Japanese)

Duolingo

Duolingo is a fantastic free app that uses gamified lessons to introduce hiragana, katakana, kanji, and grammar in a user-friendly way. The app uses fun interactive lessons, quizzes, and daily challenges to engage users and incentivize them to gain points and level up making learning feel like a game. 

Duolingo is perfect for beginners, providing a solid foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and basic sentence structure. It motivates learners to study regularly by encouraging them to maintain their ‘streaks’ by sending reminders to finish daily lessons and offering rewards for maintaining long streaks. This feature helps in developing a consistent language-learning routine. Check out our complete review of Learning Japanese with Duolingo here.

We recommend using duolingo in conjunction with other memorization apps to ensure material sticks. The games allow for great exposure but they can sometimes be solved by using logic rather than gained language abilities.

Drops

Drops is a language learning platform and app that also uses gamified lessons to drill and memorize vocabulary. The platform uses pretty illustrations as visual associations with new words. This method is supposed to help you more easily remember and recall new vocabulary. Like Duolingo, the app also uses daily reminders and a level up system to motivate users to form daily habits of practicing the target language. 

The app also offers listening practice with audio of native speakers saying phrases clearly and easy to understand for learners. It is another app that is great for accompanying other studying methods such as flash card apps, classes, or watching T.V. Shows and dramas.

Dr. Moku

Dr. Moku is a free app that prides itself on pioneering Japanese character memorization through mnemonic learning tricks. Its interactive lessons use recognizable shapes and visualizations that look similar to the character, forcing your brain to make associations and therefore, remember more effectively. 

The app uses this method to help students study and recall hiragana, katakana and kanji. It also has a phrase book of over a thousand Japanese words and phrases to assist users with practicing conversations. 

Anki

Anki may not be a gamified app with everything already at your fingertips but it is a powerful flashcard app that is very effective in reinforcing vocabulary. From personal experience, this app helped me get through tests and even interviews in Japanese. The app uses spaced repetition to help learners memorize vocabulary, phrases and kanji efficiently. 

This app pairs well with duolingo or drops due to its high customizability. Just add words you learnt into a deck and the app will help you reinforce them into memory by using intervals of repetition. The app determines when to repeat the card again based on how you rate your understanding out of these 4 categories: Easy, Good, Hard, or Again.

Numerous pre-made decks are available for Japanese learners, covering everything from basic vocabulary to advanced kanji. From my own experience and the opinion of professional teachers, this simple app is a great tool to add to your study arsenal. 

Memorization is essential in your learning journey; find Easy Ways to Remember Japanese here, and make your learning simple with Anki.

Memrise

Memrise is an excellent app especially when combined with gamified learning apps like Duolingo and Drops. It offers spaced repetition flashcards to solidify your memory. The app helps learners retain information by combining video clips featuring native speakers, interactive quizzes, and mnemonic devices.

The free version includes access to substantial content, making it a valuable tool for vocabulary building and listening practice.

Language Exchange Apps 

Once you have accumulated enough vocabulary (you actually don’t need too much), you’re ready to take on the next step of learning Japanese: jumping into Japanese conversation. However, you need to find a conversation partner and the good news isーthere are apps and platforms designed to match language exchange partners all for free! 

Hello Talk

HelloTalk is a language exchange app that connects you with native Japanese speakers who want to learn a language from you as well. The app connects you to natives of your target language who want to learn your native language in exchange. You and your partner can text, voice and video to learn and teach each other. The text function even lets your language partner make corrections to texts you wrote.

Tandem

Tandem is another language exchange app that matches you with a partner who wants to learn a language from you while you learn your target language from them. Most of the functions are similar to Hello Talk but Tandem offers a separate tutoring service and each app offers different features for paid subscriptions. 

Online Materials and Resources

There are some wonderful websites and apps that prove to be a very useful resource. They can help you get started on your language journey, provide study materials, and/or be a convenient place of reference when needing some help wrapping your head around confusing aspects of Japanese. These are some of our favorite online materials and resources that are free to use.

Tae Kim’s Guide To Learning Japanese

Tae Kim’s Guide is an extraordinary resource and prides itself for cutting through all the noise to break down the Japanese language to its fundamentals. It argues that most traditional textbooks make decisions behind your back and use the closest English equivalent to make things easier to understand for beginners but ends up leading to more confusion later. 

