Want to learn Japanese hiragana? In this blog, we share our own PDF learning Hiragana practice sheets and links to some popular apps for learning Japanese. Just started learning Japanese? Head to our main article about the Japanese writing system for a more comprehensive guide!
Apps for Learning Hiragana
If you are just getting started with learning Hiragana, you may think that it is easier to learn with an App.
Apps are convenient and easy to take with you to practice using while you are out and about. However, we also suggest that you take some time to physically write the characters, as it will cement them in your brain.
That being said, we recommend several apps for being fun and easy to use.
Dr. Moku’s Hiragana and Katakana Mnemonics are 2 separate apps. One for Hiragana and one for Katakana. In each app, they associate all the kana with pictures, making it easy for you to remember them.
It also uses mnemonic hacks (tying each character to a visual story-based meaning) rather than just rote memorization.
Mindsnacks has a visually appealing interface, and the limited free version allows you to practice learning Hiragana and Katakana characters.
It is the closest thing to a learning video game that we have found.
Hiragana Learning Chart – Writing Practice PDFs
If you are looking for a more analog way to practice and learn hiragana – we have included a sample of a few of the practice homework sheets from our Japanese Crash Course below:
Open the image in a new tab by clicking on it- you can print it!
How to use the homework sheets:
Use the hiragana chart here to locate the correct symbol. (Right-click to save as – or left-click to open)
Hiragana Practice Chart
Draw a line to the corresponding character and connect them.
Learning Hiragana: Online Quiz
Ready to test your knowledge of Katakana and Hiragana? Below, we have included our online quiz, allowing you to interactively test your knowledge.
Input your answer – after the quiz, you will be given your full score.
Hiragana is a fundamental script in Japanese, used for writing sentences, grammatical particles (like は, が, を), and parts of words. It is also used for words that don’t have kanji or for furigana (small hiragana above kanji to show pronunciation).
How many Hiragana characters are there?
There are 46 basic Hiragana characters. Some characters can change their sounds when small marks (゛or ゜) are added, like か (ka) → が (ga) or は (ha) → ぱ (pa).
What’s the easiest way to learn Hiragana?
The best ways to learn Hiragana are:
Learn mnemonics (e.g., し (shi) looks like a smiling face)
Practice writing daily
Use flashcards to memorize characters
Listen to Hiragana songs or use learning apps
What’s the difference between Hiragana and Katakana?
Hiragana is mainly used for native Japanese words and grammar, while Katakana is used for foreign words (like “coffee” → コーヒー), onomatopoeia, and emphasis.
Can I write everything in Hiragana?
Yes, but it’s not ideal. Japanese writing combines Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, so writing everything in Hiragana can be hard to read and understand.
Hiragana, katakana, and kanji make up the Japanese writing system. When you start learning Japanese, figuring out how to read and write can feel overwhelming; after all, Japanese is completely different from the Roman alphabet! You then learn that there are three different writing systems used all at once. How is that even possible? Not to worry – these systems are simpler than you might expect! Each one has unique, defining characteristics and uses; once you learn more about these, reading and writing Japanese will be a breeze!
We’ve covered smaller articles for each Japanese writing system. Don’t forget to check out our downloadable hiragana chart and quiz for a more detailed guide and resource recommendation.
Origins of the Japanese Alphabet
Do you know about the history and the origin of hiragana and katakana? Originally, the Japanese ancestors did not have a writing system. Around the fifth century, they started using kanji, ideograms that were adopted from China and Korea. They only used the phonetic reading of the kanji, regardless of their meaning. At that time, the ideograms were called manyogana (万葉仮名).
However, kanji’s characters are composed of many strokes. They take longer to write, as you have noticed by now! Due to their difficulty, those ideograms were slowly simplified into kana alphabets, namely hiragana and katakana. They are called syllabograms, as each character corresponds to one sound in the Japanese language. According to historians, the change was initiated by Buddhist priests who thought kanji could not accurately represent the Japanese language and that a phonetic alphabet would be better.
Examples of Change
On the left is the manyogana, and on the right are simplified hiragana and katakana forms.
安 →あ 阿 → ア (a)
以 →い 伊 → イ(i)
宇 →う、ウ(u)
衣 →え 江 → エ(e)
於 →お、オ(o)
This change is thought to have occurred between the eighth and ninth centuries. Hiragana can be considered a simplified calligraphy form of the kanji’s strokes. On the other hand, katakana is taken from a single element of a kanji. In some cases, the Hiragana and Katakana are created from different ideograms.
Some hiragana and Katakana express the same sound and have similar shapes, such as り and リ. However, some can be dissimilar, such as あ and ア. Hiragana is said to be cursive, while katakana is more angular. Do take note that one sound can have more than one hiragana. In 1900, the two kana scripts, hiragana and katakana, were codified. This led to the clear establishment of rules for the Japanese system in 1946.
Japanese Writing System #1: Hiragana
Whenever you just start out learning Japanese, hiragana is usually the first writing system you learn. Hiragana is technically a syllabary or a way of writing where symbols represent whole syllables (such as “ba” and “to”) instead of individual sounds (such as “b” or “t”)5. This is because all Japanese words are made up of these small syllables, so there’s no need to write out individual sounds!
In Japanese, there are 46 basic syllables:
The basic vowels: a, i, u, e, o.
The k-line: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko.
The s-line: sa, shi, su, se, so. (Notice that the “si” sound is instead replaced by “shi.”)
The t-line: ta, chi, tsu, te, to. (Notice that the “ti” and “tu” sounds are instead pronounced closer to “chi” and “tsu.”)
The n-line: na, ni, nu, ne, no.
The h-line: ha, hi, fu, he, ho. (Notice that the “hu” sound is actually said as “fu.”)
