As we’ve said before, Japanese isn’t actually as hard to learn as it’s often made out to be. Unlike English, for example, Japanese follows its own grammatical rules far more rigidly, pronunciation is easy because there is only one variant of each vowel sound to choose from (none of this tomayto/tomahto business), and it’s possible to create entire, perfectly meaningful and valid sentences without uttering a single pronoun or bothering to conjugate a verb.
Nevertheless, the language will not magically seep into you through a desire to speak it alone — you still need to encounter and study it as often as possible. With that in mind, we’d like to present to you the six and a half resources that no dedicated student of the Japanese language should ever be without. Oh, and the good news is some of them are completely free.

Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Sadako now has her own YouTube channel, hopes to upload videos about her daily life
7-Eleven Japan’s sakura sweets season is underway right now!
The etiquette rules for visiting Shinto shrines in Japan
Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service returns to theaters with first-ever IMAX screenings and remaster
Neco Republic: A cat cafe for rescue cats and the people who love them 【Pics & Video】
What’s up with the secret basement at this Japanese train station?
Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
Our interest spikes as Haikyu head anime sweets arrive in Japanese convenience stores【Taste test】
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Starbucks Japan adds new sakura Frappuccino and cherry blossom drinks to the menu
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service returns to theaters with first-ever IMAX screenings and remaster
Neco Republic: A cat cafe for rescue cats and the people who love them 【Pics & Video】
What’s up with the secret basement at this Japanese train station?
Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
Our interest spikes as Haikyu head anime sweets arrive in Japanese convenience stores【Taste test】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Family Mart goes matcha crazy with new lineup of green tea sweets in Japan
12th Angry Tea Table Flipping Contest held in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture
The My Melody ♡ Kuromi Anniversary Party is in full kawaii swing at the Ikebukuro Parco store
Tokyo’s best ramen breakfast? Restaurant two minutes from Tokyo Station is a strong contender