So, Tae Kim’s Guide uses easy to understand explanations, examples and dialogues to thoroughly ensure you understand how Japanese works inside and out. It’s a very useful resource to frequently refer to when you are stuck and having trouble understanding specific concepts, grammar, etc. in Japanese.

Imabi

Imabi is an extensive resource that offers detailed lessons on Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and writing. The site is well-organized, with lessons categorized by difficulty level as well as specific topics. Imabi is particularly useful for intermediate and advanced learners seeking in-depth explanations and examples. 

Like Tae-Kim’s Guide, Imabi boasts giving users access to resources that are meant to ensure you thoroughly understand the concepts. You can also provide feedback directly to the creator of the site.

Tofugu

Tofugu offers a variety of free resources, including guides on learning hiragana and katakana, comprehensive articles on Japanese culture and language, and tips for effective learning.

Tofugu’s content is well-researched and quite engaging due its humorous presentations, making it a great resource for learners looking for information and entertainment.

Coto’s Blogs

Coto Japanese Academy not only provides a variety of Japanese classes for students of all levels, but we also have tons of free guides, tips, resources, and blog lessons. Our blogs and other free online resources contain detailed explanations and infographics to help you remember and understand Japanese thoroughly. These are meant to aid in your studies as well as be used as stand alone materials to teach you something new.

We also have guides discussing how Anime can actually help you learn Japanese and other amusing topics surrounding Japanese culture, travel and daily life. Explore our catalogue of blogs here. 

Translation Apps

DeepL

Google translate is very convenient and useful but for anyone studying Japanese long enough, you probably noticed it spits out translations that can be rough around the edges. It’s not very good at translating more complicated sentences and even gets single words wrong depending on context. 

So, DeepL fills in that gap by using a more advanced AI designed by linguists to understand the nuances in human language. This allows the app to produce substantially more accurate translations and is more efficient at translating much longer text. 

Chat gpt

Chat gpt is one of the most advanced language learning AI’s ever created making it a very accurate translator that understands linguistic nuance and an incredibly useful tool for learning and studying Japanese. You can get creative and use it for just about anything you need like for double checking things you wrote, as a messaging partner to practice conversation, or for asking questions about certain Japanese concepts. 

The options are seemingly endless, however, keep in mind, Chat gpt is far from perfect and would never replace the human intuition of a native speaker. So, for the best guidance to achieve the most natural and fluent Japanese, online classes with a professional teacher might prove to be the most effective. 

Online Japanese Lessons, Courses, & Study Tools (Paid)

While free resources are a great way to start learning, Paid Japanese courses & study tools are often considered the most efficient way to learn Japanese Online. If you’re serious about improving your conversational skills, grammar, and kanji reading, these top-rated online Japanese lessons, courses, and apps will help you become fluent quicker. 

Online Japanese Classes & Tutors (Live Lessons & Speaking Practice)

Coto Online Japanese Classes – Flexible & Personalized Learning

Coto Academy offers real-time, interactive online Japanese classes, taught by professional native Japanese teachers. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine advanced skills, we offer flexible courses tailored to your learning goals and schedule.

Why Choose Coto Academy’s Online Japanese Classes?

• Comprehensive Course Options: Over 60 courses designed for all proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced.
• Personalized Learning: Choose from private or small-group lessons for a more tailored learning experience.
• Flexible Schedule: Study anytime, anywhere—our teachers are available 24/7 to accommodate your schedule.
• Specialized Tracks: Prepare for the JLPT, focus on business Japanese, or improve your conversational skills with our specialized courses.
• Unique Point System: Mix and match courses based on your interests and goals, creating a fully customized learning path.

“Coto Online helped me improve my Japanese skills quickly and confidently. The flexible courses allowed me to focus on real-world conversations, which made it easier for me to live and work in Japan.”
— Camilo S.

Ready to Take Your Japanese to the Next Level?
Explore our detailed course offerings and find the perfect class for you with our Online Japanese Lessons.

Italki & Preply– Personalized Online Japanese Lessons with Native Tutors

If you’re looking for one-on-one Japanese tutoring with native speakers, both Italki and Preply offer flexible and personalized lessons. These platforms connect you with Japanese tutors, allowing you to book lessons based on your schedule and learning needs. They are excellent choices if you want to focus on conversation practice, grammar, pronunciation, or JLPT preparation.

What do Italki & Preply have in common?

Wide selection of native Japanese tutors to match your learning style

Flexible scheduling – book lessons when it suits you

Affordable pricing – choose a tutor within your budget, but keep in mind that better and more experienced teachers will often be more expensive

Customizable experience – focus on conversation, business Japanese, JLPT prep, and more, just discuss with the teacher

Italki vs. Preply – Which One to Choose?

