Japanese Language Learning Resources

 Last Updated: 2024 12 14

This page is a list of Japanese learning resources and interesting content in Japanese. Everything from websites, apps, podcasts, books, YouTube channels, etc. that may be helpful when learning Japanese. There are lessons, reviews, tests, viewing and listening content, and a whole bunch of different things about Japanese learning resources. Eventually most of the resources here will have a reviews. You need interesting content and input in order to keep a high motivation for learning, and maintain momentum. The more you consume, the more you learn and the better you will be at Japanese. Hopefully these Japanese learning resources will help you on you journey.

Jump to: PODCASTS, YOUTUBE

Beginner Japanese Content

Beginner content is for the absolute beginner. The content here will be mostly in English. Listening in English is not the best way to learn Japanese, but you need to start somewhere right? Even though some of the content here can get into the intermediate area, I am still labeling it as beginner. This is because the content is still mostly in English. If you are learning Japanese with content in Japanese, I consider that more than a beginner level. I think it is pretty difficult to use Japanese learning and immersion resources, in Japanese, at the beginner level.

Intermediate Japanese Content

You are no longer a beginner, and you definitely know a good amount of Japanese vocabulary. Content here will be almost 100% in Japanese. You may find some upper beginner content here, but that will only be when it is entirely in Japanese.

Advanced Japanese Content

Whoah, what am I going to put here? I don’t know, I not at this level yet. Advanced content in Japanese is everywhere! I have found a lot. Needless to say, since I am not at this level, my reviews of these resources won’t be that descriptive. Why, you ask? Because I can’t understand most of it!

PODCASTS

BEGINNER LEVEL

  • "Beginning Japanese Phrases - TheJapanesePage.com" - (Review) (Website).
    • A beginner level instructional Japanese language podcast that teaches you Japanese phrases.
  • "Fun Japanese Listening" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A beginner/upper beginner level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Get Comfy with Japanese Kansai-ben" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An upper beginner level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Japanese with Kanako" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A beginner level Japanese language learning podcast.
  • "Japanese with Shun" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An upper beginner level Japanese language narrative podcast mainly using Japanese from Genki 1 & 2.
  • "けんとレイデオ Channel" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An beginner level Japanese & English conversational podcast.
  • "Kyotopia Podcast" - (Review) (Linktree).
    • A beginner level English & Japanese bilingual conversational podcast.
  • "The Konnichiwa Podcast" - (Review) (Website).
    • A beginner level English & Japanese bilingual conversational podcast.
  • "Laid-Back Japanese" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A podcast in English about the Japanese language.
  • "Lazy Fluency" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An English & Japanese bilingual conversational podcast.
  • "Learn Japanese w/Manga Sensei" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A beginner Japanese language learning podcast.
  • "Learn Japanese with Masa Sensei" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A beginner Japanese language learning podcast most in English.
  • "Learn Japanese Pod" - (Review) (Website).
    • A beginner level Japanese language learning podcast, mostly in English with short spoken dialogues in Japanese.
  • "Sunshine Japanese Yasashii Nihongo Radio" - (Review) (Website).
    • An upper beginner level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "The Tofugu Podcast" - (Review) (Website).
    • A beginner level Japanese language learning podcast in English.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (podcasts)