The m-line: ma, mi, mu, me, mo.
The y-line: ya, yu, yo.
The r-line: ra, ri, ru, re, ro.
Wa, o/wo, and n. (These sounds are unique, so they are generally placed together. The “o/wo” symbol can be pronounced either way and “n” is considered a whole syllable in Japanese.)
There are also 23 additional syllables in Japanese; these are formed with additional marks that we’ll cover in a minute.
The g-line: ga, gi, gu, ge, go.
the z-line: za, ji, zu, ze, zo. (Notice that “ji” is used instead of “zi.”)
The d-line: da, ji, zu, de, do. (“ji” and “zu” are pronounced the same way as in the z-line but have different uses.)
The b-line: ba, be, bu, be, bo.
the p-line: pa, pi, pu, pe, po.
Writing Hiragana
So, now that we’ve covered the basic sounds, let’s see how these syllables are written down in hiragana:
Hiragana is generally round in shape, with lots of curves and bends. This characteristic is a key way to tell what symbols are hiragana! You can also combine a consonant with a / ya / yu / yo / sound by attaching a small 「や」、「ゆ」、or 「よ」 to the / i / vowel character of each consonant.
Now, let’s take a look at those 23 additional sounds:
the g-line: が(ga), ぎ(gi), ぐ(gu), げ(ge), ご(go).
the z-line: ざ(za), じ(ji), ず(zu), ぜ(ze), ぞ(zo).
the d-line: だ(da), ぢ(ji), づ(zu), で(de), ど(do).
the b-line: ば(ba), べ(be), ぶ(bu), べ(be), ぼ(bo).
the p-line: ぱ(pa), ぴ(pi), ぷ(pu), ぺ(pe), ぽ(po).
Did you notice something about the above sounds? The hiragana for the g-line is identical to the k-line, and the same goes for the z-line and s-line, the t-line and the d-line, the h-line and the b- and p-lines! The only difference is the addition of diacritical marks; these marks go to the upper right of the hiragana and can be either two short diagonal marks (called a dakuten) or a small circle (called the handakuten). This is pretty nice, as you don’t have to memorize even more symbols!
There are also contracted sounds in Japanese. These sounds are basically combinations of sounds ending in “-i” and the y-line and are considered one syllable as well. All you have to do for these is add a small y-line hiragana after the main hiragana! (Notice that not all of these syllables keep the “y” sound.)
the k-line: きゃ(kya), きゅ(kyu), きょ(kyo)
the s-line: しゃ(sha), しゅ(shu), しょ (sho)
the t-line: ちゃ(cha), ちゅ(chu), ちょ(cho)
the n-line: にゃ(nya), にゅ(nyu), にょ(nyo)
the h-line: ひゃ(hya), ひゅ(hyu), ひょ(hyo)
the m-line: みゃ(mya), みゅ(my) みょ(myo)
the r-line: りゃ(rya), りゅ(ryu), りょ(ryo)
the g-line: ぎゃ(gya), ぎゅ(gyu), ぎょ(gyo)
the z-line: じゃ(ja), じゅ(ju), じょ(jo)
the b-line: びゃ(bya), びゅ(byu), びょ(byo)
the p-line: ぴゃ(pya), ぴゅ(pyu), ぴょ(pyo)
So, that is the basics of how hiragana is written. However, there are also doubleconsonants and long vowels, which are written with variations in hiragana (and katakana). We recommend checking out our full-length article about double consonants and long vowels to learn more about those!
How to Use Hiragana
Hiragana can be used for many things; it’s like the all-rounder of writing Japanese, and it represents all the syllables of the Japanese language! Hiragana is used when writing verb endings, particles, grammar words (such as conjunctions), and many native Japanese words, as well as for words that do not have a corresponding kanji character. Hiragana is also used in furigana; this is when hiragana is written in a small font above kanji for those who don’t know the kanji’s reading.
Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Hiragana
In Japanese hiragana, double consonants are represented by adding a small “tsu” character (っ) before the consonant that is doubled. For example, the word “katta” (勝った), meaning “won”, would be written as かった, with a small “tsu” between the two “t” characters.
Long vowels in hiragana are done by extending a consonant or vowel with another vowel, depending on the vowel in accordance with the following chart.
For example, the word “ookii” (大きい), meaning “big”, would be written as おおきい.
Vowel Sound
Extended by
Example
a
あ
おばあさん
i, e
い
おおきい、きれい
u, o
う
こうこう、くうき
Example
Let’s start off with a simple sentence – “My pet’s name is Bob.” (What a funny name for a pet!) In Hiragana, this looks like this:
わたしの ぺっと の なまえ は ぼぶ です。 Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.
So, we can write a whole Japanese sentence just using hiragana! This is how most people (including native speakers) start off reading and writing Japanese. Of course, as you learn about katakana and kanji, some of these words will be replaced. However, you will see that the particles (の [no] and は [wa]) and the native verb です(desu) will remain the same, as these are some of the things that specifically use hiragana!
1. There are no spaces in the Japanese writing system
Japanese is written with no spaces, so a combination of hiragana, kanji, and katakana helps distinguish words within a sentence. As you improve your Japanese writing and reading skills, you’ll start to feel that reading kanji is often easier than reading a sentence that consists solely of hiragana.
2. Be careful of hiragana characters that sound and look similar
Pay more attention when pronouncing “tsu” and “su”. Beginner-level students also have a hard time discerning ro (ろ), re (れ), ru (る) — and nu (ぬ) and me (め) because they look similar.
3. Correct stroke order and direction are important
Writing hiragana with the correct stroke order and direction will help you intuitively know how to write new characters, and it has a big effect on how readable it ends up looking.
