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 double consonants 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!  

Now that you’ve learned the basics, it’s time for practice! Head on over to our list of practice sheets, apps, and quizzes to make sure you’ve got a solid understanding of hiragana!

Tips for Writing in Japanese

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!

Read More: What is Katakana? Free Katakana Chart and Learning Guide

How and When to Use Katakana

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.

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.

Learn Hiragana & Katakana with Dr. Moku

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 – Limited Free Version

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)

Draw a line to the corresponding character and connect them.

Start learning Japanese with Cot Academy!

Coto Academy offers expert-led Japanese lessons for all levels. Study in Tokyo, Yokohama, or online. Choose from part-time, intensive, or private lessons that fit your busy lifestyle. Start speaking real, practical Japanese today!

Looking for something more advanced? Check out our JLPT Kanji Workbook PDFs!

Hiragana FAQ

What is Hiragana used for?

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.

Preparing for the JLPT N3 in 2025? This intermediate level is a significant milestone on your Japanese language journey, bridging the gap between beginner and advanced proficiency.

Before you dive into studying for the JLPT N3, you’ll need the right textbooks to guide you. With so many options out there, choosing the best ones can feel a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry! Picking the right materials is key to keeping your study plan balanced and effective. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of 20 highly recommended textbooks for JLPT N3 prep in 2025, covering everything from grammar, vocabulary, and kanji to listening, reading, and practice tests.

About JLPT N3

The JLPT N3 covers four parts: vocabulary (including kanji), grammar, reading, and listening. To take the exam, you should be very familiar with basic Japanese (N4 and N5), understand reading materials discussing topics about everyday life, grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines, and understand daily conversational Japanese.

Simply memorizing words and kanji is not enough, as you will need to show aptitude in your grammar knowledge, reading comprehension, and listening skills.

When you start browsing for JLPT textbooks, you might notice that they generally fall into two categories: all-in-one series, which cover all sections of the test, and specialized books, which focus on specific areas such as grammar, kanji, or vocabulary. Some of these books lean more toward a workbook format, offering numerous exercises and mock tests rather than in-depth explanations.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a more comprehensive way to study for the examination, you can check out our study tips to pass the N3 JLPT. If you are looking to take lower levels of the JLPT, we also have recommendations for JLPT N4 textbooks and JLPT N5 textbooks.

Study the JLPT Smarter with Coto Academy!

Getting ready for the JLPT? Boost your chances of passing with Coto Academy’s JLPT Prep Course. We offer two flexible options: a year-round course and an intensive 3-month sprint course timed perfectly before test day. What makes these classes stand out is the teachers, who specialize in teaching JLPT. They will give you tips and techniques you simply won’t get from self-study. The class also covers mock tests, reading practices, and explanations of essentials such as Japanese grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and more! 

20 Best JLPT N3 Textbooks

Here is our ultimate list of N3 textbooks that we love and feel can help you most prepare for the exam. As mentioned, some textbooks focus on certain areas, use mock tests, or use different tools to help you study. So, we divided our recommendations into the following categories: All-in-one Comprehensive, Focused Skills, Mock Exam Workbooks, and Bridge to Advanced Japanese. 

All-in-one Comprehensive JLPT N3 Textbooks/Series

These N3 textbooks are the most comprehensive and well-rounded, covering all skills and areas that will be on the N3 exam.

1. New Kanzen Master N3

Pros: Provides thorough, in-depth coverage of every section of the JLPT N3 test.

Cons: Each book must be purchased separately, which can be more expensive.

New Kanzen Master is one of the most used resources to ace the JLPT N3. The textbook has been split into 5 major components: kanji, vocabulary, grammar, listening, and reading. The downside is that this means you will need to buy all separate books, but it might be a good thing for some Japanese learners. Because each book only focuses on one element, this makes learning much more comprehensive. It’s also a good option for individuals who only want to focus on certain areas that may be their weak points. For example, if you’re good at kanji, you can opt away from buying the New Kanzen Master JLPT N3: Kanji.

The JLPT N3 textbooks include example sentences and in-depth explanations of their focus areas. The textbooks can be purchased individually or as a set of five.

The N3 level currently has 5 series:

• New Kanzen Master JLPT N3: Listening (with CD)
• New Kanzen Master JLPT N3: Grammar
• New Kanzen Master JLPT N3: Kanji
• New Kanzen Master JLPT N3: Reading Comprehension
• New Kanzen Master JLPT N3: Vocabulary

Price (set of 5 books): $91.01 (¥10,428 JPY)

Purchase the book now!

2. Nihongo So-Matome JLPT N3

Pros: Each book is designed for a 6-week study plan, which help guides learners.