  • "4989 American Life" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast about a Japanese person's life in America.
  • "あかね的日本語教室" - (Review) (Website).
    • Akane's Japanese Classroom is an intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Azumi's Easy Japanese" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast featuring NHK's "News Web Easy" news stories.
  • "Being Americanized Japanese" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A bilingual Japanese and English podcast with each host speaking only one language during conversations about various topics.
  • "The Bite Size Japanese Podcast" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "EASY JAPANESE PODCAST" - (Review) (Linktree) (YouTube).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast around the N3 level.
  • "Japanese Grammar Tips" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level Japanese language podcast where you can learn grammar.
  • "Japanese Idobata Channel" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level conversational Japanese language podcast.
  • "Japanese Lessons with Mayuna" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Japanese 鬼 Shadowing Challenge" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast to practice shadowing.
  • "Japanese with Teppei and Noriko" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level conversational Japanese language podcast.
  • "Kevinvin Sleepy Japanese" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "ききみみ日本語" - (Review).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "こんなときのにほんご" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level Japanese language learning podcast.
  • "喫茶ニホンゴ for Japanese Learners" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Kotsu Kotsu Nihongo with Mizuki" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Learn Japanese with K" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Learn Japanese with Noriko" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level Japanese language podcast.
  • "Learn Japanese from Real Talks" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple Podcasts).
    • An intermediate narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Learn Japanese @Satominchi" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Learning Culture in Japanese" - (Review) (Linktree).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Let's Learn Japanese from Small Talk!" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate conversational Japanese language podcast.
  • "Let's Talk in Japanese!" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "[Learning Japanese] Mano Nihongo" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple)
    • An intermediate level podcast by a Professional Japanese teacher.
  • "MIKI senseiのにほんごラジオ" - (Review) (Spotify).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Momoko to Nihongo" - (Review) (Website).
    • A beginner level (well all levels really) Japanese language podcast for Japanese learners.
  • “Nあ〜 casual nihongo” - (Review) (Website).
    • Intermediate level Japanese language podcast with dialogues and repetition.
  • "日本語あいうえお" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An Intermediate level, around N3, narrative Japanese language podcast entirely in Japanese.
  • "日本語 with あこ - Nihongo Picnic Podcast" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple)
    • An intermediate level Japanese language learning podcast.
  • "Nihongo Con Teppei - Japanese Podcast for Beginners" (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative podcast. Although the title says it is beginner, the content is entirely in Japanese. So you do need to know a lot of words before listening.
  • "Nihongo Con Teppei" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative podcast where Teppei speaks entirely in Japanese.
  • "Nihongo Con Teppei Z" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Nihongo Hanaso" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate/advanced level Japanese language learning podcast.
  • "日本語のたね with Noriko" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An upper beginner/intermediate level Japanese language podcast.
  • "Nihongo Radio with ANIME SENSEI" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • A beginner/intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "にほんごザッツ談" - (Review) (Website). (Nihongo that's conversation)
    • An intermediate/advanced level conversational podcast in Japanese.
  • "Nihongo SWiTCH" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative podcast entirely in Japanese.
  • "日本語を大切にしたい. Slow and Polite Japanese." - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple)
    • An intermediate level podcast from a former radio announcer.
  • "にほんごとらのまき" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Nihongo for You" - (Review) (Website).
    • An upper beginner/intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast with English at the end of each episode.
  • "Oyasumi Japanese with Shun" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An upper beginner/intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "The Real Japanese Podcast (日本語の勉強のためのポッドキャストです!)" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Sakura Tips - Listen to Japanese" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple) (Website).
    • An intermediate level Japanese language podcast.
  • "Sayuri Saying Everyday" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple) (YouTube).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Slow Japanese by Mochifika" - (Review) (Website).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "少しゆっくり日本語 (Listening Practice with Native Japanese)" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Think in Japanese すったもんだカルチャー" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple) (YouTube).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "Thinking in Japanese Podcast" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple) (Patreon).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "日本語ペラペラ Yukiko Radio" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.
  • "YUYUの日本語 Podcast" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An intermediate level narrative Japanese language podcast.

ADVANCED LEVEL (podcasts)

  • "HOTCAST" - (Review) (Website).
    • A Japanese 'freetalk' podcast where the hosts discuss a variety of contemporary topics.
  • "日本語って!" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple).
    • An advanced level narrative Japanese language podcast for those learning, and teaching, Japanese.
  • "Nihongo Class" - Mostly N1/N2 level Japanese.
  • "ポケット　ストーリーズ" - (Review)(Spotify).
    • A native Japanese podcast with short stories in an audiobook type format.
  • "Real-Life Japanese with Kaichi (こいちと学ぶ生の日本語)" - (Review) (Spotify) (Website).
    • An advanced level narrative Japanese language podcast
  • "Study Real Japanese/Real Nihongo Podcast" - (Review) (Spotify) (Apple)