Japanese Writing System #2: Katakana
After hiragana, it’s a good idea to learn katakana next; katakana works the exact same way that hiragana does, just using different characters; some katakana symbols even look similar to their hiragana counterparts! In fact, hiragana and katakana are often collectively referred to as kana, since they are so similar!
Writing Katakana
the basic vowels
ア(a), イ(i), ウ(u), エ(e), オ(o)
the k-line
カ (ka), キ(ki), ク(ku), ケ(ke), コ(ko)
the s-line
サ(sa), シ(shi), ス(su), セ(se), ソ(so)
the t-line
タ(ta), チ(chi),ツ(tsu), テ(te), ト(to)
the h-line
ハ(ha), ヒ(hi), フ(fu), へ(he), ホ(ho)
the n-line
ナ(na), ニ(ni), ヌ(nu), ネ(ne), ノ(no)
the m-line
マ(ma), ミ(mi), ム(mu), メ(me), モ(mo)
the y-line
ヤ(ya), ユ(yu), ヨ(yo)
the r-line
ラ(ra), リ(ri), ル(ru), レ(re), ロ(ro).
ワ(wa), ヲ(o/wo), and ン(n).
Now, let’s take a look at those 23 additional sounds:
the g-line: ガ(ga), ギ(gi), グ(gu), ゲ(ge), ゴ(go).
the z-line: ザ(za), ジ(ji), ズ(zu), ゼ(ze), ゾ(zo).
the d-line: ダ(da), ヂ(ji), ヅ(zu), デ(de), ド(do).
the b-line: バ(ba), ビ(bi), ブ(bu), べ(be), ボ(bo).
the p-line: パ(pa), ピ(pi), プ(pu), ぺ(pe), ポ(po).
The contracted sounds are also formed in the same way as in hiragana. However, katakana has additional combinations with small vowel letters to transcribe foreign sounds that did not originally exist in Japanese.These are generally easy to pronounce, as you simply combine the consonant of the main katakana symbol with the vowel of the smaller one.
Examples of this include the フェ (fe) in カフェ (kafe), the ティ (ti) in パーティー (paatii), and the ウィ (wi) in ハロウィーン (harowiin)!
You can see that katakana is simpler and has more straight lines than hiragana; this is one major way to tell them apart!
If you want to learn more about katakana, check out our article below and get a free, downloadable PDF of our chart!
Another way to tell them apart is by their usage. Katakana is used for foreign loanwords or words from different languages. ハンバーガー (hanbaagaa, hamburger) and アルバイト (arubaito, part-time job) are examples of Japanese words taken from English and German, respectively. Many non-Japanese names are spelled using katakana as well!
Katakana is also often used for onomatopoeic words, which are words that imitate sounds, such as “pikapika” (sparkling), “gacha” (clacking sound), or “wanwan” (dog’s bark).
Katakana can also be used to emphasize words, similar to how words might be italicized or bolded in English. You can usually see this more in signs or advertisements, like メガネ, megane (glasses) or ラーメン (raamen, glasses).
Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Katakana
Long vowels in katakana are so much simpler than hiragana. All long vowel sounds are denoted by a simple dash: ー.
For example, the word “アート” (aato), meaning “art”, has a long “a” sound represented by the horizontal line over the “a” character.
Double consonants in Katakana are represented using a small “tsu” character (ッ) just like in Hiragana. For example, the word “バッグ” (baggu), meaning “bag”, has a double “g” sound represented by the small “tsu” character.
Example of Katakana
Remember the pet with the funny name? Let’s take another look at that sentence, this time adding in katakana – try to guess where the katakana will be!
わたしのペットのなまえは ボブ です。 Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.
Did you guess petto and bobu? Both of these words are English loanwords and names, so they would be written in katakana. Including katakana when writing Japanese is also a great way to make the words easier to distinguish from each other; writing in all hiragana could make it hard to tell words apart, since Japanese doesn’t normally use spaces!
Difference between Hiragana and Katakana
Why are there 2 syllabic Japanese scripts? In the event that the difference is stylistic, you will learn that hiragana is used to write native Japanese words. Those words will have no kanji representation, and the ideogram will be too ancient or too difficult to write. This kana script is also the one used to write grammatical elements such as particles: を (wo)、に (ni)、へ (he;e)、が (ga)、は (ha).
On the contrary, the Japanese use katakana to write words of foreign origin and foreign names. If you like to read manga in Japanese, you will certainly notice that katakana is also used to represent onomatopoeia and emphasis.
Have you heard of the word “furigana”? Furigana are hiragana and katakana characters written in small forms above kanji in order to show the pronunciation. Furigana is used in kids’ books and Japanese language textbooks for learners, in order to teach the reading of unknown kanji.
Japanese Writing System #3: Kanji
Kanji is usually the last system to be learned, even for native Japanese speakers! Kanji are Chinese characters and were Japan’s first writing system. They were first introduced to Japan over 1,500 years ago; hiragana and katakana actually evolved from these symbols!
Kanji are complex characters that represent words or ideas, and they form the backbone of the Japanese writing system. In fact, it is estimated that there are over 50,000 kanji characters, although only a fraction of those are commonly used.
Reading Kanji
Kanji is different from hiragana and katakana in that there are multiple ways to pronounce a single character. This is because there is a Chinese way to read a character (called the on-yomi) and a Japanese way (the kun-yomi). The on-yomi was the original way, but when kanji started to be used to write native Japanese words, new pronunciations were added1. So, if you see a character pronounced one way in one word but differently in another, this is why!
