Some Amazon links below are affiliate links — if you buy through them it costs you nothing extra and supports the site. Only products genuinely worth buying are listed here.
Books & Textbooks — Amazon Picks
The physical books that actually move the needle. If you’re serious about Japanese, a proper textbook alongside this site makes a huge difference.
Genki I — An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese
The gold standard beginner textbook. Used in universities worldwide. Covers hiragana, katakana, N5 grammar and vocabulary with clear explanations and practice exercises.
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Genki II — An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese
Picks up where Genki I ends. Carries you through N4 territory — more complex grammar, reading passages, and conversational patterns. Essential if you're working through the series.
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A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
The grammar reference every serious learner ends up owning. Covers ~200 grammar points with clear explanations, natural example sentences, and notes on common mistakes.
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Remembering the Kanji — Heisig
A unique mnemonic-based approach to learning all 2000+ joyo kanji. Controversial but highly effective for many learners — teaches the meanings and stroke order fast, readings separately later.
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Nihongo Sōmatome N5
Six-week JLPT N5 prep book covering grammar, vocabulary, kanji, reading, and listening. Clean layout, short daily lessons — a favourite for exam preparation alongside self-study.
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Nihongo Sōmatome N4
Same format as N5 but stepping up to N4 level. Covers the vocabulary, grammar, and reading patterns you need to pass — great companion to Genki II.
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Tobira — Gateway to Advanced Japanese
The standard bridge from intermediate to advanced. Real cultural topics, complex grammar, and authentic reading practice. Pick this up after finishing Genki II.
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Japanese From Zero! 1
A friendlier, more gradual alternative to Genki. Teaches hiragana progressively alongside romaji so the transition isn't overwhelming. Popular with self-taught learners.
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Steam Games — Learn Through Play
These are games built specifically for learning Japanese — not just games set in Japan. All on Steam, most under £5.
Learn Japanese To Survive! Hiragana Battle
JRPG where you battle enemies by correctly reading hiragana. Surprisingly effective — you'll have all 46 characters memorised before the final boss. Best fun way to drill kana.
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Learn Japanese To Survive! Katakana War
The katakana follow-up in the same series. Same battle format, same effectiveness. Get both — they're cheap and together cover all your kana in a few hours of play.
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Learn Japanese To Survive! Kanji Combat
Third in the series, covering essential kanji. Same battle mechanic — each enemy is a kanji you have to read correctly to defeat it. A clever way to make kanji drilling feel rewarding.
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Kana Quest
A tile-sliding puzzle game that teaches kana through gameplay rather than drilling. Each puzzle is built around matching sounds — you absorb hiragana and katakana without it feeling like study.
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Nihongo Quest N5
A role-playing game built entirely around JLPT N5 vocabulary and grammar. Fights, story, and progression are all tied to your Japanese knowledge. Good for N5 exam prep with a fun wrapper.
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Japanese Dungeon: Hiragana
A dungeon crawler where reading hiragana is the core mechanic. Simpler than the JLPT Survive series but great for absolute beginners who want something more game-like than flashcards.
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Courses & Learning Platforms
WaniKaniPaid
The most structured kanji learning system available. SRS-based, teaches 2000 kanji and 6000 vocabulary words in a set order. ~$9/month or affordable lifetime deal. First 3 levels free to try.
Pimsleur JapanesePaid
Audio-first Japanese learning — great for commutes and people who struggle to sit at a desk. Builds listening and speaking instincts through spaced repetition over 30-minute daily lessons.
JapanesePod101 PremiumPaid
Unlocks the full lesson library — thousands of audio and video lessons from complete beginner to advanced, plus PDF lesson notes, flashcard tools, and a personal learning path.
Udemy Japanese CoursesPaid
Wide range of structured Japanese courses — hiragana to JLPT N5/N4 to business Japanese. Udemy runs sales constantly so rarely pay full price. Good for video-first learners.
Find a Tutor — Speaking Practice That Actually Works
Nothing replaces a real conversation. A good tutor will catch mistakes you don’t know you’re making and push your speaking in ways no app can.
Study Japanese — Erina Yamamoto
Personal Recommendation
Taught me personally — genuinely one of the best Japanese tutors I've come across. Erina runs private online Japanese lessons tailored to your level and goals. Highly recommended if you want 1-on-1 instruction that's structured, clear, and actually fun. Based in the UK, teaches online worldwide.
→ studyjapanese.co.uk
iTalki — Japanese TutorsPaid
Large marketplace of Japanese tutors — professional teachers and community tutors at a range of prices. Book trial lessons to find someone whose style clicks with you.
PreplyPaid
Another strong tutor platform. Good filtering by schedule, price, and teaching style. Tutors are vetted and lessons are structured around your specific goals.