YouTube Channels

BEGINNER LEVEL

  • "Fun Japanese Listening" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Japanese Ammo with Misa" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Japanese with Lily" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Focused on the JLPT N4 level grammar.
  • "Japanese with Shun" - (YouTube Channel).
    • An upper beginner level Japanese language narrative podcast mainly using Japanese from Genki 1 & 2.
  • "Jp Launch" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Kanji, grammar, and practice questions for JPLT levels N5 and N4.
  • "Kaname Naito" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Komei's Channel" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Lazy Fluency" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Learn Japanese Channel" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Videos, sometimes really long, of JLPT N5 & N4 grammar and sentences.  The videos show text in English and Japanese of sentences while the narrator reads and writes the sentence.
  • "Learn Japanese Kanji" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Only JLPT N5 & N4 kanji with explanations of readings, meanings, radicals, and stroke order in English.
  • "Learn Japanese Pod 101" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Masa Sensei" (Learn Japanese with Masa Sensei) - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Onigiri Nihongo Club" - Kind of comprihensable, narration with pictures and Japanese/English subtitles.
  • "Shiro Neko Japanese" - Grammar and listening practice.
  • "SS JAPANESE" - (YouTube Channel)  A beginner level Japanese language podcast where the host mainly speaks English to teach use Japanese phrases. Not much content at this time.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (YouTube)

  • "AHR Japan School" - (Review) (YouTube Channel).
    • Posts videos in Japanese about Japanese language, grammar, conversation, and many other topics.
  • "あかね的日本語教室" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Chika Sensei's Japanese Academy" - (Review) (YouTube Channel).
    • Videos in Japanese about Japanese language, grammar, phrases, incorrect sentences, and quizes.
  • "Comprehensible Japanese" - (Review) (YouTube Channel).
    • Videos in Japanese that try to emulate a comprehensible style of input through stories and pictures.
  • "Daily Japanese Podcast" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Japanese guy in his 20's talking about his daily life.
  • "EASY JAPANESE PODCAST" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Same audio as the link in the podcast section above, but with video!
  • "Emma:) Japanese"
  • "Japan in Motion" - (Review) (YouTube Channel).
    • A Japanese language channel, with English subtitles, that makes videos about all things Japanese. Kind of like "Cool Japan" if you have seen that, but there is no studio commentary.
  • "Japanese Listening Shower" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Videos of text explanations of word usage on the screen while a narrator reads the text.
  • "Japanese with Emma"
  • "JLPT Japanese" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Videos of JPLT grammar etc. from N4 to N1.
  • "Kotsu Kotsu Nihongo with Mizuki" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Learn Japanese - Coto Japanese Academy" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Learn Japanese with Taka san" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Miku Real Japanese" - Mainly videos in Japanese, but some recent and most earlier videos hav a lot of English.
  • "Mochi Real Japanese"
  • "Nami Ohara" - (YouTube Channel).
    • A variety of videos, many Genki lessons.
  • "Nihongo for You"
  • "Okkei Japanese" -  Natural daily Japanese.
  • "Oyasumi Japanese with Shun" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Path to Japanese"
  • "The Real Japanese Podcast (Next Step Japanese)" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Riceburger Studios" - Seems to be out of production now, or just very infrequent. However, over 300 videos with Japanese and English subtitles and a sense of humor.
  • "少しゆっくり日本語 (Listening Practice with Native Japanese)" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "YUYUの日本語 Podcast" - (YouTube Channel).

ADVANCED LEVEL (YouTube)

  • "日本語って! / Eriko Juku" - (YouTube).
  • "Haru no Nihongo" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Japanese Food Craftsman" - (YouTube Channel).
    • Not language learning - just Japanese content about restaurants, food stalls, etc. and the people that own or work in them.
  • "Japanese Language Community - Eriko Juku" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Japanese with Yuka" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Kotsu Kotsu Nihongo" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Learn Japanese with Noriko" - (YouTube Channel).
  • "Naru 日本語先生" - "Naru Nihongo Sensei" has traveling, culture, food videos. A lot of spoken Japanese with Japanese and Mandarin (or some form of Chinese/Taiwanese) subtitles. A few videos are geared toward Chinese learners of Japanese. Which Chinese language I don't know.
  • "Nihongo Class" - Many videos for JLPT N3, N2, and N1 labeled with the level.
  • "Onomappu" - Last video posted was in 2023 but very interesting topics about Japanese language and culture.
  • "Ryusei Poddo Casto"
  • "Samurai's Daily Life"
  • "Sayuri Saying"

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