Learning Japanese online is easier than ever, whether you’re a beginner or want to refine your advanced skills. Thanks to flexible schedules, global access, and a wealth of free tools, you can create a study plan that fits your lifestyle and budget.
In this guide, we’ll compare the three main methods of learning Japanese: mobile apps, tutoring services, and websites. We’ll help you choose the best option for your goals and provide realistic time estimates for achieving various levels of proficiency, from N5 basics to long-term fluency.
We’ll also introduce gokigen japanese, which offers one-on-one lessons with native teachers, practical materials, and affordable plans. With gokigen japanese, you can start learning with confidence as soon as you’re ready.
1. Merits for Learning Japanese Online
1-1 Flexible Scheduling That Fits Your Lifestyle
Online study adapts to you, not the other way around. You can book lessons before work, after dinner, or on weekends, and fill the gaps between with short review sessions on your phone.
This rhythm keeps motivation high because progress doesn’t collapse when your week gets busy—you simply move a session or shorten it.
1-2 Learn from Anywhere in the World
Your location no longer determines who you learn from. With a laptop or phone, you can meet with tutors from different time zones, choose your preferred accent and teaching style, and continue learning while traveling.
Most platforms allow teachers to share slides, examples, and corrections in real time. Some lessons can be recorded or summarized so you can replay pronunciation tips and grammar points later.
This “portable classroom” allows you to maintain your momentum whether you’re at home, in a café, or on a business trip.
1-3 Abundant Free Resources Available
The internet provides a complete set of tools for self-study, including graded articles for reading, online dictionaries with natural example sentences, spaced repetition system (SRS) flashcards for long-term memory, podcasts and short videos for listening, and Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) practice pages to assess your level.
When used together, these resources provide input (reading and listening) and retrieval (quizzes and flashcards) at almost no cost. The most efficient approach is to pair one paid resource, such as weekly one-on-one lessons for feedback and speaking practice, with daily free materials for repetition and exposure.
2. Three Ways to Learn Online Lessons
2-1 Mobile apps (e.g., Duolingo)
Mobile apps excel at establishing daily habits. Short, gamified lessons allow you to review kana, core vocabulary, and basic patterns on the train or between meetings. Spaced repetition brings items back just before you forget them. Many apps now include speech input and AI feedback, which are useful for practicing pronunciation and shadowing.
However, app feedback differs from that of a live teacher. Depending on the app and your device, the feedback may focus on word- or sentence-level accuracy, missing finer points like intonation, register, and context—the things that emerge in real, back-and-forth conversation. Use apps for daily input and recall, and then supplement with periodic human practice to refine your natural phrasing and receive targeted corrections.
2-2 Tutoring services (e.g., Preply, italki, gokigen japanese)
One-on-one lessons offer advantages that software can’t: personalized feedback, live conversation, and accountability. A tutor can adjust the pace, choose topics that align with your goals (e.g., travel, work, or the JLPT), and correct your pronunciation or grammar on the spot. You’ll also pick up on natural expressions, levels of politeness, and cultural cues that are difficult to learn from a screen alone.
Although the cost is higher than self-study and you must schedule sessions, even one focused lesson per week can anchor your study plan. Come to the lesson with a clear goal (“N5 by December,” “small talk for travel”), tell your teacher how you want to be corrected (“live” vs. “after you finish speaking”), and take notes on phrases to reuse next time.
2-3 Websites (e.g., WaniKani, blog.gokigen.jp)
Websites address specific needs and provide in-depth explanations. For instance, WaniKani organizes kanji by radicals and mnemonics and has a built-in review system. Blogs like blog.gokigen.jp offer easy-to-read explanations of grammar, travel dialogues, and cultural notes that you can use on your next trip. Many sites also offer Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) practice, audio resources, and community Q&A.
However, websites can become siloed, which is great for reading or kanji but less so for spontaneous speaking. Treat websites as your reference library and practice field. Read an article, mine it for a few phrases, add the phrases to your flashcards, and then try them out with a tutor or language partner.
3. What’s the best way to learn Japanese for me?
3-1 Pros and cons of each method
Each format does a different job: apps build habit, websites explain and drill, tutoring turns knowledge into real conversation. A quick comparison:
| Method | Best at | Watch-outs | How to use it well |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile apps | Daily habit, kana, core vocab/grammar, quick review | Limited real-time pragmatics and interaction | 10–20 min every day; shadow aloud; add periodic speaking checks |
| Websites | Clear explanations, kanji systems, reading/listening libraries | Can stay passive without output | Mine phrases, add to SRS, read aloud, summarize articles in your own words |
| Tutoring services | Live feedback, pronunciation, natural phrasing, accountability | Cost and scheduling | 1×/week focused lesson; prepare questions; review notes and re-use new phrases next session |
3-2 The best way to learn for free ⇒ Mobile apps + Websites
A free pathway can work if you trade money for time and consistency.
Use a habit-forming app alongside one or two structured websites for explanations and kanji. Then, force yourself to produce output by shadowing, reading aloud, and writing short diary entries that you can review on community forums.
3-3 The best way to learn by paying ⇒ Tutoring services
If you can invest in them, one-on-one lessons can help you overcome the challenges of self-study, such as pronunciation, natural word choice, and situational politeness. One focused session per week, plus light daily review with an app or website, often beats many unfocused hours alone.