Cons: To fully benefit from the series, you may need to purchase multiple books for different skills

The Nihongo So-Matome JLPT N3 series book is a perfect study guide for intermediate-level learners. The JLPT N3 textbook can be considered to be one of the easiest Japanese textbooks to master, as the content has been broken down to ‘daily digests.’

Each book in the series has been designed to finish within 6 weeks, with a practice test available at the end of every week. This means that you would have to go through at least 1 exercise a day if you want to be able to complete it within the 6 weeks. Similar to the New Kanzen Master, each test section is separated into different books.

The book currently has 5 series:

• Nihongo So-matome JLPT N3: Grammar
• Nihongo So-matome JLPT N3: Kanji
• Nihongo So-matome JLPT N3: Reading Comprehension
• Nihongo So-matome JLPT N3: Vocabulary
• Nihongo So-matome JLPT N3: Listening Comprehension (w/CD) 

Price (Set of 5 Books): $93.00 (¥10,656 JPY)

Purchase the book now!

3. An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese

Pros: Offers practical Japanese lessons that are applicable beyond the JLPT to improve real-world language skills.

Cons: May not align perfectly with the JLPT curriculum, potentially leading to gaps in test-specific content.

This is one of the most extensive and comprehensive textbooks for intermediate learners. It is an all-in-one textbook that has all the major components of the JLPT: reading, vocabulary, grammar, and listening, with subsections for all the components. Every chapter contains day-to-day conversations and reading passages that are based on Japanese culture, which helps you to better understand the situations presented. Practice exercises are included at the end of every chapter.

Price: $39.00 (¥4,459 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

4. Quartet: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills Vol. 1

Pros: Comprehensive approach to intermediate Japanese by integrating reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills within each lesson.

Cons: The textbook is primarily in Japanese, with English explanations for grammar and vocabulary

This textbook offers a comprehensive study approach for the 4 Japanese language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It has 6 lessons, with a total of 55 grammatical patterns and expressions, 327 new kanji, and at least 700 new words. You also get a chance to write compositions based on the model texts and practice conversations using model dialogues that you can find in the book. There is also an additional 64-page supplementary book that contains vocabulary and kanji lists.

Price: $37.00 (¥4,218 JPY)

Purchase the book now!

Focused Skills N3 Textbooks: Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Kanji and More

These JLPT N3 textbooks provide a much deeper dive into specific skills tested on the exam, such as grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and others. These books are highly recommended for those who feel they need more practice in specific areas. 

5. JLPT N3 Points & Practice

The JLPT Points & Practice Japanese N3 textbook is perfect for individuals who are seeking to expand only N3-level vocabulary knowledge. New Japanese words and kanji are broken down into 30 chapters, all sorted based on topics and relevant context. There are also mock-test questions that mimic the real JLPT text.

Price: $16.99 (¥1,946 JPY)

Purchase the book now!

6. Mastering Kanji: Guide to JLPT N3 Kanji

Kanji is commonly the biggest concern among test takers, as memorizing them takes longer time than memorizing the hiragana and katakana. The kanji test will often provide multiple choices of characters that look similar, too, so learners consider it a tricky section. The Kanji Master has 18 different units, with each chapter focusing on a topic. At the end of every chapter, you can find an achievement test to check your progress.

There are also illustrations and fun mini-quizzes that make learning interactive and interesting.

Price: $26.99 (¥3,969 JPY)

Purchase the book now!

7. The Best Vocabulary Builder for the JLPT N3

The Best Vocabulary Builder is created by The Japan Times, the same accredited newspaper company that also published the Genki book series. Divided into 18 different topics, there are over 2,100 Japanese words to learn. There is also an accompanying app that you can download to listen to the audio of the vocabulary and examples.

Price: $17.99 (¥2,061 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

8. 55 Reading Comprehension Tests for JLPT N3

Many test-takers often get stressed once they reach the reading section of the exam. This is because the lengthy text passages can be time-consuming and are filled with new kanji and vocabulary. This textbook helps students maneuver the section easily, helping them develop a better ability to comprehend and find answers. Through 55 different reading passages and mock-up questions, you are conditioned to properly analyze content and find information in the passage efficiently.

Price: $24.99 (¥2,863 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

Read More: Best Mobile App to Learn Japanese.

9. Nihongo Dokkai: Speaking and Writing Through Reading Comprehension (Intermediate)

Nihongo Dokkai (meaning Japanese reading) is another option for learners who want to strengthen their Japanese reading skills. There are 12 stories in total. We’ve tried it before, and while the topics are interesting, the overall study experience can be very challenging. You’ll encounter a lot of new and niche vocabulary on science, life, and media.

However, it’s a great way to get accustomed to reading in Japanese. It’s also a great tool for individuals looking to practice conversations; after the reading, you’ll find thought-provoking questions.

