Learning Japanese Before You Arrive: A Realistic Study Plan

You don't need to speak Japanese to study in Japan. Plenty of programs run entirely in English. But here's the thing nobody tells you: even basic Japanese transforms your experience.

Ordering food without pointing at pictures. Reading train signs without Google Translate. Having a real conversation with your neighbor at the share house. These aren't small things. They're the difference between living in Japan and just being there.

The good news: you don't need to be fluent before you arrive. You just need a plan, some consistency, and the right resources. Here's how to get there.

Understanding the Writing System

Japanese uses three writing systems. You need to learn all three eventually, but there's an order:

Hiragana (46 characters)

The foundation. Every Japanese sound can be written in hiragana. It's used for native words, grammar particles, and as pronunciation guides (furigana) above kanji.

Time to learn: 1-2 weeks with daily practice.

How: Write each character 20 times. Use apps like "Hiragana Memory" or Tofugu's hiragana guide. Quiz yourself on the train. By the end of week two, you should recognize all 46 characters instantly.

Katakana (46 characters)

Used for foreign words, names, and emphasis. If your name is "Adam," it's written in katakana: アダム.

Time to learn: 1-2 weeks after hiragana.

How: Same approach as hiragana. Katakana is slightly harder because you use it less often. Practice by reading foreign brand names on products — マクドナルド (McDonald's), スタバ (Starbucks).

Kanji (2,000+ characters)

Chinese characters adapted into Japanese. Each one represents a meaning and usually has multiple pronunciations. The Japanese government defines 2,136 "joyo kanji" (regular-use characters) for everyday literacy.

Time to learn: This is a years-long project. But you can learn the 100-200 most common ones before arriving.

How: Start with WaniKani (spaced repetition for kanji) or RTK (Remembering the Kanji) method. Don't try to memorize every reading — focus on meaning first.

What this means for you: Spend your first month mastering hiragana and katakana. Then start kanji slowly — 5-10 new characters per week. By the time you arrive, you'll be able to read basic signs and menus.

The JLPT: Japan's Language Proficiency Test

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels, from N5 (easiest) to N1 (native-level fluency). Here's what each level means practically:

Level	What You Can Do	Study Time
N5	Read hiragana/katakana, basic greetings, simple sentences	3-4 months
N4	Basic conversations, read simple texts, understand slow speech	6-8 months
N3	Daily conversations, read newspapers with effort, understand most spoken Japanese	12-18 months
N2	Fluent enough for most jobs, read novels, understand news	2-3 years
N1	Near-native comprehension, academic and professional fluency	3-5 years

For studying abroad: N5 is "nice to have." N4 is "very useful." N3 is "impressive and opens doors." Most English-taught programs don't require any JLPT level, but language schools typically want N5 or proof of 150+ hours of study.

What this means for you: Aim for N4 before you arrive if you have 6+ months. If you have less time, N5 is still a huge win. Even basic Japanese shows respect and makes daily life easier.

A Realistic Study Plan

Here's a day-by-day plan for the 6 months before you arrive. Adjust based on your timeline.

Months 1-2: Foundation (Hiragana + Katakana)

Daily (30 minutes):

• Week 1-2: Learn hiragana (5 characters/day, write each 20 times)
• Week 3-4: Review hiragana, start katakana
• Week 5-6: Master katakana
• Week 7-8: Basic grammar particles (は, が, を, に, で) and simple sentence patterns

Resources:

• Tofugu's Learn Hiragana/Katakana guides (free)
• "Genki I" textbook (chapters 1-4)
• LingoDeer app (Japanese course)

Months 3-4: Building Blocks (Basic Grammar + Vocabulary)

Daily (45 minutes):

• Grammar: 1 new pattern per day from Genki I or Tae Kim's Guide
• Vocabulary: 10 new words per day (use Anki flashcards)
• Reading: Simple texts in hiragana/katakana (children's stories, NHK News Web Easy)
• Listening: JapanesePod101, Nihongo Con Teppei podcast (beginner episodes)