Writing Kanji
Radicals
All kanji are made up of one or more radicals. A radical is simply a small symbol that, either by itself or when combined with other symbols, makes up a complete kanji character. Take, for instance, the radical 一. By itself, this is the complete kanji for ichi (one). But, it can be added with the radical亅to form the kanji 丁! There are 214 total radicals used in 13 different positions when forming kanji, though some radicals and positions are used more frequently than others. If you think of all kanji as being made up of these smaller radicals, then they will be easier to learn!
There are roughly four main types of kanji, based on how and why the radicals are arranged1:
1. Pictograms
These kanji originally came from pictures, simply drawing the object itself to represent it in writing1. It’s like writing “😊” to represent “smiley face” – just like emojis today! Take a look at 山 (yama, mountain) for example; doesn’t the character 山 remind you of how a mountain looks, with a pointy peak at the top?
2. Simple Ideograms
These kanji originally used lines and dots to “represent numbers or abstract concepts.1” So, instead of drawing an object, you would try to visually represent the idea you wanted to convey. Take “up” and “down” for instance; drawing a dot above a line could represent “up” while a dot below a line would signify “down.” This is where 上 (ue, up) and 下 (shita, down) came from1!
3. Compound Ideograms
Basically, these are kanji formed by combining two or more simpler kanji1. The kanji used in 休む (yasumu, to rest), for example, is a combination of 人 (hito, person [often written as ⺅ when used as a radical]) and 木 (ki, tree)1. A lot of the time, the two simpler kanji are chosen because of their connection to the resulting character. For 休, a person leaning against a tree would be resting – which is why 人 and 木 were chosen to form this character!
4. Phonetic-ideographic Characters
These kanji are usually found when a character’s original on-yomi sounded like a native Japanese word, but the kanji associated with the sound didn’t represent the word’s meaning. So, to remedy this, those in the past added an additional kanji to clarify the meaning. In other words, these kanji are formed by combining one kanji that has the word’s pronunciation and another kanji that represents the word’s meaning. One example of this is the character for sei (clean). Water is generally associated with cleaning, so the kanji for water 水 (mizu, often written as ⺡) is added to the kanji 青 (sei, blue) to get 清 sei (clean).
As you can see, kanji are definitely more complex than hiragana or katakana, but don’t worry – there are plenty of simple kanji too! Plus, knowing the radicals and kanji types will help to make learning and remembering kanji easier. Knowing the stroke order, or the steps in which each character is written, can help make memorization easier too; check out this site to look up any kanji and see its stroke order (and other helpful information)!
Uses
Kanji is used for nouns, verb stems, and adjectives. So, kanji are used for most major words that you will encounter in everyday Japanese! While hiragana and katakana are crucial, you also can’t rely on just those when reading and writing; you have to learn kanji as well!
Example
Let’s take one last look at Bob, this time reading the sentence as it would be written in everyday Japanese:
私のペットの名前はボブです。 Watashi no petto no namae wa bobu desu.
Well, using kanji certainly makes the Japanese sentence shorter! In this case, the pronoun watashi (I) and the noun namae (name) use kanji. If there was a different verb in this sentence (like “look” or “ate”), then there would most likely be kanji there as well. Finally, using these new symbols makes the sentence even easier to read, as they are visually quite different than hiragana or katakana!
While all of this might seem overwhelming at first, it’s nothing you can’t handle with a little practice! Simply writing the kanji out is a great way to see how the radicals work together and to memorize their combinations; but, if you’re looking for something a little bit more high-tech, there are also some kanji apps we recommend you can use to practice as well!
Conclusion
Well, we certainly covered a lot of ground today! Let’s review everything to make sure you remember what we learned.
Japanese has three types of writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana is curvy, represents small syllables, and is used for grammatical information, particles, and native Japanese words! Katakana is straight, also represents small syllables, and is used for loanwords from other languages. Kanji are complex characters made up of radicals, represent a concept, a sound, or a mixture of the two, and are used for nouns, verb stems, and adjectives.
And those are the main points! Not so bad, right? You are now ready to start reading and writing Japanese like a pro! If you feel like you need more help, though, feel free to reach out to us or join one of our many Japanese language classes here!
FAQ
What is the Japanese writing system?
The Japanese writing system uses Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji scripts.
What does Hiragana represents?
Hiragana represents native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb endings.
What does Katakana represents?
Katakana represents foreign words, loanwords, onomatopoeic words, and emphasis.
How many characters are there in hiragana and katakana?
There are 46 characters in each of the Hiragana and Katakana scripts.
What is the closet thing to English chracters?
There is no such thing as the Japanese alphabet, but the closest things would be called hiragana and katakana.
How many kanji I should learn?
To be considered fluent in Japanese, you must learn from 1500 to 2500 kanji characters.
Alphabet is the foundation of English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who want to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words.
Because of this, having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Today’s Japanese Hiragana: Wa (わ）
Wa (わ) consists of the consonant “w” and the Japanese vowel “a”. Pronouncing the wa sound is pretty easy, too — you purse your lips and open your mouth when you make the sound. As the last kana or Japanese alphabet on every hiragana chart, wa (わ) is often associated with a word on a brighter note: warai (わらい), meaning laughter.
There’s a Japanese proverb that goes warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru (笑う門には福来る), and who can say no to that? The phrase means “good fortune and happiness will come to those who smile.”
And who shouldn’t live by the statement? In Japan, owarai (お笑い） is a broad term used to describe Japanese comedy. They can be seen on televisions and, just recently, YouTube, but owarai is a deep-seeded representation of Japanese culture. You’ll find that a lot of Japanese comedy can be traced from thousands of years ago, passed from one generation. There are three styles of owarai that perfectly captures the essence of Japan.
Manzai was once a traditional art of storytelling with roots that stemmed from the Heian period. Believed to have its beginnings from the song and dance performances, manzai perfomers would tour around courts, shrines and temples in celebration of the newyear. Manzai was reintroduced in Osaka by Yoshimoto Kogyo, and has since structured modern Japanese comedies.
