Japanese is more approachable than it looks: NHK, Tae Kim and Duolingo cover kana, grammar and listening from the first week, at no cost.
1. NHK World Easy Japanese — free lessons
NHK World publishes Easy Japanese for free: short lessons with dialogues, grammar notes and audio for typical everyday situations. Easy News adds news in simplified Japanese, also free.
2. Tae Kim’s Guide — the free grammar reference
Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese explains grammar from first principles without jargon and is completely free online. It is the reference self-learners keep recommending; the explanations are in English.
3. WaniKani — the first three levels free
WaniKani teaches kanji and vocabulary with spaced repetition; the first three levels are free and cover the radicals plus your first kanji. You need kanji to read, though not to speak — the path is long, but it is the sustainable one.
4. A realistic timeline
Japanese is one of the hardest languages for English speakers, around 2,200 hours to competence. Hiragana and katakana take two to four weeks — start there rather than with kanji, and practise daily in small blocks.
FAQ
What are the best free Japanese courses online?
The best free Japanese courses are NHK World Easy Japanese (free lessons and Easy News), Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese (a free grammar reference), WaniKani (the first three levels are free) and JapanesePod101 (a free basic account).
How hard is Japanese for English speakers?
Japanese is a Category V language (the hardest category), requiring approximately 2,200 hours to reach proficiency. However, hiragana and katakana can be learned in 2-4 weeks.
Do I need to learn kanji to speak Japanese?
For speaking and listening, you don't need kanji — hiragana and katakana are sufficient for basic communication. However, for reading and writing, kanji is essential.