Italki includes a free language exchange feature, letting you practice with partners in addition to professional tutors. This makes it great if you want structured lessons combined with casual language practice.

Preply is more focused on structured lessons with tutors, making it a better choice if you want a more guided learning approach rather than casual conversation.

Pricing and flexibility: Italki allows one-off lessons or package purchases, while Preply operates on a subscription model, meaning you must use all your lesson credits within a set time or lose them. 

Group Lessons: If you prefer group learning, Italki offers this option, while Preply is strictly one-on-one.

Online Japanese Courses (Self-Paced & Interactive Learning)

If you’re looking at how to learn Japanese at your own pace, there are several excellent options available online. Whether you prefer structured lessons, interactive content, or audio-based learning, these platforms allow you to study whenever and wherever suits you. Below are some of the best online courses for learning Japanese at your convenience.

JapanesePod101 – Online Audio & Video Lessons 

JapanesePod101 offers a mix of audio and video lessons designed to improve your Japanese listening, speaking, and conversation skills. They offer some lessons for free, to get you started, but if you’re committed to learning Japanese, you might get more out of their premium subscription.  

Pimsleur Japanese – Learn Japanese Online through Audio-Based Lessons

Pimsleur Japanese focuses on audio-based learning, which is perfect for those looking to improve their Japanese speaking and listening skills. With interactive audio lessons, you can practice pronunciation and vocabulary at your own pace. Free trials are available to test out their proven method before committing.

Udemy – Learn Japanese with Structured Online Courses

Udemy offers affordable online Japanese language courses for beginners and advanced learners. This platforms allow you to learn Japanese online at your own pace. Udemy is known for its flexibility and offers one-time purchases for courses, meaning you have lifetime access to the materials after purchase.

Best Paid Japanese Resources and Study Aides

These tools are designed to help you improve different aspects of Japanese learning, from kanji memorization to grammar and reading comprehension. Depending on your goals, some of these will be more useful than others.

Wanikani – Kanji & Vocabulary

WaniKani helps you learn kanji with an easy-to-follow method. It uses a smart system that helps you remember characters over time by showing them to you at the right moments.

This is a good option for anyone who wants to learn kanji quickly (and remember it).

BunPro – Japanese Grammar Made Simple

BunPro is an online grammar study tool designed for JLPT preparation. It provides step-by-step explanations, example sentences, and quizzes to reinforce learning. Great for those who want structured grammar practice.

LingQ – Reading & Listening with Native Japanese Content

LingQ provides real-world Japanese content, like news articles, podcasts, and YouTube videos. A great way to practice listening and reading using natural Japanese. 

Satori Reader – Guided Reading for Japanese Learners

Satori Reader offers Japanese stories for different levels of fluency, with interactive translations and grammar explanations. It helps learners improve reading fluency while understanding natural Japanese sentence structures in context.

Learn Japanese Online by Watching and Listening (Immersion)

Watching and listening to native content is one of the best ways to improve your understanding of a language. This is also true when it comes to learning Japanese. Whether you prefer YouTube videos, Podcasts, or Japanese TV shows, here’s a list of some good options to get you started on your Japanese learning journey. 

Best YouTube Channels to Learn Japanese Online

These YouTube channel recommendations provide structured lessons, grammar explanations, and real-world Japanese conversations to help you learn Japanese online effectively.

Learn Japanese – Coto Japanese Academy

Professional lessons by native teachers, covering everything from grammar and JLPT prep to conversational Japanese. Almost all of the videos are in Japanese, but there are subtitles available if you’re not that advanced yet.

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101

Comprehensive lessons for all levels, including grammar, vocabulary, listening practice, and JLPT prep. 

Japanese Ammo with Misa 

Clear and detailed grammar explanations with natural examples. Good for learners who want to improve their understanding of Japanese sentence structure.

Nihongo no Mori

Focussed on JLPT preparation, particularly N3-N1, with in-depth grammar explanations and practical exercises.

That Japanese Man Yuta

Cultural insights and real-life conversations and interviews with native speakers providing learners with an authentic view of Japanese as it’s spoken daily.

Dogen

Focuses on Japanese pronunciation and intonation, with a humorous and educational approach to mastering natural-sounding Japanese.

Comprehensible Japanese

Uses simple Japanese stories and explanations to help you understand basic Japanese clearly and approachably.