Price: $25.36 (¥2,905 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

10. Try! Japanese Language Proficiency Test N3

The Try! series has been specifically designed to help students focus on Japanese grammar. Written as a fun and engaging book, there are 11 chapters that cover different real-life situations. The textbook has many great reviews from past readers who have mentioned that the book has a refreshing take on learning grammar.

The book includes an audio CD for listening exercises alongside an answer key pamphlet to review questions and practice tests. You can head over to the website for a free-to-download vocabulary list.

Price: $20.50 (¥2,348 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

11. Nihongo Power Drill Grammar

The Nihongo Power Drill Textbook is ideal for JLPT learners looking for additional grammar practice. The textbook has over 30 chapters with 580 questions in total, each designed to be finished within 10 minutes. The book includes a study schedule chart where learners can track their progress as they go through the book. They also have a textbook for N3 vocabulary, too.

Price: $15.00 (¥1,715 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

12. 2000 Essential Vocabulary for the JLPT N3

As we mentioned, to pass the JLPT N3, you would need to know about 3,750 words (including 800 words for the N5 level and 700 words from the N4 level). This book has pretty much every new word you’ll need to be around N3, making it the perfect resource for someone looking to sharpen their vocabulary skills. The book is structured with 12 different topics about daily life, romance, sports, and place-specific settings. There are also links to their online tests and audio files that are free to download. Similar to the N4 and N5 versions of the book, there’s a red sheet to block the Japanese word (for a quick mini-quiz) and a checkbox for you to tick.

You’ll see a lot of JLPT participants bringing this book everywhere. That’s because the book’s size is one of its strong points, too. It’s small, compact, and relatively lightweight, making it perfect for someone to carry around.

Price: $16.99 (¥1,942 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

13. Kanji Look and Learn 

Kanji Look And Learn is a kanji learning textbook that has tons of illustrations and mnemonic hints that makes learning fun and interactive. It acts as a companion book for textbooks from the Genki series. The book has over 512 kanji and 3,500 essential vocabulary to learn. It explains everything about kanji from the history behind it to the number of strokes of each introduced character. This helps you to memorize the kanji easily and more efficiently.

Price: $25.00 (¥2,858 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

14. New JLPT N3 Taisaku-mondai & Yoten-seiri

You will be presented with various types of texts that you’d come across on a daily basis in Japan, such as event flyers and situational emails. The book gives you explanations to properly understand them and you will learn new vocabulary and grammar. There is also an additional section in the book that teaches you Japanese onomatopoeia, idiomatic expressions and sentence connectors.

Price: $15.00 (¥1,710 JPY )

Click on this link to purchase the book.

15. Nihongo Tadoku Books Vol. 5

The Nihongo Tadoku Book features 4 different stories that progressively get more difficult and longer. With the aim of stimulating more advanced reading techniques, this book is targeted at learners who want to improve their Japanese reading skills. You can find links to the audio files of the story passages in the book that are read by native speakers.

Price: $32.90 (¥3,751 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

N3 Mock Exam Workbooks

While many of the textbooks mentioned on this list consist of mock tests, the textbooks listed here are for those who just want practice questions. Just pure practice without any fluff.

16. JLPT N3 Mock Test

Pros: Provides full-length practice tests that closely mimic the actual JLPT N3 exam format.

Cons: Lacks detailed answer explanations.

Once you are confident that you’ve learned everything needed for the exam, you can start doing mock tests through the JLPT N3 Mock Test. A mock test is a great practice tool because it mimics real-life JLPT questions, and it removes the shock factor. The book covers every aspect of the exam, but we recommend timing your sessions as you take the tests, too. This way, you can assess whether or not you’re answering at the right pace — and on time.

Price: $22.50 (¥2,572 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

17. Pattern-Betsu Tettei Drill JLPT N3

Pros: Targeted practice by categorizing exercises into specific question patterns,

Cons: The book is entirely in Japanese, which may pose a challenge for learners who are not yet comfortable with reading Japanese texts.

The Pattern-Bestu Tettei Drill is a textbook full of a series of quizzes and practice tests that have been modeled to represent the actual JLPT exam. The book is composed of four units for practice: kanji and vocabulary; listening, grammar, and reading comprehension. If you have studied the necessary information for the examination, this book will give you a realistic experience and prepare you to ace the JLPT.

Price: $31.00 (¥3,534 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

Bridge to Advanced Japanese Textbooks

These textbooks are best suited for learners who are ready to start testing their skills for the next level. If you are already comfortable with N3 level material and would like to challenge yourself with material that will expose you to N2 or even N1 level content, these books are perfect for you.  