Today, manzai is generally performed by two comedians, who play the roles of boke (ボケ) and tsukkomi (ツッコミ). Another characteristic is that the pair tend to match their outfits with each other. Boke, otherwise known as the funny man, delivers funny (and otherwise stupid) lines. They’re forgetful and airheaded, and it’s precisely their silly mistakes that stresses their partner, tsukkomi. Tsukkomi will usually hit the boke’s head or chest in retaliation.
Conte
Originating from the French word, “conte,” refers to funny skits. In Japanese, the word is written as konto (コント). It’s a type of manzai performance that focuses on storytelling, so it’s not uncommon to find a conte incorporating props and elaborate stage settings. In recent years, you can find a lot of rapid-fire short conte, which only goes less than 30 seconds.
Rakugo
Rakugo is a type of traditional Japanese storytelling that has been handed down since the early modern era. Performers sit on a zabuton cushino, centered on a stage, and let their bodies narrate the story. Interestingly enough, rops, costumes and music are abandoned in favors of fans and tenugui (thin cotton towels). A rakugo performer will adopt various gaze, postures and demeanors to play multiple roles. It is through the performer’s skill and sublime imagination that we can see a world unfurled and understand a deeper meaning in the art of Rakugo.
Pop Quiz
Here’s a question: In 2015, a certain manzai duo debuted and shocked the world. Who was the partner of a male named Kaneko from Tokyo?
The answer might be mind-boggling to some. Believe it or not, a robot named Pepper debuted as part of a duo called “Peppers”. They were able to successfully get past the first round of “M-1,” the most famous manzai contest in Japan. Kaneko went as far as to create a background for Pepper: a part-time worker born in Tokyo in December 1990.
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Studying Japanese doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re starting out or looking to boost your career in Japan, with the right guidance and structured practice, becoming confident in Japanese is easier than you think.
Looking to boost your Japanese skill? Join intensive, part-time or onlineJapanese courses at Coto Academy. Start your journey today with lessons to help you reach your goals faster!
Alphabet is the foundation of the English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words. Today, we’ll be learning about the Japanese hiragana ro and rotenburo.
Because of this, having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
The hiragana characters for the ‘R’ family have one of the most simple strokes — most of them are less than one stroke and, at the very most, two. There’s the ra, ri, ru, re, ro (ら、り、る、れ、ろ). The character for ro is is similar to ru (る). The only difference is that there is no tail that curls inward. Remember to follow the stroke order and practice writing them as it is a great way to help you master hiragana in a short time. Be careful not to get ro and ru mixed up.
Learn a Japanese word from Ro (ろ): Rotenburo (ろてんぶろ)
What is a Rotenburo?
A rotenburo is an open-air hot-spring bath. “Ro” (露) means is exposed without walls or fences. “Ten” (天) means the sky, while “furo” (風呂) is, well, a bath in Japanese. Rotenburo is the second most common Japanese bath, right next to onsen.
Have you ever bathed in a rotenburo?
These days, rontenburo can be found on the rooftops of business hotels and in super sento bath houses even in Tokyo. The scenery can be breathtaking. Soaking your body into warm, mineral-rich hot water while getting the full view of gleaming city skyline is an experience a lot of people dream of. But while city rotenburo are just fine, without a doubt, rotenburo that offer natural views of the mountains or ocean is on another level.
Author’s experience
There are a lot of impressive rotenburo. One of the greatest that I’ve visited so far was at an inn in Tobira Onsen spa in Nagano Prefectre. The surrounding was so white it was like stepping into a magical world. I felt like I was in some hazy dream.
Another one I’d like to mention was a rotenburo at an old inn in Ojiro Onsen spa town in Shizuoka Prefecture. The rotenburo was really close to the ocean — or more precisely, it sat on top of the ocean. The hot water would overflow from the bath to the sea water. It was as if I was bathing in the vast open sea instead of a small hot tub.
Japan’s Onsen Culture and History
By the way, wouldn’t you agree that the Japanese are unmatched their love of hot baths or onsen? Japan has about 100 active volcanoes, and this is why the country has lots of hot springs. Apparently, there are about 3,000 hot springs scattered throughout all 47 prefectures. There are also theories that say that Japan’s bathing culture started as much as 6,000 years ago, with rotenburo being one of the main predecessors. We can wonder if the Japanese who lived thousands of years ago had the same kinds of feelings about bathing in rotenburo as we do now.
Japan’s bathing culture continued on for centuries since then. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the city of Edo (or present-day Tokyo) had lots of public bathhouses (these were not rotenburo, but baths inside buildings). Not many of the houses in Edo had a bath, so lots of people would go to the bathhouse. Japanese bathouses turn into something. Not just a place for, well, taking baths, it becomes a spot for townspeople to get together and foster a sense of community.
These days, small bathhouses are disappearing from towns and cities. On the other hand, facilities such as super sento are visited by lots of people, from children to old folks. They enjoy a variety of bathing styles.
About this week’s blog author:
Shigemi Matsumoto was a junior high school Japanese teacher for 23 years before joining Coto Language Academy. He is an experienced Japanese language teacher. He currently teaches Coto’s Intensive Courses (intermediate and advanced), Business Courses and Part-time N1 grammar and reading classes. He is also involved in developing teaching materials at Coto Academy. (more…)
Alphabet is the foundation of the English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words. Today, we’ll be learning about the Japanese hiragana ru and routine (stylized as ru-tin in katakana).