Speak Japanese naturally

Offers real-life, casual conversations in vlog style.

If these are not quite what you’re looking for, please look at our earlier blog about YouTube channels for more inspiration, here.

Best Podcasts for Learning Japanese

One way to make it even easier to incorporate Japanese Learning into your daily routine is by listening to podcasts. Perfect for when you’re going to work or simply just can’t keep looking at your screen. Here’s some suggestions for podcasts that might help you to learn Japanese online while you’re on the go.

Coto Radio (by Coto Japanese Academy)

A fully Japanese podcast for foreigners covering cultural topics, daily life in Japan, and language explanations. Episodes are often in an interview or conversation style. A good mix of learning practice and cultural learning. 

Many popular YouTube channels offer podcast versions of their content. If you already have a YouTube channel that you like, check to see if they have a podcast! Some of the ‘YouTube’ creators that we mentioned above, JapanesePod101 and Japanese Ammo with Misa, also have podcast versions where they cover similar content but adapted for listening only. Some other notable mentions include:

Nihongo Con Teppei

Teppei speaks slowly and clearly, helping beginners and intermediate learners build a solid foundation in everyday Japanese

Learn Japanese with Masa sensei

A structured learning podcast that explains grammar, expressions, and useful phrases in an easy-to-follow way. 

Let’s Learn Japanese from Small Talk

Casual, unscripted conversations between native speakers help learners get used to spoken Japanese in real life. 

Bilingual News

A bilingual duo that has conversations about recent news articles in both Japanese and English, offering a mix of language exposure and updates on current events around the world. 

Learn Japanese Online through T.V. Shows, Movies, And Music

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to improve your Japanese, watching TV shows and movies and listening to Japanese music are a great addition to your study routine. While it’s not the fastest or most effective method on its own, it can still help with understanding the language. It is best to include this in addition to other ways of learning. Please be careful when learning from anime. While it’s a good tool for listening practice, much of the language used in anime is exaggerated and often seen as extreme or simply rude in actual conversations. But overall, you can still learn a lot from any medium you use. 

Pro tip: Use a subtitle/learning plugin like Language Reactor (formerly known as: Language Learning with Netflix) while watching for a better understanding and to enhance your learning experience.

How To Make The Most Of Learning Japanese Online

Using Both Free Resources And Online Japanese Classes 

Using online classes in conjunction with the plethora of online resources, apps, and games out there is a great way to expedite your Japanese learning. Especially when starting out, it can feel like a steep learning curve, so real teachers are trained to help you set realistic targets to reach for effective progress. Plus, most apps and online resources have already done the same thing, but a teacher may help you navigate where to go first, depending on your goals. 

For instance, by going to online classes a teacher may point out that you are having trouble with particles which is an area you can focus on when referring to online resources or using an app like Duolingo or Anki. By the way if you are having trouble with particles, check out our blog: Japanese Particles Explained.

Free resources and online classes are an excellent way to learn Japanese since you are exposing yourself to the language more and more often. But there are proven methods that really solidify your language learning abilities.

Shadowing and Immersion Methods

Learning Japanese online offers limitless opportunities, but optimizing your approach can make all the difference. By combining structured apps, interactive websites, and engaging media like anime and TV shows, you can create a well-rounded learning experience.

Use the Immersion Method Effectively

To accelerate fluency, surround yourself with Japanese as much as possible. Change your phone’s language settings, follow Japanese social media accounts, and listen to native speakers daily. Passive exposure helps reinforce vocabulary and natural sentence structures.

Master Pronunciation with the Shadowing Technique

Shadowing—repeating sentences immediately after native speakers—improves pronunciation, rhythm, and listening skills. Practice with podcasts, dramas, and YouTube videos, mimicking speech patterns and intonations.

Stay Consistent and Engaged

The key to mastering Japanese online is consistency. Set daily goals, use a mix of learning tools, and make studying enjoyable. By integrating immersion and shadowing into your routine, you’ll transform passive exposure into active learning, bringing you closer to fluency.

In Conclusion

Learning a language doesn’t require going to a physical classroom (although that setting can help), and there are countless resources you can use online. There are plenty of beginner-friendly guides or apps you can use to start, and there are communities out there that genuinely want to help. 

If you want to start learning online today, the best place to start is by consulting a professional teacher who can help you set your goals and recommend online resources that are best for you. 

Whether you are interested in online classes or if you are in/planning to go to Japan already, check out our course catalogue or fill out the form below!

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