Resources:

• Genki I textbook + workbook
• Anki (spaced repetition flashcards)
• Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese (free online)
• NHK News Web Easy (simplified news in Japanese)

Months 5-6: Conversational Basics (N4 Level)

Daily (60 minutes):

• Grammar: Complete Genki I, start Genki II
• Kanji: 5-10 new characters per week (WaniKani or RTK)
• Speaking: 2-3 language exchange sessions per week (HelloTalk, Tandem)
• Immersion: Watch Japanese shows with subtitles, listen to Japanese music

Resources:

• Genki II textbook
• WaniKani (kanji learning app, /month)
• Bunpro (grammar SRS, free tier available)
• HelloTalk or Tandem (language exchange apps)

What this means for you: Consistency beats intensity. 30 minutes daily is better than 4 hours on Sunday. Build the habit first, then increase difficulty.

Best Apps and Resources

Here's what actually works, ranked by category:

For Absolute Beginners

• LingoDeer — better than Duolingo for Japanese. Clear grammar explanations.
• Tofugu — free guides for hiragana, katakana, and study strategies
• JapanesePod101 — audio lessons for all levels

For Grammar

• Bunpro — spaced repetition for grammar patterns (like Anki, but for grammar)
• Tae Kim's Guide — free, comprehensive, no-nonsense grammar reference
• Genki textbooks — the gold standard for classroom-style learning

For Kanji

• WaniKani — gamified kanji learning with mnemonics. Paid but worth it.
• Anki — free flashcard app. Download pre-made JLPT decks.
• Kanji Study (Android) / Kanji Tree (iOS) — structured kanji practice

For Speaking Practice

• HelloTalk — chat with native Japanese speakers who want to learn English
• Tandem — similar to HelloTalk, with voice/video call options
• italki — hire a tutor for 0-20/hour (great for conversation practice)

For Immersion

• NHK News Web Easy — news articles in simple Japanese with furigana
• Netflix/YouTube — Japanese shows with subtitles (start with slice-of-life anime)
• Satori Reader — graded reading with audio, designed for learners

How Much Japanese Is Enough?

Here's the honest answer: you can never have "too much" Japanese before arriving. But there's a point of diminishing returns.

Minimum useful level: Hiragana + katakana + basic greetings. This takes 2-3 weeks. You'll be able to read signs, introduce yourself, and say thank you properly.

Comfortable level: N4 (basic conversations, reading simple texts). This takes 6-8 months of daily study. You'll handle daily life with minimal stress.

Impressive level: N3 (intermediate). This takes 12-18 months. You'll make Japanese friends, understand most conversations, and impress your professors.

What this means for you: Don't stress about reaching a specific level before you arrive. The goal is to build a foundation so you can improve faster once you're immersed. Even 3 months of study makes a massive difference.

The Reality Check

Here's what nobody tells you about learning Japanese:

1. It's hard. Japanese is one of the most difficult languages for English speakers. The writing system, grammar, and honorifics are all unfamiliar. Accept that progress will be slow.

2. You'll forget things. Kanji you memorized in month 2 will vanish by month 4 if you don't review. Spaced repetition (Anki, WaniKani) is essential.

3. Classroom Japanese ≠ real Japanese. Textbooks teach polite, standard Japanese. Real Japanese people speak faster, use slang, and drop particles. Your first few conversations will feel like a different language.

4. Immersion changes everything. Once you're in Japan, your Japanese will improve dramatically — especially listening and speaking. The study you do beforehand just makes the landing softer.

What this means for you: Start now, even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Learn hiragana first. Build the habit. And don't compare yourself to people who've been studying for years — everyone starts at zero.

Ready to take the next step? Check out our language schools in Japan guide for intensive programs that'll accelerate your learning, or read about Japanese culture to prepare for life beyond the textbook.

Want a personalized Japanese study plan for your timeline? Talk to an advisor — we'll match you with the right resources and language programs.