Having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
The hiragana characters for the ‘R’ family have one of the most simple strokes — most of them are less than one stroke and, at the very most, two. There’s the ra, ri, ru, re, ro (ら、り、る、れ、ろ). The character for ru is similar to ro(ろ). The only difference is that there is no tail that curls inward. Remember to follow the stroke order and practice writing them as it is a great way to help you master hiragana in a short time. Be careful not to get ro and ru mixed up.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Learn a Japanese word from Ru (る) Routine (ルーティン)
The Japanese word for ルーティン is a loan word from the English word routine, and it has the same meaning. While it might not be a Japanese hiragana, the word routine is still interesting and evokes several opinions. Some food for thought: Do you have a fixed daily routine?
Japanese definition of routine
Routines are used to refer to “a fixed task every time.” People might have the impression that having a routine means having a boring life.
However, ever since a few years ago, it has been used more often to refer to a series of motions that an athlete goes through before an important match. At crucial moments, they go through some fixed motions to stabilize their mental state, strengthen their muscles and heighten their focus.
Routine of a Japanese language teacher
In my opinion, routines produce results. I eat natto and eggs for breakfast, drink coffee when I reach my workplace and stretch before sleeping. It helps me stay grounded in life, and once I get used to it, I don’t think of doing them consciously. It becomes a rhythm that I look forward to at the beginning and end of the day.
Examples of Japananese routine
As for Japanese people, you can look at our star example Ichiro Suzuki — the baseball athlete, national treasure, and first MLB player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Ichiro works out at least four times a day and uses eight high-tech sports machines. By consciously doing the same motions that you usually do, you will be able to show off your true abilities without succumbing to the pressure in situations that make you nervous.
There are likely many athletes who stick to a fixed routine not just in crucial moments, but for their daily schedules as well. From the meals they eat and the clothes they wear, small, mundane practices help nurture their mental health.
You don’t need to be an athlete to develop your own life routine. You can start by thinking about the best Japanese study routine. Maybe brew a cup of coffee before settling in on your desk? Maybe draw a fixed schedule?
I know a few people who have succeeded in making studying a habit. One person comes to our Coto class and revises one hour before class. Another person uses an app to learn new words for 15 minutes every morning. One person listens to Japanese podcasts on the train on the way to work. After three months, these routines will become a small form of self-confidence.
About this week’s blog author:
Yumi Yoshida is one of our great Coto Japanese language teachers who’s from Tohoku. She has 16 years of experience working as a Japanese teacher. In her free time, Yumi loves to hike, travel and drink Japanese sake. She thinks the best way to learn Japanese is to engage in fun and friendly conversations in Japanese.
Alphabet is the foundation of the English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words. Today, we’ll be learning about the Japanese hiragana ra and ramen.
Having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
Want to get a fuller view of the hiragana chart for your Japanese study? Check out our article on learning hiragana!
Today’s Japanese Hiragana: Ra (ら)
The hiragana characters for the ‘R’ family have one of the most simple strokes — most of them are less than one stroke and, at the very most, two. There are the ra, ri, ru, re, ro (ら、り、る、れ、ろ). The character for ra contains two strokes. Remember to follow the stroke order and practice writing them as it is a great way to help you master hiragana in a short time.
Learn a Japanese word from Ra (ら): Ramen (ラーメン)
When you learn the Japanese hiragana alphabet ra (ら), you may think of the ramen (ラーメン). The world loves ramen, but no one can match the same obsession that Japanese people have. In fact, it’s so popular, that there are over 30,000 ramen shops in Japan. Depending on the area and shop (and local specialties), the taste of the soup and the type of noodles also vary. Everyone has their own favorite, but each one of these bowls is just as delicious. This time, I am going to tell you about the phrases that you need to know when ordering ramen at a shop.
A ramen enthusiast? Check out our article for the best ramen shops in Tokyo.
Common Japanese phrases when ordering at a ramen shop
A lot of popular ramen chains in Tokyo provide English menus, but small ramen shops are the true hidden gems — and, most of the time, they will only hand out Japanese menus. Learn these useful Japanese words and phrases so you don’t get lost when ordering a bowl of ramen.
Japanese Vocaulary for Noodles
Let’s start with noodles! Depending on the shop, you might be able to choose how firm you want your noodles.
Soft – やわらかめ(yawarakame)
Medium – 普通（futsuu)
Slightly Firm – やや硬め（yaya-katame)
Firm – 硬め(katame)
Hard – バリ硬(bari-kata)
Wire – 針金（harigane)
As you go down the list, the noodles get firmer. When you challenge noodles with “Wire 針金（harigane)” hardness, it would be best to do it when your stomach is feeling well.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Japanese Vocabulary for Ramen Soup Preference
Next up is the soup base. People’s preferences are pretty divided in this aspect.
Light – あっさり（assari): Soup is refreshing and not greasy.
Rich – こってり(kotteri): Soup is oily with a strong flavor and stock from pork bones.
Very Rich and Thick – 超こってり(cho-kotteri): Soup has a very strong flavor with lots of oil.
Japanese Vocabulary for Ramen Toppings
Now we will move on to toppings! What toppings do you like?
Cha-siu – チャーシュー（cha-shu): The king of ramen toppings! It is marinated pork that is cooked and thinly sliced.
Aji-tsuke Tamago – 味付け卵（ajitsuke-tamago), or Aji Tama味玉(ajitama): A boiled egg that is marinated in soy sauce.
Menma – メンマ（menma): Bamboo shoot that is boiled and fermented.
Green onions – ねぎ（negi): A herbal flavor that ramen must have! In Kanto(Eastern Japan), white long onions are popular, while green onions are popular in Kansai(Western Japan).
There’s a lot of ways you can customize your ramen — although we can’t guarantee the salaryman beside your booth won’t raise an eyebrow. It’s easy to fall into the temptation of ordering all the toppings.
