Curated lists for every level. I update when I have time (usually about every two months), so I’d really appreciate it if you could let me know if a link is broken or doesn’t offer the features I mention in the description anymore.
Japanese Inputs / Keyboards
Windows instructions on adding the Japanese keyboard
If you don’t have the Japanese language pack installed, you might need to do that first.
Mac instructions on adding the Japanese keyboard
If you want to type in Japanese on your phone, Google has a Japanese keyboard/IME app you can install.
Dictionaries
http://jisho.org
Lots of tools rolled into one. This one has a simpler interface.
https://www.edrdg.org/cgi-bin/wwwjdic/wwwjdic?1C
Lots of tools rolled into one.
In the options at the bottom:
- Use the common dictionary to search for most words by choosing the Jpn-Eng General [EDICT] if a different dictionary is set.
- If you can’t type actual Japanese characters, you can enter Japanese words with the English letters of your characters in the search box. Make sure to check the box that says “Search using romanized Japanese” or select the radio button labeled “Romaji”.
- Limit the results by checking “Common words”.
- When you’re done, click Search.
Phone apps:
- Google Play → JED
- iTunes → imiwa
Beginner Materials
http://web-jpn.org/kidsweb/language/lesson1/lesson1_01.html
Easy practice lessons
Kana practice
- http://www.easyjapanese.org/invaders.html
Kana shooter game plus other helpful learning material - Look up apps Dr Moku, Duolingo or Memrise to practice reading kana
https://drmoku.com/ - In the menu of the renshuu phone app, go to Games and choose Quick Draw. You defeat monsters by drawing the characters. It gives you hints if you draw in the wrong spot.
https://www.renshuu.org/ - https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-hiragana/
https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-katakana/
Guide to learning kana through pictures - https://drlingua.com/japanese/games/kana-bento/
Drag and drop - http://realkana.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFiP5YW1m48 Hiragana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT6upZrmmnA Katakana
Practice writing with her to get the full effects of the method
Reading/Listening practice
- http://kyouzai.u-biq.org
- http://watanoc.com/
Japanese magazine — articles labeled with JLPT N level - http://readyourlevel.jamesknelson.com/
- http://j-nihongo.com/yomimono/
- http://www17408ui.sakura.ne.jp/tatsum/project/Yomimono/Yomimono-ippai/yomimono.html
English option on the site
Intermediate Materials
Tae Kim’s Learning Japanese Grammar guide
- Website: http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/
- Can also get the app on phone/tablet.
https://eow.alc.co.jp/
While great for looking up words, it’s really useful when you want to look up phrases.
Hello Talk
Language exchange with people around the world. It’s easy to make and receive corrections with this app.
Reading/Listening practice
- NHK Easy Japanese News
Read and listen to short news stories. The phone app provides translations of some of the vocabulary in each article. - https://animelon.com/
Watch anime with Japanese subtitles! - https://hirogaru-nihongo.jp/en/
Learn about Japanese culture and pick up new words and grammar at the same time. (Recommend this after you’ve studied 漢字 for a bit.) - http://life.ou.edu/stories/
Japanese children’s tales - http://watanoc.com/
Japanese magazine — articles labeled with JLPT N level - http://www.e-hon.jp/demo2/index1.htm
Digital picture books of Japanese children’s tales - http://readyourlevel.jamesknelson.com/
- https://www.wasabi-jpn.com/japanese-lessons/fairy-tales-and-short-stories-with-easy-japanese/
- https://www.ehonnavi.net/browse_all/
Books in this section are free but can only be read once - http://language.tiu.ac.jp/materials/jpn/index.html
Reading Tutor – click on a word to have definition and related info appear on the reading aid side - http://j-nihongo.com/yomimono/
- http://www17408ui.sakura.ne.jp/tatsum/project/Yomimono/Yomimono-ippai/yomimono.html
Kanji practice
- http://wanikani.com
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9m7ceI7gqU
Understanding radicals with a song - http://anime-manga.jp/KanjiGame/School/#
- http://www.nhk.or.jp/school/kanji/
- Anki Aniki
For kanji practice. (Android app only)
Advanced Materials
Reading/Listening
- https://www.aozora.gr.jp/index.html
Library of short stories and novels