Learn Japanese with NihongoDoya

Grammar notes, vocabulary, & study resources — all in one place

What We Offer

Vocabulary Lists

Searchable word lists categorized by level from N5 to N1

Kanji Guides

Interactive stroke orders and worksheets for JLPT and JFT-Basic

Cheat Sheets

Quick reference guides for Grammar, Particles, and Counters

Character Charts

Interactive lookup tables for Hiragana and Katakana

Practice Tools

Interactive Writing Sandbox, Reading Quizzes, and trainers

Printable PDFs

Free printable Flashcards, Kanji booklets, and worksheets

Study Roadmaps

Expert timelines, study guides, and preparation advice in About Us

5,300+
Vocabulary words
155
Lessons (N5 to N1 + the conversational track)
3,625
Kanji (N5→N1)
300+
Pages of lesson notes
13
Free Study Resources

How NihongoDoya works

1

Learn the kana

Master Hiragana & Katakana with searchable charts and clean reference pages.

Open charts
2

Build vocabulary & grammar

Lesson-wise notes and 5,300+ words categorized by level (N5-N1) — structured & conversational courses (all levels).

Read notes
3

Practice tools

Perfect your writing, test your stroke orders, and convert romaji to kana with interactive sandboxes.

Open tools

Today's kana

Tap a card to hear the sound in your head — five common syllables to start.

a
i
u
e
o
See full charts

Cornerstone Study Guides

Carefully maintained language guides to help you start and organise your Japanese studies.

Choose Your Path

Two tracks: a JLPT path (standard beginner textbooks for N5–N4, the comprehensive track & the weekly-summary track for N3–N1), and the free conversational track (A1–B1) for daily-life Japanese.

FAQs

Which Japanese learning track is right for me: structured or conversational?

It depends on your learning objectives. If your goal is to pass the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) or study structured grammar, follow the JLPT track — standard beginner textbooks for N5–N4, and the comprehensive grammar track & the weekly-summary track for N3–N1. If your goal is daily-life communication, working in Japan, or passing the JFT-Basic exam, the conversational track (A1 to B1) is designed around situational conversations, practical vocabulary, and real-life tasks.

How does the Kanji Writing Sandbox help me learn kanji characters?

The writing sandbox is an interactive tool that displays stroke-by-stroke guidance overlays for over 3,600 kanji characters across N5 to N1 levels. You can practice writing on your touch screen or with a mouse, toggle grids and stroke traces, check your strokes against templates, build drawing muscle memory, and save your practice drawings as images.

What is JFT-Basic, and how does NihongoDoya support it?

The Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) measures the Japanese language proficiency required for the "Specified Skilled Worker" residency status in Japan. NihongoDoya provides a dedicated study roadmap and a categorized list of essential JFT-Basic kanji based on the conversational track syllabus to help you pass this test.

How can I practice pronunciation and listening skills on the site?

Audio buttons use a Japanese text-to-speech voice available in your browser or operating system. Voice quality and availability depend on your device.

Can I print the cheat sheets and flashcards for classroom or offline study?

Yes. All PDF resources in our Resources tab (such as the Particle Cheat Sheet, Kanji lists, and Hiragana/Katakana flashcard packs) are formatted in print-ready A4 and US Letter sizes. Teachers are welcome to print and distribute these materials for classroom and non-commercial educational use.

Where should I start as a complete beginner?

If you are starting from scratch, begin with the Character Charts to master Hiragana and Katakana. Once you can read the basic kana scripts, move to the JLPT N5 Grammar Lessons (starting at Lesson 1) or the Beginner (A1) guide depending on your chosen track.

How do I contact the site owner or report a typo?

We welcome learner feedback, suggestions, and corrections! You can email us at contact@nihongodoya.com or visit our Contact page to reach us directly. We typically reply within 2–3 business days.

Ready to Start Your Japanese Journey?

Build a consistent Japanese study routine with free lessons, practice and reference tools.

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