In this guide, I’ve selected the 10 best free and paid Japanese online courses for you from the 40+ Japanese courses on our catalog by following a well-defined methodology that you can find below.

But if you want to jump straight to the results, here are my top 10 picks. You can click on a course to jump to the corresponding section:

What is Japanese (Language)?

Japanese (日本語, Nihongo) is the native language primarily spoken by the people of Japan where it is the national language. Japanese belongs to the Japonic or Japanese-Ryukyuan language family.

Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji

The Japanese language uses three scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Let’s take a quick look at each of them.

Hiragana is used to write functional words and particles. Hiragana is like the basic Japanese alphabet and consists of 46 characters.

Katakana is used to write foreign words and names. Katakana is almost exactly the same as Hiragana with 46 characters except that it is written slightly differently.

Kanji is used to write native Japanese words or words of Chinese origin. Kanji characters represent an idea or concept and act more like entire words than individual letters. There are over 2,000 Kanji characters!

Japanese Proficiency Test: JLPT

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, is the largest-scale Japanese-language test in the world. It is held worldwide to evaluate and certify proficiency in Japanese of non-native speakers. Language proficiency is tested on the basis of reading and listening, as well as vocabulary and grammar.

The JLPT has five levels, N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5, the level of difficulty increasing from N5 to N1. Below is a summary of the linguistic competence required for each level as described by JLPT.

Why are Japanese Skills Important?

Among the many reasons to learn Japanese there are a few that stand out: Being able to communicate with over 125 million native speakers (Japanese is the 8th most spoken language in the world), enjoying one of the most popular cultures in the world with its unique cuisine, music and movie industry, and most importantly, animes in their original language. These are more than enough reasons to convince any language aficionado to get started learning Japanese. 

In addition to that, Japan is also known for its tech and automobile industry, bringing to the world a number of large Japanese companies (such as Nintendo, Toyota, Canon, Sony, etc.) that carry in their core a strong culture attached to Japan roots.

And lastly, if you want to open up to a number of opportunities as a Japanese translator or interpreter to your own language, there are hundreds of job openings on Indeed, Upwork and LinkedIn. You can also work as a language instructor or even diversify your reach as a tour guide and help Japanese travelers visiting your country.

What is My Experience with Japanese?

I’ve learned a bit of Japanese mainly from anime, J-pop and Japanese movies. As my interest grew, I started learning more about Japan in general, so I became familiar with how Japanese actually works in the real world. Hearing real people talk gave me more enthusiasm to learn the language and explore the country as well.

Besides that, I am a Guided Project Instructor and a Beta Tester at Coursera, having tested many courses before they’re officially launched. I have taken over 50 online courses in various subjects.

My experience as an online learner and teacher has given me some perspective on what to look for in an online course. I used my experience to evaluate each course in this list.

Course Ranking Methodology

I built this ranking following the now tried-and-tested methodology I used in previous rankings (you can find them all here). It involves a three-step process:

1. Research: I started by leveraging Class Central’s database with 100K online courses and 200K+ reviews. Then, I made a preliminary selection of 40+ Japanese courses by rating, reviews, and bookmarks.
2. Evaluate: I read through reviews on Class Central, Reddit, and course providers to understand what other learners thought about each course and combined it with my own experience as a learner.
3. Select: Well-made courses were picked if they presented valuable and engaging content and they have to fit in a set of criteria and be ranked accordingly: comprehensive curriculum, release date, affordability, ratings and enrollments.

The end result is a unique selection of courses that combines a decade of Class Central data and my own experience as an online learner to try to get the best of both worlds. So far, I’ve spent more than 10 hours building this list, and I’ll continue to update it.

Course Ranking Statistics

Here are some statistics regarding this course ranking:

• Combined, these courses have accrued over 197K enrollments.
• 5 courses are free or free-to-audit and 5 courses are paid.
• The most-represented course provider in the ranking is Udemy, with 5 courses.
• 8 courses are in English and 2 courses are in Japanese (subtitles available).
• The Japanese subject is followed by over 2.4K learners on Class Central, and accounts for over 40 courses in Class Central catalog.

So without further ado, let’s get to my picks for the best Japanese online courses.

1. Easy Japanese (NHK WORLD-JAPAN)

My first pick for the best Japanese online course is a collection of free courses Easy Japanese | NHK WORLD-JAPAN, offered by NHK WORLD-JAPAN.

Easy Japanese is a free, 48-part series offered in 18 languages that teaches Japanese communication skills through fun conversations that form a story. There are 7 characters in this story who will help you learn handy and easy-to-use phrases for self-introductions, shopping, etc, as well as tourist information and Japanese culture and manners.

What You’ll Learn

You’ll learn how to understand basic expressions in everyday conversations, conduct simple daily conversations on familiar topics such as asking for directions, presenting yourself, talking about friends and family, buying things, basic travel conversation, food related expressions and vocabulary, talking about your health, asking for permission, and much more.