19. Academic Japanese for International Students: Listening Comprehension (Intermediate)

Pros: The 15 units cover broad topics to provide more cultural context about Japan.

Cons: The book’s focus is on listening comprehension in academic contexts, which may not align with the specific requirements of the JLPT N3 exam.

This book is specifically designed for international students who are planning to enter a university in Japan, undergraduate and graduate students included. It focuses on enhancing your listening comprehension ability for university-level classes. You’ll find the topics more complex and multilayered.

In total, there are 15 topics, each with more mature themes that you would not usually find in normal textbooks. This includes topics on Christianity in Japan and traditional Japanese musical instruments. Each topic comes with the main listening passage and practice questions, from multiple-choice questions to 150-to-200-character paragraph writing. There are also links included for you to access their additional online material.

Price: $25.99 (¥2,963 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

20. Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese

Pros: Offers comprehensive coverage of grammar, kanji, vocabulary, and cultural topics. Covers all four language skills.

Cons: May be challenging for those who have not yet mastered the N3 level, as it is designed for learners transitioning to advanced proficiency.

Are you looking to challenge yourself with something more advanced (but still for intermediate-level learners)? The Tobira textbook might be the right choice. As the gap between JLPT N3 to N2 is big, you can think of this book as a ‘bridge’ to advanced Japanese.

The textbook explores a wide range of topics from Japanese geography and history to modern-day culture. It allows development of skills in reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Since there are no translations for most of the content in the book, it pushes you to understand Japanese at a proficient level right from the first page. You can visit the Tobira website for their free-to-download supplemental learning materials.

Price: $44.85 (¥5,138 JPY)

Click on this link to purchase the book.

Final Thoughts: Pass JLPT N3 with Coto Academy!

Preparing for the JLPT N3 is a big step: it marks the transition from beginner to intermediate Japanese and proves you can handle everyday conversations, understand news headlines, and comprehend everyday writing materials. Choosing the right textbook can make the difference between studying aimlessly and progressing with focus.

At the end of the day, the “best” textbook depends on your learning style, your timeline, and your weaknesses. The good news is that every resource on this list has helped thousands of learners pass the JLPT N3, so you can’t go wrong.

In addition to textbooks, we highly recommend taking Japanese classes focused on JLPT to ensure you smash the next exam. Consider taking JLPT courses at Coto Academy, where our professional teachers can focus on specific skills and tailor them to your needs. Sign up now by filling out the form below!

FAQ

How many words and kanji do you need for JLPT N3?

You will need to know around 650 kanji and 3,700 vocabulary words.

What is passing score for the JLPT N3?

You would need a minimum of 95 points to pass the JLPT N3.

How long will it take you to pass the JLPT N3?

It should take roughly 900 study hours

What are the benefits of taking the JLPT N3?

Passing the N3 will allow you to live fairly comfortably in Japan. You will also get much more job opportunities in Japan. This certification proves to an employer that you are able to read and understand Japanese with specific contents that concern everyday topics.

How can you study effectively for the JLPT N3?

There are plenty of useful resources out there to study for the JLPT. One effective studying method is using Anki. Anki is basically a free, open-source, spaced-repetition flashcard app and has become increasingly popular in the Japanese learning community.

Studying for the JLPT N3? Check out our guide on:

• Complete JLPT N3 vocabulary list
• Ultimate Guide to Passing JLPT N3
• How to Check JLPT Results
• How to Register for JLPT
• How to Study for JLPT

Besides its high-tech cities, rich traditions, and delicious food, Japan’s four seasons are equally unmatched and deserve as much attention as matcha and sakura blossoms. There’s the crisp, colorful air of autumn during momiji (autumn leaves) season, the hot and humid summer days perfect for the beach, and everything in between.  What better way to show your appreciation for them than by talking about the weather in Japanese?

Just like anywhere else, weather talk is a classic icebreaker. It’s simple, useful, and part of everyday conversation. But how do you describe a sweltering summer, a dry winter, or the brief, magical bloom of the sakura?

In this guide, we’ll go through all the different ways to talk about the weather in Japanese, from daily temperatures to seasonal fluctuations.

General vocabulary related to weather in Japanese

Let’s start with the basics: common Japanese words for talking about the weather. Just like in English, in Japan we describe the weather using elements like temperature, the sky, clouds, sun, rain, and more. Here are some essential words to get you started.

Basic weather elements

English	Furigana	Kanji	Romaji
Weather	てんき	天気	tenki
Sun	たいよう	太陽	taiyou
Cloud	くも	雲	kumo
Rain	あめ	雨	ame
Snow	ゆき	雪	yuki
Fog	きり	霧	kiri
Thunderstorm	かみなり	雷	kaminari
Snowstorm	ふぶき	吹雪	fubuki
Wind	かぜ	風	kaze

Once you go beyond the basics, Japanese has a rich vocabulary of seasonal and poetic weather words. Many of these are hard (or impossible) to translate directly into English, because they carry nuance and seasonal imagery.

