Start Here: N5 Roadmap

You do not need a shelf full of tools to begin Japanese. Start with a way to learn the writing system, a grammar reference, a small vocabulary routine, and something easy to read. Add more only when you know what is missing.

This is a starting route, not a deadline or a guarantee of JLPT readiness. The first one or two weeks are a useful place to begin kana, but take more time if you need it.

1. Get comfortable with kana

Japanese uses hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Begin with hiragana, then work through katakana. Being able to recognise kana makes your next steps much easier.

Use Tofugu’s Learn Hiragana guide for a mnemonic when a character refuses to stick. Then use Real Kana to practise recalling a few rows. Real Kana had no visible paywall in the curation check; its page did not explicitly state a price.

Try a small loop:

1. Look at five new characters and say their sounds.
2. Cover the hints and recall the characters in a different order.
3. Come back later and practise those characters again.
4. Add another group when the first group feels familiar.

Recognising a character and recalling it without a hint are different tasks. Give yourself chances to do both. Keep practising kana while you begin simple grammar; you do not have to master every character first.

2. Read a little grammar, then use it

Tae Kim’s grammar guide starts with the writing system and basic structures. Its beginner sections can help at N5 even though our resource shelf highlights it for N4–N3. No paywall was visible in the source check, but pricing was not explicitly stated.

Work through one short section at a time. Notice the sentence ending and the particles that connect the pieces. After reading an example, try changing one word in it. If you cannot explain the change, return to the explanation before moving on.

Treat the guide as an explanation to revisit. It does not need to become a second book you are trying to finish as quickly as possible.

3. Build a vocabulary routine you can maintain

Anki uses spaced repetition: you review material over time instead of repeatedly studying everything at once. The desktop application and AnkiDroid for Android are free. The official iOS application is paid; its current price still needs checking.

Begin with a few words from sentences you have actually studied. Keep the meaning clear and include the sentence if it helps you remember the context. Do your existing reviews before adding more cards. If reviews pile up, reduce new cards rather than abandoning the routine.

You can also use a notebook or ordinary flashcards. A tool is useful when it supports the habit you can sustain.

4. Read something that feels easy

Try the Tadoku free graded readers, starting with level 0 or 1 books. Tadoku’s levels describe reading difficulty; they are not JLPT levels.

Choose a short story with pictures. Read for the overall meaning, and let the pictures help. If every sentence needs several dictionary lookups, try an easier book. Finishing something manageable gives you a reason to return tomorrow.

Use Jisho when one word prevents you from understanding the sentence. You do not need to turn every unfamiliar word into a flashcard.

5. Pick tomorrow’s small step

A workable session might contain a few minutes of kana recall, one grammar example, your existing vocabulary reviews, and a page of an easy reader. Adjust the balance to your time and energy.

For today, choose just one of these steps. Once it feels comfortable, add the next. You can browse the resource shelf or compare options in Kana & Kanji Tools.

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AI-assisted writing and curation. Jason Kobayashi runs and updates this guide. How PeraNabi works.