How You’ll Learn

Each lesson includes a minute long conversation, 3-minute long video explanation, 10-minute long podcast, transcript for all audio-visual content, vocabulary, practice activities, interactive quiz, one kanji, culture and trip tips. You can track your progress as well.

One Thing to Note

This series is designed for JFS A1-A2 level learners. A1 learners can understand basic expressions in everyday life and engage in very simple daily conversations. A2 learners can conduct simple daily conversations on familiar subjects.

Fun Facts

• NHK has a total of 10 Japanese courses from Elementary to Intermediate, you can check their full catalog here.
• This course was originally recorded in English.
• When selecting a different language, you will access a dubbed version of the skits and explanation besides all the resources in the selected language.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the courses and how to enroll here.

2. Complete Japanese Course: Learn Japanese for Beginners (Udemy)

My second pick for the best Japanese online course is Complete Japanese Course: Learn Japanese for Beginners on Udemy.

If it’s your dream to travel to Japan and communicate with the locals, then this comprehensive course is for you! Packed with elaborate lessons and lots of practice opportunities, this course will help you master the basics of Japanese fast. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to pronounce words correctly, structure basic sentences and make daily conversations with ease.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn useful vocabulary words and phrases for everyday situations, Japanese pronunciation, how to put basic sentences together, read and write in Japanese, order foods and drinks, and pronounce words correctly without hearing them first.

You’ll also learn how to greet people and introduce yourself both formally and casually, get around in the public transport and in the airport, and the building blocks of Japanese grammar.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 12 sections. Each section involves about 2 to 10 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of video lectures and practice video exercises.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

3. Japanese Language Lessons (JapanSocietyNYC)

My third pick for the best Japanese online course is the free course Japanese Language Lessons, offered by JapanSocietyNYC on YouTube.

This is the shortest course on this list. Within a matter of just a couple of hours, this free course will teach you the basic elements of Japanese conversations such as words, simple phrases, basic grammar, sentence connections, and much more with an interactive instructor.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn Japanese greetings, numbers, particles, verbs, adjectives, invitations, conjugations, simple phrases, sentence connections, different forms, and many more.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 24 videos. Each video involves about 5 to 10 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Fun Facts

• According to the JapanSociety.org, “Japan Society was founded on May 19, 1907 by a group of prominent New York business people and philanthropists, many of whom shaped the policies of exchange and collaboration that guided the Society until the outbreak of World War II. After the war, activities slowly resumed, and the stewardship of John D. Rockefeller 3rd from 1952 to 1978 led to a unified vision, a firm financial foundation, and a revitalized mission that continues to inspire and sustain the organization today.”
• Founded in 1972, Japan Society’s Language Center is the premiere venue for learning Japanese in New York City.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

4. Online Japanese N5 Course(All 15 lessons) (Udemy)

My fourth pick for the best Japanese online course is Online Japanese N5 Course(All 15 lessons) on Udemy.

This comprehensive course will teach you JLPT N5 level vocabulary, expressions, grammar and entry-level business Japanese. There’s also a generous amount of practice quizzes throughout the course. By the end of this course you’ll be able to comprehend Hiragana and Katakana, as well as read common phrases and sentences written in N5 level Kanji.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn the basics of writing and pronunciation of Japanese vocabulary, expressions and grammar related to the JLPT N5 level, basic greetings used in daily life, Hiragana and Katakana, common phrases and sentences written in N5 level Kanji, and short simple conversations in daily life.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 16 sections. Each section involves about 1 to 1.5 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, readings and quizzes. Downloadable resources are also provided.

One Thing to Note

Even though the medium of instruction of this course is Japanese, in-built English subtitles and translations are provided.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

5. Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet) (Udemy)

My fifth pick for the best Japanese online course is Japanese Course for Absolute Beginners (Letters, Alphabet) on Udemy.

As its name suggests, this course is made for absolute beginners starting out with Japanese learning. This course is designed to teach you Hiragana and Katakana, as well as make basic conversations in Japanese. You’ll build a strong foundation in elementary Japanese, use common everyday Japanese phrases, and learn about Japanese culture.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn Japanese characters: Hiragana and Katakana system, Japanese writing system, elementary Japanese, pronunciation and intonation system in Japanese, most commonly used phrases for greetings in daily life, and Japanese culture and daily life.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 14 sections. Each section involves about 15 minutes to 1 hour of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos and downloadable resources.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

6. Learn Japanese for Beginners: The Ultimate 100-Lesson Course (Udemy)

My sixth pick for the best Japanese online course is Learn Japanese for Beginners: The Ultimate 100-Lesson Course on Udemy.