Additional Information
On top of all the information above, here’s two additional things which, if you know, would make you an expert!
Kae-dama – 替え玉（kae-dama): Asking for seconds on only the noodles, without soup.
Soup Wari – スープ割り(soup-wari): After finishing the tsukemen noodles, diluting the tsuke sauce with stock soup so that you can drink it.
Quiz!
At a particular ramen shop in the city, there is a menu called “Designated R-20” (individuals who are under 20 years old cannot order from it). So, what’s the secret indgredient in that ramen? ?
The answer is tequila! The menu has a notice, stating “Entirely Alcohol”. I heard that it even comes with lime, which is a must-have with tequila. It seems to be quite a special custom. If you want to experience getting drunk while eating ramen, definitely go try it!
About this week’s blog author:
Ayana Nezu has a long history in education and training. In 2017, she joined Coto Language Academy – her first time in a Japanese Language School. She currently is based at our Azabu Coto Japanese Club location and is recently obsessed with Rakugo. (more…)
Origin of the Japanese Alphabets
Originally, the Japanese language did not have a phoenetic writing system. Around the fifth century, they starting using kanji, ideograms that were adopted from China and Korea. They only used the phonetic reading of the kanji, regardless of their meaning. At that time, the ideograms were called manyogana (万葉仮名).
However, kanji’s characters are composed of many strokes. They take longer to write, as we are sure you have noticed by now! Due to their difficulty, those ideograms were slowly simplified into kana alphabets, namely Hiragana and Katakana. They are called syllabograms, as each character corresponds to one sound in the Japanese language. According to historians, the change was initiated by Buddhist priests who thought kanji was unable to accurately represent the Japanese language, and that a phonetic alphabet would be better.
On the left is the manyogana, and on the right are simplified hiragana and katakana forms.
安 →あ 阿 → ア (a)
以 →い 伊 → イ(i)
宇 →う、ウ(u)
衣 →え 江 → エ(e)
於 →お、オ(o)
This change is thought to have taken place between the eighth and ninth century. Hiragana can be considered a simplified calligraphy form of the kanji’s strokes. On the other hand, katakana is taken from a single element of a kanji. In some cases, they are created from different ideograms.
Some characters in the Japanese alphabet express the same sound and have similar shapes, such as り and リ. However, some can be dissimilar, such as あ and ア. Hiragana is said to be cursive while katakana is more angular. Do take note that one sound can have more than one hiragana. In 1900 the two kana scripts, hiragana, and katakana were codified. This led to the clear establishment of rules for the Japanese system in 1946.
Difference between Hiragana and Katakana
Why are there 2 syllabic Japanese scripts? In the event that the difference is stylistic, you will learn that hiragana is used to write native Japanese words. Those words will have no kanji representation or the ideogram is too ancient or too difficult to write. This kana script is also the one used to write grammatical elements such as particles: を (wo)、に (ni)、へ (he;e)、が (ga)、は (ha)…
On the contrary, Japanese use katakana to write words of foreign origin and foreign names. If you like to read manga in Japanese, you will have certainly noticed that katakana is also used to represent onomatopoeia and emphasis.
Have you heard of the word “furigana”? Furigana is Hiragana and Katakana characters written in small forms above kanji in order to show pronunciation. Furigana is used in kids’ books and Japanese language textbooks for learners, in order to teach the reading of unknown kanji.
Want to Learn Japanese? Let’s Make It Easy
Studying Japanese doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re starting out or looking to boost your career in Japan, with the right guidance and structured practice, becoming confident in Japanese is easier than you think.
Looking to boost your Japanese skill? Join intensive, part-time or onlineJapanese courses at Coto Academy. Start your journey today with lessons to help you reach your goals faster!
Enjoy flexible evenings Japanese lessons or weekend courses — ideal for residents in Japan balancing language study with work and personal commitments.
Achieve Real-World Fluency With Part-time Japanese Classes
Want to improve your Japanese but struggle to find time? Coto Academy’s part-time courses fit around your work and life: 1 or 2 lessons a week, 50 or 100 minutes each, on weekday evenings until 21:00 and on Saturdays. Start any week, at any level, from ¥20,000 a month, with no student visa needed. You get personalized attention and plenty of speaking and listening practice, and the classes are ideal for topics like Business Japanese.
Availability:
Weekday 9 am – 9 pm, Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Levels:
All levels
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Max 8 students
Location:
Shinjuku, Shibuya, Yokohama, Minato, Iidabashi
Length:
50 or 100 mins per day
Frequency:
Depends on your study pace
Focus:
Conversation-based
Things to note: At the beginner level, lessons follow a structured curriculum.
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Beginner to Advanced Part-time Japanese Classes
Coto offers part-time Japanese classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, including business Japanese and advanced conversation-focused courses. Perfect for long-term residents, expats, and professionals looking to improve fluency and professional communication.
Beginner
New to Japanese, or starting over? Our beginner classes teach hiragana and katakana, simple grammar, conjugations, and everyday vocabulary. Lessons follow a structured curriculum, so you always know what comes next, and you build a solid foundation for daily conversations in Japanese.
Intermediate and Advanced
Ready to sound more natural? Our intermediate and advanced classes help experienced learners boost their fluency through conversation-focused lessons. They suit long-term residents, expats, and professionals who want to express themselves with more confidence at work and in daily life.
Business Japanese
Built for working professionals, our Business Japanese courses run in the evenings and on weekends at our Tokyo and Yokohama schools. You practice negotiations, presentations, and workplace communication, and learn the corporate nuances that textbooks don’t teach.