Here’s a list of more advanced and “untranslatable” Japanese weather-related words:

English	Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji
Sunshine	日照	にっしょう	nisshou
Drought	日照り	ひでり	hideri
Clear skies	晴天	せいてん	seiten
Sunbeam / sunlight	光跡	こうせき	kouseki
Moon	月	つき	tsuki
Moonlight	月明かり	つきあかり	tsukiakari
Autumn shower rain	時雨	しぐれ	shigure
Early summer rain	五月雨	さみだれ	samidare
Fresh greenery (spring)	新緑	しんりょく	shinryoku
Spring breeze	春風	はるかぜ	harukaze
Autumn breeze	秋風	あきかぜ	akikaze

Basic weather conditions

So far, we’ve listed basic nouns, but how do you describe the intensity or manner of the weather, like heavy rain, strong wind, or pouring snow? The adjectives below are used to describe these conditions.

English	Furigana	Kanji	Romaji
Sunny	はれ	晴れ	hare
Cloudy	くもり	曇り	kumori
Hot	あつい	暑い	atsui
Cold	さむい	寒い	samui
Humid	じめじめ	—	jimejime
Hot and humid	むしあつい	蒸し暑い	mushiatsui
Dry	からから	—	karakara
Windy	かぜがつよい	風が強い	kaze ga tsuyoi
Chilly	すずしい	涼しい	suzushii
Freezing	こおりつく	凍り付く	kooritsuku
Stormy	あらしの	嵐の	arashi no
Foggy	きりのかかる	霧のかかる	kiri no kakaru
Snowy	ゆきふる	雪降る	yuki furu
Overcast	どんよりしている	—	don yori shite iru
Mild	ほどよい	—	hodoyoi
Freezing cold (very)	さむさきびしい	寒さ厳しい	samusa kibishii

In Japanese, to describe the intensity or nature of the weather, you usually combine an adjective with a weather noun. The adjective describes how the weather feels, while the noun tells you what kind of weather it is.

Examples:

強い風
Tsuyoi kaze
Strong wind

大雨
Ooame
Heavy rain

Some adjectives are standalone (like 大雨 or 吹雪) and act as nouns themselves, while others use い-adjectives or な-adjectives directly before the noun:

暑い日
Atsui hi
Hot day

湿った空気
Shimetta kuuki
Humid air

General vocabulary related to temperature and season

Now that we’ve covered some common weather vocabulary and how to pair adjectives with nouns, let’s move on to temperature and seasons! If you want a deeper dive, we have a dedicated blog about describing Japan’s seasons. Be sure to check that out for more details.

English	Furigana	Kanji	Romaji
Temperature	きおん	気温	Kion
Temperature	おんど	温度	Ondo
Humidity	しつど	湿度	Shitsudo
Four seasons	しき	四季	Shiki
Rainy season	つゆ	梅雨	Tsuyu
Dry season	かんき	乾季	Kanki
Spring	はる	春	haru
Summer	なつ	夏	natsu
Autumn	あき	秋	aki
Winter	ふゆ	冬	fuyu
Early Spring	はるはじめ	春始め	haru hajime
Late Summer	なつおわり	夏終わり	natsu owari
Late Autumn	あきおわり	秋終わり	aki owari
Early Winter	ふゆはじめ	冬始め	fuyu hajime

Although Japan is officially a four-season country (shiki), you might notice that we’ve included two additional “seasons”: tsuyu (the rainy season) and kanki (the dry season).

Tsuyu usually occurs from early June to mid-July, bringing frequent rain and high humidity to most of the country (except Hokkaido). On the other hand, kanki, or the dry season, refers to periods with clear, crisp air, often in winter or early spring, when the skies are bright and the humidity is low. While these aren’t official seasons like spring or autumn, the weather patterns create the feeling of “extra” seasons.

Note: If you notice that there were two words for temperature in Japanese, 気温 (kion) and 温度 (ondo), it is not a coincidence. Kion is used to describe only the temperature of the air, while anything, including water temperature or the temperature of something you touch, can be ondo.

Key phrases used to describe the weather in general

Now that you’ve got the basics and all the essential weather vocabulary down, it’s time to put them to use! Let’s go through common phrases and questions you’ll hear, or want to ask, when talking about the weather in Japan.

Weather-related questions

Let’s start with the questions first! They are often a great way to get to know someone or open up to a conversation. 

今日の天気はどうですか。

Kyou no tenki wa dou desu ka.

How’s the weather today?