Consisting of 100 lessons, this course will give you step by step guidance on speaking, writing and understanding Japanese. Moreover, you’ll be able to sound like a native with pronunciation lessons, and also acquire Japanese listening comprehension skills. There’s also a dedicated amount of quizzes throughout the course after each lesson to test your understanding.

What You’ll Learn

1. Introduction to Japanese (5 lessons): Japanese grammar, writing and phrases.
2. How to Write in Japanese – Hiragana and Katakana (20 lessons): Hiragana and Katakana characters and how to write them.
3. Ultimate Japanese Pronunciation Guide (25 lessons): Perfect Japanese pronunciation, common mistakes and how to avoid them, and nuances of natives.
4. Basic Japanese (25 lessons): Common vocabulary and phrases, useful conversational phrases, and the basics of Japanese.
5. Japanese Listening Comprehension for Absolute Beginners (20 lessons)
6. Japanese Listening Comprehension for Beginners (20 lessons)

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 6 sections. Each section involves about 30 minutes to 3.5 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, quizzes and downloadable resources.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

7. N1文字語彙 vocabulary for JLPT (日本語の森)

My seventh pick for the best Japanese online course is the free course N1文字語彙 vocabulary for JLPT (日本語の森), offered by 日本語の森 on YouTube.

If you’re already quite skilled in Japanese and want to take it to the final JLPT N1 level, then this free course is for you. Even though this course is fairly short, it will teach you the vocabulary needed for JLPT N1. Within a matter of a couple of hours, you’d have improved your Japanese vocabulary for JLPT N1 with a fun instructor.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll improve your Japanese vocabulary for JLPT N1. You’ll learn Japanese words, letters and Kanji.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 10 videos. Each video involves about 15 to 20 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

One Thing to Note

The medium of instruction for this course is Japanese. So you need to be familiar with Japanese in order to take this course (which is expected since this course is for JLPT N1).

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

8. Japanese for beginners based on MISJ WELCOME PROGRAM (Udemy)

My eighth pick for the best Japanese online course is Japanese for beginners based on MISJ WELCOME PROGRAM on Udemy.

Another fairly comprehensive course on this list, this course is ideal for beginners with no prior experience in Japanese. Whether you’re planning to visit Japan or start your life there, this course will help you gain enough Japanese speaking, reading and writing abilities. You’ll get to learn from a very experienced Japanese instructor and practice with quizzes.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn basic Japanese pronunciation, writing and reading of basic Japanese characters: Hiragana and Katakana, basic grammar for creative speech and writing, sentence-based daily and practical conversation skills, and Japanese background culture.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 30 sections. Each section involves about 30 minutes to 1.5 hours of work. Concepts are taught through a combination of videos, quizzes and downloadable resources.

Fun Facts

• Iwasaki graduated from Tokyo Women’s Christian College Mathematics BA.
• She made three e-learning programs and one TV program, “Meet & Speak” broadcasted by NHK WORLD.
• She also supervised making a textbook for the TV program NHK EDUCATIONAL broadcasted from 2014 to 2016.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

9. Nihongo Master

My ninth pick for the best Japanese online course are the courses offered by Nihongo Master.

Nihongo Master is a great platform where you can find free podcasts, community, blogs and paid lessons (7 day free trial) for learning Japanese. This site will help you read, write and speak Japanese at a very low cost. Once you’ve subscribed, you can get access to hundreds of Japanese lessons, quizzes and tools to help you get started with Japanese.

What You’ll Learn

There are four difficulty levels that you’ll progress through:

1. Introductory – Read and write Hiragana and Katakana, proper Japanese pronunciation, simple greetings, how to ask questions
2. Beginner – Basics of Japanese grammar, write common Kanji, more Japanese vocabulary, read simple Japanese text
3. Intermediate – More Japanese grammar rules, use Japanese in regular conversation, more than 800 Japanese words and over 200 Kanji
4. Advanced – Improve Japanese fluency, advanced grammar rules, 5000 words and over 2000 Kanji, read, speak and write Japanese in most situations

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 100+ lessons. Each lesson involves 5 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through lessons, quizzes and tools.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the courses and how to enroll here.

10. JLPT N5 (Japanese Ammo with Misa)

My tenth pick for the best Japanese online course is the free course JLPT N5, offered by Japanese Ammo with Misa on YouTube.

This free course will help you get started and learn the necessary grammar and vocabulary for JLPT N5, N4 and N3.

What You’ll Learn

In this course, you’ll learn JLPT N5, N4 and N3 grammar, including adjectives, conjugations, tenses and verbs, as well as vocabulary, Kanji, reading and listening exercises, and much more.

How You’ll Learn

The course is broken down into 24 videos. Each video involves about 15 to 30 minutes of work. Concepts are taught through video lectures only.

Fun Facts

• Misa is an enthusiastic multilingual ninja, eager translator, manga lover, and happy world traveler!
• You can check out her website for more free Japanese lessons.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.