Beginner Japanese that actually teaches

Learn Japanese with lessons, games, travel phrases, and real-world tools.

Nihongo.co.jp is built for real beginners. Start with hiragana, learn polite phrases, read signs, travel more confidently, use quick tools, play memory games, and build Japanese that works in actual life.

Start Learning Play Games Travel Phrases

Learn Hiragana, katakana, polite Japanese, food, trains, survival, hotel language.

Play Kana games, phrase games, train games, order games, polite Japanese games.

Use Signs, tools, business Japanese, dating Japanese, travel Japanese.

Start with these three

/learn/hiragana.html /travel/japan-first-trip-japanese.html /games/kana.html

Best quick start:
Learn a few hiragana, play the kana game, then practice travel phrases. That combination builds confidence fast.

Featured games

Games deserve a front-row seat here. They make repetition lighter, faster, and much more memorable.

See all games

Starter

Kana Game

Train your eyes and memory on the core Japanese writing system.

Play

Useful

Phrase Game

Practice practical phrases you can use in real life right away.

Play

Travel

Train Game

Build confidence with station, platform, and train language.

Play

Polite

Polite Game

Practice the soft, respectful Japanese that helps everywhere.

Play

Ordering

Order Game

Practice ordering food, drinks, and simple items naturally.

Play

Kanji

Kanji Game

Start noticing common kanji in a lower-stress way.

Play

Survival

Lost Game

Practice what to say when you are confused or need help.

Play

Gesture

Hand Game

Pair language with physical cues and visual understanding.

Play

Hiragana on the front page

You were right. The homepage should teach immediately. This table gives beginners a real first foothold.

Full hiragana lesson

あ

い

う

え

お

か

き

く

け

こ

さ

し

shi

す

せ

そ

た

ち

chi

つ

tsu

て

と

な

に

ぬ

ね

の

Start with these rows, then go straight to the kana game. That combination is one of the fastest ways to make Japanese feel readable.

Your first useful phrases

These are the phrases that help beginners immediately in the real world.

More travel phrases

すみません。

Sumimasen.

Excuse me. / Sorry.

Example: すみません、駅はどこですか。
Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka.

When to use it: Before almost any polite question.

ありがとうございます。

Arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you very much.

Example: ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.

When to use it: After help, service, or directions.

〜はどこですか。

~ wa doko desu ka.

Where is ~ ?

Example: トイレはどこですか。
Toire wa doko desu ka.

When to use it: For places, exits, stations, and restrooms.

Explore by path

Nihongo.co.jp is now big enough that the homepage should help people choose the right lane.

Learn

Structured beginner lessons with real teaching flow.

Learn Japanese Hiragana Katakana Polite Japanese

Travel

Practical Japanese for moving through Japan more smoothly.

Travel Japanese Travel Phrases Station Japanese Hotel Japanese

Tools & Signs

Fast reference pages and visual Japanese for daily use.

Tools Japanese Numbers Signs Station Signs

Life Japanese

Human language for work, relationships, and modern communication.

Business Japanese Dating Japanese Texting Japanese Self-Introduction Japanese

Why this site works

The system is built to combine teaching, repetition, and real-world use.

Lessons that are readable

Japanese, kana, romaji, English, examples, and when-to-use notes.

Games that reinforce memory

Practice without feeling like you are grinding through a textbook.

Travel language that matters

Stations, restaurants, convenience stores, hotels, and survival language.

Signs that decode the real world

Entrance, exit, restroom, warning, shopping, and restaurant signs.

Tools for fast answers

Quick-reference pages for numbers, polite phrases, and emergency language.

Human Japanese

Business communication, texting, dating culture, and social tone.