気温は何度ですか。

Kion wa nan-do desu ka.

What is the temperature?

明日は雨が降りますか？
Ashita wa ame ga furimasu ka?
Will it rain tomorrow?

暑い天気は好きですか？
Atsui tenki wa suki desu ka?
Do you like hot weather?

外は風が強いですか？
Soto wa kaze ga tsuyoi desu ka?
Is it windy outside?

ここはよく雪が降りますか？
Koko wa yoku yuki ga furimasu ka?
Does it snow often?

Weather-related small talk and answers

Now, let’s also make matching answers using the same structure, so you can answer naturally in conversations. 

はい、ここはよくあめがふります。
Hai, koko wa yoku ame ga furimasu.
Yes, it rains here often.

いいえ、東京では雪はあまり降りません。
Iie, Toukyoudewa yuki wa amari furimasen.
No, it doesn’t snow much in Tokyo.

はい、この地域では風がよく強く吹きます。
Hai, kono chiiki dewa kaze ga yoku tsuyoku fukimasu.
Yes, it often gets very windy in this area.

はい、北海道では冬に雪がたくさん降ります。
Hai, Hokkaidou dewa fuyu ni yuki ga takusan furimasu.
Yes, it snows a lot in Hokkaido in winter.

いいえ、この町では夏に雨はあまり降りません。
Iie, kono machi dewa natsu ni ame wa amari furimasen.
No, it doesn’t rain much here in summer.

Talking about hot weather in Japanese

We’ve already covered the general phrases and common patterns for talking about the weather in Japan, but now let’s look at some examples for when the season is dry or hot. One thing to note: in Japan, there’s a unique word called mushiatsui. This word combines “hot” and “humid” and is used to describe that heavy, sticky feeling typical of Japanese summers. It’s a word you’ll hear often during the hotter months, especially when the air feels thick and muggy.

Let’s out some vocabuulary first before moving on to phrases!

English Meaning	Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji
Summer day (over 25°C)	夏日	なつび	natsubi
Midsummer day (over 30°C)	真夏日	まなつび	manatsubi
Extremely hot day (over 35°C)	猛暑日	もうしょび	mōshobi
Heat / hot weather	暑さ	あつさ	atsusa
Extreme heat	猛暑	もうしょ	mousho
Heat wave	熱波	ねっぱ	neppa
Humidity	湿気	しっけ	shikke
Hot and humid / muggy	蒸し暑い	むしあつい	mushiatsui
Rainy season (June–July)	梅雨	つゆ	tsuyu
Seasonal rain (early summer)	五月雨	さみだれ	samidare
Heavy rain (common in summer)	豪雨	ごうう	gou
Passing shower	通り雨	とおりあめ	tooriame
Sun shower (rain while sunny)	天気雨	てんきあめ	tenkiame
Summer storm	夏の嵐	なつのあらし	natsu no arashi
Evening cool breeze (relief from heat)	夕涼み	ゆうすずみ	yūsuzumi
First summer wind	春一番	はるいちばん	haru ichiban
Clear summer sky	夏空	なつぞら	natsuzora
Scorching sunlight	炎天下	えんてんか	entenka
Summer haze	夏霞	なつがすみ	natsugasumi
Summer heat lingering into autumn	残暑	ざんしょ	zansho

Phrases to talk about summer and hot weather in Japan

今日はとても暑いですね。
Kyou wa totemo atsui desu ne.
It’s really hot today, isn’t it?

夏は蒸し暑いです。
Natsu wa mushiatsui desu.
Summer is hot and humid.

外に出ると暑くてたまりません。
Soto ni deru to atsukute tamarimasen.
It’s unbearably hot outside.

冷たい飲み物が欲しいです。
Tsumetai nomimono ga hoshii desu.
I want a cold drink.

今日は真夏日です。
Kyou wa manatsubi desu.
Today is a midsummer (very hot) day.

Talking about cold weather in Japanese

Just as Japan has unique ways to describe its hot, humid summers, there are plenty of expressions for cold weather, too. How do you describe crisp winter mornings to chilly evenings in the mountains? Knowing these terms not only helps you describe the weather accurately but also makes it easier to connect with locals during the colder months. Let’s check out some cold and winter-related vocabulary first before moving on to example phrases.