Conversation-Focused Japanese Classes
Every part-time lesson is built around speaking. With up to 8 students per class, you get plenty of time to talk and listen instead of just copying from the board. A typical lesson starts with a quick review, introduces useful expressions, and moves straight into practice with your teacher and classmates. Topics come from real life: introducing yourself, daily errands, chatting with coworkers, and, for professionals, meetings and business Japanese.
Evening and Weekend Japanese Courses for Residents
Our weekday classes are ideal for working professionals, parents, and residents in Japan. Study Japanese after work or on weekends with a consistent, flexible schedule that fits into your daily life. These courses are designed to help you learn Japanese while working in Japan, with practical lessons you can immediately apply.
Do you want a more structured curriculum?
Join Our Lite-intensive Course!
If you want to study Japanese with a structured curriculum but have limited time to commit, consider our Lite-intensive Course. This program follows the same curriculum as our Intensive Course but requires less time to study per week. Thus, you can balance your personal responsibilities while studying Japanese twice a week!
Not sure whether to study part-time or go full-time? Here is a quick comparison to help you choose.
Part-Time
Intensive
Days per week
1 to 2 lessons
5 (Monday to Friday)
Hours
50 or 100 min per lesson
About 3 hours a day
Schedule
Weekday evenings and Saturdays
Morning or afternoon
Best for
Working residents
Fastest progress, visitors, career changers
Price
From ¥20,000 per month
From ¥40,000 per week
Explore Our Campus!
Tokyo
Iidabashi
Language School
A comfortable neighborhood with easy access to business districts. Recommended for intermediate, advanced, and JLPT learners.
Mon-Fri: 9:00-21:00
Sat: 10:00-17:00
Tokyo
Minato
Language School
With its its stylish boutiques, upscale dining, and cozy cafés, Minato is vibrant yet relaxed. Recommended for all learners and families.
Mon-Thu: 9:00-21:00
Fri: 9:00-18:00
Yokohama
Yokohama
Language School
A scenic port city known for its multicultural atmosphere and a beautiful waterfront. Recommended for all learners and families.
Mon-Thu: 9:00-21:00
Fri: 9:00-17:00
Sat: 10:00-17:00
Tokyo
Shibuya
Language School
Known for its youth culture, Shibuya offers plenty of entertainment and shopping options.
Recommended for beginner and intermediate learners.
Mon-Thu: 9:00-21:00
Fri: 9:00-17:00
Tokyo
Shinjuku
Language School
Japanese lesson in Shinjuku, Tokyo's major commercial, entertainment, and shopping hub.
Mon, Wed, Fri: 9:00–18:00
Tue, Thu: 9:00-21:00
Part-Time Class Prices
There are two types of plans you can choose from: package or subscription. A ¥10,000 registration fee is required for new students.
Monthly Plan
Package Plan
Starter Plan
22,400
2 lessons per week
most popular
Middle Plan
39,200
4 lessons per week
Growth Plan
55,800
6 lessons per week
Trial Plan
3,840
1 lesson
Starter Plan
47,520
16 lessons
most popular
Middle Plan
91,520
32 lessons
Growth Plan
132,000
48 lessons
Ultimate Plan
253,440
96 lessons
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FAQ
Where is Coto Academy located?
Coto Academy has five physical school locations in Tokyo and Yokohama for in-person Japanese language learning. They are located in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Iidabashi, Minato, and Yokohama, all within walking distance from the train station. Coto Academy Shinjuku is its latest location, opening in April 2026.
What are the Part-time Japanese Classes?
Our Part-time Japanese Classes are designed to teach practical aspects of Japanese. Instead of a comprehensive approach, part-time courses focus on teaching grammar, speaking, and other topics. These courses are good for students who have already learned some Japanese but want to improve their grammar or their speaking specifically.
Does Coto Academy offer evening classes?
Yes, we do! Our part-time lessons are available in the evening. Please fill out the inquiry form, and we’ll be happy to share the schedule with you.
Can I start taking Japanese Lessons anytime?
Yes, you can join them anytime. Please fill in the inquiry form and ask about the schedule.
Do you offer Japanese Intensive Courses?
Yes! Coto Academy offers Intensive Japanese Courses designed for students who want to make fast progress in a short time. Our intensive courses focus on practical conversation skills, grammar, and kanji, with interactive lessons to help you improve quickly.
Can I attend the Japanese Part-time Lessons Online?
Yes! Coto Academy offers Japanese lessons both in-person and online. You can join our online Japanese classes from anywhere, allowing you to improve your Japanese skills with flexible scheduling and interactive lessons. Check our website for available courses and schedules.
Do Coto Academy offer night Japanese language classes?
Coto Academy offered evening Japanese classes at our Tokyo and Yokohama schools, as well as online. These courses are ideal for residents, working professionals, or anyone with daytime commitments who wants to study Japanese after work.
Does Coto Academy offer weekend Japanese lessons?
Yes. Coto Academy offers weekend Japanese classes, both in-person and online. They’re ideal for those who work during the week or need more flexibility.
Can I join as a resident of Japan?
Our part-time and intensive courses are open to residents living in Japan, including those on working visas, spouse visas, student visas, dependent visas, or long-term stay permits.
Are your courses suitable for advanced learners?
Coto Academy has a range of courses for intermediate and advanced learners, including business Japanese and conversation-focused lessons.
Who are Coto Academy’s part-time classes good for?
Coto Academy’s part-time Japanese classes are ideal for expats and long-term residents living in Japan, working professionals with busy schedules or university students looking to supplement their studies. We also teach spouses or family members of Japanese residents.
Can I study Japanese part-time while working full-time?
Yes, our part-time classes run on weekday evenings and on Saturdays, so you can study after work or on your day off.
Do you have Saturday classes in Yokohama?
Yes, our Yokohama school holds classes on Saturdays from 10:00 to 17:00.
