Ayatoki

Best Free Resources to
Learn Japanese Online in 2026

Curated tools for every stage — from hiragana to
reading real Japanese news without a dictionary.

How to Use This List

Japanese has a reputation for being difficult, but the availability of free, high-quality learning resources has never been better. This list focuses on free tools that are genuinely useful — not just name-recognition apps. Each entry notes what level it suits and whether it has a paid tier worth knowing about.

Tag key:
Free = Fully free, no account or payment needed
Freemium = Free core features; optional paid upgrade exists

Flashcards & Spaced Repetition

Anki Freemium
Anki is an open-source flashcard application that uses a spaced repetition algorithm (SRS) to schedule reviews right before you would forget a card. It was created by Damien Elmes and first released in 2006.[1] You can build your own decks from scratch or download thousands of community-made Japanese decks — including N5 through N1 vocabulary sets and kanji decks.
Best for: vocabulary and kanji retention at any level
Free on Windows, Mac, and Android. The iOS app (AnkiMobile) is paid; AnkiWeb offers a free browser-based alternative for syncing reviews.

Reading Practice

NHK Web Easy Free
NHK Web Easy (やさしいウェブ) is the official simplified-Japanese news service from Japan's public broadcaster NHK. Real news articles are rewritten using simpler vocabulary and shorter sentences, aimed at Japanese language learners and elementary school students. Furigana (pronunciation guides) appear over kanji, and new articles are published every weekday.[2]
Best for: intermediate learners (roughly N4 and above) who want to read authentic Japanese content
Tofugu Free
Tofugu publishes in-depth articles and guides on Japanese language and culture. Their hiragana and katakana learning guides are particularly well-regarded for beginners — each character is paired with a mnemonic that links the shape to an English word, making them much easier to remember quickly.
Best for: beginners learning the kana scripts; intermediate learners interested in grammar deep-dives

Dictionaries

Jisho Free
Jisho.org is a free online Japanese–English dictionary that draws from the JMdict and KANJIDIC databases. You can search by hiragana, romaji, kanji, or English. It also supports searching by radical (kanji components), by JLPT level, and by writing in handwritten kanji via the draw tool.
Best for: quick lookups at any level; particularly useful for kanji breakdown

Vocabulary Games

Ayatoki Free
Ayatoki is a daily Wordle-style vocabulary game for Japanese learners. Each day, players guess a Japanese word by entering characters and receiving color-coded feedback: green for correct position, yellow for correct character in wrong position, and gray for characters not in the word. The game offers JLPT levels N4 through N1, with words drawn from real JLPT-graded vocabulary lists.
Best for: N4 to N1 learners who want low-pressure active vocabulary practice in 5 minutes a day
Tip: The N4 level is recommended as a starting point for learners who have finished basic hiragana and katakana.
Duolingo Japanese Freemium
Duolingo's Japanese course introduces hiragana, katakana, basic vocabulary, and beginner grammar through short gamified exercises. It is widely accessible and motivates consistent practice through streaks and notifications. However, its progression does not map directly to JLPT levels, and higher-level learners often find it limited in depth.
Best for: absolute beginners building a daily habit and learning the kana scripts

Official JLPT Resources

JLPT Official Website Free
The official JLPT website (jlpt.jp) provides level descriptions, sample test questions for all five levels, registration information, and past test result statistics. The sample questions are a reliable way to calibrate which level you are ready for, since they reflect the actual format of the exam.
Best for: anyone planning to take the JLPT — calibrate your level and understand the test format before registering

Which Resource Should You Start With?

Complete beginner (no Japanese yet):
Start with Tofugu's hiragana guide to learn the first alphabet. Then Duolingo or Anki for basic vocabulary. Set a small goal: read hiragana fluently before adding kanji.
Early intermediate (know hiragana/katakana, some vocabulary):
Daily Anki reviews for N5–N4 vocabulary. Check JLPT official sample questions to assess your level. Add Ayatoki for active recall practice.
Intermediate (studying N3 or above):
Add NHK Web Easy as a daily reading habit. Jisho for any unknown words. Ayatoki's N3 or N2 mode for vocabulary retention.

References

  1. Elmes, Damien. Anki — powerful, intelligent flashcards. apps.ankiweb.net (accessed 2026).
  2. NHK. やさしいウェブ — About page. www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy (accessed 2026).
Try Ayatoki — Free Japanese Word Game →
More columns →
How to Build a Daily Japanese Study Routine
A practical schedule combining these tools into a 20-minute daily habit.
JLPT N5 Vocabulary: Essential Words for Beginners
Category-by-category vocabulary guide for the entry-level JLPT.
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