English Meaning	Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji
Winter day (below 0°C at night)	冬日	ふゆび	fuyubi
Midwinter	真冬	まふゆ	mafuyu
Cold	寒い	さむい	samuikan
Cold wave	寒波	かんぱ	kanpa
Frost	霜	しも	shimo
White frost (heavy frost)	白霜	しらしも	shirashimo
Ice	氷	こおり	kōri
Frozen / freezing	凍る	こおる	kooru
Icicle	氷柱	つらら	tsurara
Heavy snow	大雪	おおゆき	ooyuki
Snowstorm / blizzard	吹雪	ふぶき	fubuki
Fierce blizzard	猛吹雪	もうふぶき	moofubuki
Powder snow	粉雪	こなゆき	konayuki
Wet snow / sleet	霙	みぞれ	mizore
Snow melting in early spring	雪解け	ゆきどけ	yukidoke
Frozen ground	凍土	とうど	toudo
Black ice (icy road)	路面凍結	ろめんとうけつ	romen tōketsu
Hail	雹	ひょう	hyou
Small hail / ice pellets	霰	あられ	arare
Cold winter wind	寒風	かんぷう	kanpuu
Strong north wind (winter wind)	木枯らし	こがらし	kogarashi
Clear, crisp winter sky	冬晴れ	ふゆばれ	fuyubare

Phrases to talk about winter and cold weather in Japanese

今日はとても寒いですね。
Kyou wa totemo samui desu ne.
It’s really cold today, isn’t it?

冬は雪がよく降ります。
Fuyu wa yuki ga yoku furimasu.
It snows a lot in winter.

外は凍えるように寒いです。
Soto wa kogoeru you ni samui desu.
It’s freezing outside.

今日は真冬日です。
Kyou wa shintoubi desu.
Today is a bitterly cold winter day.

最近は寒くなってきる。
Saikin wa samukunatte kuru.
It’s been getting colder these days. 

How to understand the weather forecast report in Japan

In real-life situations, whether you’re visiting Japan for a few days (or weeks, who knows?) or planning to settle here indefinitely, one of the most important things beyond just talking about the weather is actually understanding the weather.

In the previous section, we covered basic weather elements, like ondo (温度, temperature), shitsudo (湿度, humidity), and more. But reading a weather forecast app or listening to the news is another challenge entirely. You’ll notice that forecasts are often packed with kanji and sometimes include more advanced vocabulary. It may take a little time to get the hang of it, but it’s definitely worth learning. Check out some of the key terms below to help you navigate Japanese weather forecasts.

Weather forecast vocabulary

English	Kanji	Hiragana	Romaji
Typhoon	台風	たいふう	taifuu
Temperature	温度	おんど	ondo
Minimum temperature	最低気温	さいていきおん	saitei kion
Maximum temperature	最高気温	さいこうきおん	saikō kion
Atmospheric pressure	気圧	きあつ	kiatsu
Low pressure	低気圧	ていきあつ	teiatsu
High pressure	高気圧	こうきあつ	koukiiatsu
Weather front	前線	ぜんせん	zensen
Seasonal rain front	梅雨前線	ばいうぜんせん	baiu zensen
Start of rainy season	梅雨入り	つゆいり	tsuyu iri
Ocean waves	波浪	はろう	harou
Flood	洪水	こうずい	kouzui
Emergency warning	非常警報	ひじょうけいほう	hijou keihou
Evacuation advisory	避難勧告	ひなんかんこく	hinan kankoku
Blizzard / Snowstorm	吹雪	ふぶき	fubuki
Snowfall amount	降雪量	こうせつりょう	kousetsu ryou
Ice / Frozen conditions	氷	こおり	koori
Advisory	注意報	ちゅういほう	chuiihou
Warning	警報	けいほう	keihou

Read More: Japanese Vocabulary for Emergency Situations

Common phrases you will hear on a weather forecast 

Announcements on Japanese television, the weather forecasts can sound quite different from everyday Japanese. For one, weather anchors often use more complex vocabulary, sometimes including keigo (polite or honorific language) or specialized terms that go beyond common words like taifuu (typhoon) or ondo (temperature). Understanding these terms can take a little practice, but it’s a great way to follow the news like a local and get more precise information about the weather.

今日の東京は晴れ時々曇りです。
Kyou no Toukyou wa hare tokidoki kumori desu.
Today in Tokyo, it will be sunny with occasional clouds.

明日は雨が降る予想です。傘をお忘れなく。
Ashita wa ame ga furu yosou desu. Kasa o owasurenaku.
Rain is expected tomorrow. Don’t forget your umbrella.

北海道では雪が降る見込みです。
Hokkaidou de wa yuki ga furu mikomi desu.
Snow is expected in Hokkaido.

最高気温は25度、最低気温は18度です。
Saikou kion wa nijuu go-do, saitei kion wa juu-hachi-do desu.
The maximum temperature will be 25°C, and the minimum will be 18°C.

梅雨前線の影響で、九州では雨が続くでしょう。
Baiu zensen no eikyou de, Kyuushuu de wa ame ga tsuzuku deshou.
Due to the seasonal rain front, rain will continue in Kyushu.