To maximize your investment, come prepared with a specific goal (“order food and ask follow-up questions,” “pass the N5 exam by December”), indicate your preferred correction style (live vs. after speaking), and incorporate new phrases into your next lesson. Paid tutoring serves as the foundation, while apps and websites handle repetition between sessions.
4. How long does it take to learn to be fluent in Japanese?
4-1 Fluency (FSI estimate ≈ 2,200 hours)
For English speakers, Japanese sits in the U.S. Foreign Service Institute’s hardest group. Their benchmark for professional working proficiency (roughly “fluent” in everyday and work settings) is about 2,200 hours of guided study and practice. That’s a long-term project, but the timeline depends on weekly pace:
- 20 h/week → 2,200 ÷ 20 = 110 weeks ≈ 2.1 years
- 10 h/week → 2,200 ÷ 10 = 220 weeks ≈ 4.2 years
- 7 h/week (≈ 1 h/day) → 2,200 ÷ 7 ≈ 314 weeks ≈ 6.0 years
Two tips shorten the road: (1) make speaking/listening a weekly constant (tutoring, language partner), and (2) push active skills (shadowing, output, feedback) instead of only reading/flashcards.
Source: FSI Language Courses. “FSI language difficulty”. Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://www.fsi-language-courses.org/blog/fsi-language-difficulty/
4-2 JLPT N5 (foundation level ≈ 300–400 hours)
JLPT N5 tests knowledge of Japanese characters and language. The exam focuses on:
- 文字・語彙・文法: hiragana/katakana basics, about 100 kanji, and roughly 1,000 words; simple grammar patterns.
- 聴解（ちょうかい / listening）: short, clearly spoken dialogues and announcements that check basic comprehension.
Source: The Japan Foundation / Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. “Composition of Test Sections and Items” Retrieved September 13, 2025, from https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/testsections.html
Expected study time remains 300–400 hours. Depending on your pace:
- 10 h/week → 300–400 h = 30–40 weeks (≈ 7–9 months)
- 7 h/week (1 h/day) → 300–400 h ≈ 43–57 weeks (≈ 10–13 months)
- 3 h/week → 300–400 h = 100–133 weeks (≈ 2.0–2.6 years)
Plan backward from your target test date and balance kana/kanji, vocab SRS, short readings, and listening drills to mirror the N5 format.
5. gokigen japanese
5-1 What is gokigen japanese?
gokigen japanese is a 1-on-1 online tutoring service with native Japanese teachers. Lessons focus on practical communication you can use immediately—in shops, travel, work small talk, or JLPT prep.
Scheduling is flexible, and pricing is affordable (monthly plan: 4 lessons for USD $119), so you can keep a steady routine without breaking the bank.
gokigen japanese is perfect for you if:
- You feel stuck learning with apps and want real conversation practice.
- You’re preparing for a trip to Japan and need practical travel phrases.
- You need a flexible schedule that fits your busy lifestyle.
- You want to learn not just the language, but also the culture behind it.
5-2 Rich content learning materials
You’ll study with materials built for real life in Japan, not just textbook drills. Options include:
- Beginner Grammar (N5–N4) to build a clear foundation.
- Travel Japanese for quick, usable phrases plus cultural “do’s and don’ts.”
- Article-based lessons (N3+) that grow vocabulary and reading through contemporary topics.
Every lesson is designed around real-world situations—ordering, asking for help, directions, small requests—so you practice the exact language you’ll need.
5-3 Experienced tutors
Our tutors are certified, thoroughly interviewed, and trained to teach online. They balance accuracy with encouragement, give targeted feedback on pronunciation and phrasing, and can explain grammar in clear English when needed.
You choose how you want to be corrected (live vs. after you finish speaking) to match your learning style.
While apps can’t correct your intonation and websites don’t offer live conversation (as we discussed in Section 2), our tutors provide the personalized feedback you need to bridge that gap.
5-4 We cover tons of cultural content
Language makes sense inside culture. Lessons weave in etiquette, festivals, regional food, convenience-store life, train manners, onsen rules, and more—so you know what to say and how to act. Short “culture bites” and role-plays help you remember and use new phrases naturally.
5-5 What our students say
Beginner (20s, United States): “The lessons were really nice to go through and having to speak through them was really refreshing for me compared to just doing duolingo.”
Pre-intermediate (20s, Hong Kong): “I think the learning material is very efficient and easy to understand. One very outstanding point is that the lesson touch on cultural information and also practical usage learning.”
Advanced (60s, United States): “I like that the lessons offer such a good mix of culture, vocabulary, grammar, etc. They cover so many topics at once.”
6. Enroll in Your First Lesson Today
Start Learning Japanese Online Within 24 Hours
Getting started is simple. Tell us your goal (travel, JLPT, conversation), choose a native tutor who fits your style, and pick a time that works this week.
Your first trial lesson is free. Our tutor will explain how our online lessons work and our materials, discuss your goals and current level, and work with you to create a personalized learning plan.
With our monthly plan (4 lessons for USD $119), you can keep a steady routine without reshuffling your life. Lessons are 1-on-1, practical, and friendly—perfect for building real communication skills fast. Book today, and you can be speaking with your tutor as early as tomorrow.