台風7号が接近中です。海岸付近では注意が必要です。
Taifuunana-gou ga sekkin-chū desu. Kaigan fukin de wa chūi ga hitsuyou desu。
Typhoon No. 7 is approaching. Caution is needed near the coast.

明日の湿度は高く、蒸し暑くなるでしょう。
Ashita no shitsudo wa takaku, mushiatsuku naru deshou.
Humidity will be high tomorrow, making it feel hot and muggy.

今日の午後は雷雨の可能性があります。
Kyou　no gogo wa raiu no kanōsei ga arimasu.
There is a chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon.

山沿いでは気温が低く、霜に注意してください。
Yamazoi de wa kion ga hikuku, shimo ni chuui shite kudasai.
Temperatures will be low in the mountains, so watch out for frost.

Notice how many weather forecast statements use the word でしょう (deshou). Normally, in everyday conversation, でしょう can mean something like “isn’t that right?” or “don’t you think?” But in a weather forecast, it takes on a slightly different role.

In Japanese forecasts, でしょう is used to soften statements and make them sound predictive rather than absolute. It’s a way for the announcer to say something is expected or likely, without stating it as a 100% certainty. In English, it’s similar to phrases like “probably,” “likely,” or “expected to.”

Tips to improve weather talk in Japanese

In Japan, where some people may be more private than in other countries, talking about the weather is a safe and polite way to break the ice. It’s neutral, yet engaging enough to start a conversation. But what if you find yourself working at a Japanese company or suddenly in the middle of a group discussion about the next summer heat wave? How can you improve your weather conversation skills? Here are some tips:

1. Practice speaking with native speakers

There’s no better way to improve your weather talk than practicing with native speakers. You could chat with Japanese friends, join language exchange groups, or strike up conversations with locals during your travels.

If you don’t have the chance to meet people in Japan, consider practicing with native Japanese teachers at Coto Academy. Our supportive instructors create a comfortable environment, and with classes in Yokohama and Tokyo, the small class sizes give you plenty of opportunities to practice conversation. We focus on practical Japanese for everyday life, so you can build confidence and start speaking right away!

2. Listen to weather forecasts

Listening to Japanese weather forecasts is a great way to get familiar with vocabulary and expressions. Tune in to radio broadcasts, watch TV weather reports, or follow online updates. Pay attention to how meteorologists describe conditions, temperature changes, and uncertainties in the forecast, then try to use similar phrases in your own conversations.

This practice also improves your comprehension skills, helping you quickly understand weather-related information.

3. Download a Japanese Weather App

If you don’t have time to listen to forecasts regularly, try a Japanese weather app. We recommend Yahoo!Tenki or Tenki.jp. These apps provide detailed weather information – not just temperature, but also humidity, wind speed, chance of rain, and more. 

Using an app lets you practice reading and understanding Japanese weather terms daily, even on the go! Over time, you will get used to reading each section and even learn new kanji along the way. 

Conclusion: Learn to Talk About the Weather (and Beyond!) with Lessons at Coto Academy

Now that you’ve learned the basics of talking about the weather in Japanese, why stop there? There are plenty of other essential skills to master, like introducing yourself or discussing a specific topic in conversation.

If you want to build confidence and start speaking Japanese, consider joining conversation-focused Japanese lessons at Coto Academy. As a top-rated school with campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, we offer fun and flexible lessons designed around practical, everyday conversation. You’ll learn Japanese that you can use immediately outside the classroom.

We offer intensive Japanese courses as well as part-time options, so whether you want to immerse yourself fully or fit lessons into a busy schedule, there’s something for you. Start your journey to speaking Japanese confidently today!

Why join Coto Academy?

• Over  60+ different Japanese classes over 18 levels
• Small classroom of only up to 8 students for personalized support
• Professional, native Japanese teachers

Ready to get started? Fill out the form below to contact us!

FAQ

How would you describe the weather in Japan?

Use basic words like hare (sunny), ame (rain), yuki (snow), and kumori (cloudy) to describe Japan’s weather.

How do I describe the weather?

Start with the current condition, temperature, or season, e.g., “Kyō wa atsui desu” (It’s hot today).

How is the weather in Japan in Japanese?

You can say, Nihon no tenki wa dou desu ka? (日本の天気はどうですか？) to ask about Japan’s weather.

How do you express temperature in Japanese?

Use ondo (温度) followed by the number and “do” (度), e.g., Saikou kion wa 25-do desu (The high is 25°C).

What’s the Japanese word for humid?

Mushiatsui (蒸し暑い) describes hot and humid weather.

How do you talk about rainy season in Japanese?

Use tsuyu (梅雨) for the rainy season and tsuyu iri (梅雨入り) for its start.