Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (2024)

Oh, hey there!

Learning Japanese by yourself?

Yes, it’s possible to do that – millions of people are doing it all over the world.

It takes a bit of work but you can truly make Japanese progress alone.

I trust you. You’re smart enough to do it since you already took the first step and went looking for “How to self study Japanese.”

So, here’s a how-to guide on how to self learn Japanese.

An 8-Step Guide on Learning By Yourself.

  • You’re going to learn the right mindset for learning
  • How to succeed and keep going
  • Why others fail
  • Some Japanese learning resources

Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (1)

1) Learning Japanese Alone: Resources & First Steps

First, everyone wants to what resources they should get…

…And they want to know what steps they need to take right now. So, here you go.

A. The Basics:

Where should any beginner start?

Yes, with the Alphabet (Hiragana and Katakana).

Honestly, you can learn the Japanese alphabetonline for free. Forget about kanji until you have these mastered. Or, you can get yourself a Japanese textbook to make life easier. (Keep reading for info about textbooks).

So, here’s what you should do ideally:

Learn Hiragana first and then Katakana.

Hiragana is one of three Japanese alphabets. How many Hiragana are there? There are 46 letters/characters in total.

Katakana is the second kind of alphabet; it has 46 characters and the same sounds as Hiragana. It just looks different. So why do you need Katakana? The Japanese use Katakana for scientific terms and foreign words that have been adopted into Japanese ( coffee: コーヒー, koohii ). So, that’s why you need to know it. No other reason.

Here, I have my own guide to learning Hiragana and Katakana.

What about Kanji?Learn Kanji after you’re done with Hiragana and Katakana.

Actually, you’ll learn Kanji with whatever textbook you go with so don’t worry about Kanji.

“If there’s the hiragana, why do we need Kanji?”

Good question. There are 2 reasons.

1) Japanese writing has no spaces so imagine reading everything like this – canyoureadthisisitfunforyoudoyoulikeityousickpervert?

So, Kanji makes reading faster. With Hiragana alone, you’d have a hard time reading, telling the context and knowing where one word starts and the other ends.

  • No Kanji: わたしはがくせいでがっこうにまいにちいきます。Ouch.
  • With Kanji: 私は学生で学校に毎日に行きます。Much better!

2) There are tons of words that have the same spelling in Japanese. So, if we went with Hiragana, how would you tell the difference? You couldn’t. Kanji though has different symbols and that’s how you know which word is which.

Alright, so we covered the first steps. Now, what’s next?

B. Speaking & Listening:

EVERY Japanese learner wants to speak and understand Japanese well. How do you do it on your own?

As a self-learner, there’s nothing better than Audio Lessons & Video Lessons – where you can hear, learn and master Japanese conversations.

You can re-listen as much as you want until you get better. Look for Online Japanese Courses that specialize in this. My suggestion is JapanesePod101.com. You get tons of lessons that get you speaking from Beginner Level and work your way up. JapanesePod101 offers a great way to learn at your pace.

C. Reading & Writing:

In order to get these next two skills down, just get a beginner Japanese textbook.

Don’t get an app or some program. Textbooks are organized to get you learning from knowing NOTHING to learning the alphabet, reading, writing, basic grammar, vocabulary and much more. Having one will be very useful and will serve as a friendly guide into the language.

Some suggestions are:

Genki: Recommended & used at most colleges/schools.

Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (2)
Genki: Elementary Japanese, Vol. 1

A learner favorite. This has great ratings on Amazon.
Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (3)Japanese from Zero: Vol. 1

D. Supplemental Material:

Alright, at this point, we’ve covered the majority of what you’ll need to learn at your pace. Would you need anything else?

  • Grammar
  • Kanji

The truth is, no matter what textbook you go for, you will learn some grammar and kanji. So, you don’t need Grammar and Kanji books as a beginner. They’re more so for intermediate and advanced learners.

However, if you’re interested, there are excellent books dedicated to helping you master these. Here are some suggestions below. All are links for you to click.

But what if you already have some book, learning program or app that you bought?

Good. Then use that.

Any start is a good start when you’re a beginner.

Worrying about “starting perfect with the BEST THING” and digging through all the available resources will kill your learning. I’ll say it now: anyone wanting to do things “perfectly” from the start is dangerously misguided and very, very stupid.

I’ll repeat that again for those in the back: anyone wanting to do things “perfectly” from the start is dangerously misguided and very, very stupid.

So, use what you have and don’t look at other material yet.

Too much choice is bad for you. It slows down decision making. It will slow down and stop your Japanese learning. You don’t need too many apps. You don’t need the next shiny program. Don’t worry about anything. Worry about things when they come around.

So, if you already have some book, program or app, stick with it. Keep reading to learn how to “stick” with things.

Again, don’t worry about having the BEST possible program or start. Only people looking to fail do that.

Next…

2) What is your reason for learning Japanese?

Now that you have the tools for studying Japanese by yourself, what’s next?

Well, why are you learning Japanese?

Some people want to live in Japan (strong motivator – needed for daily life). Others need it to speak with family (also very strong). Then, there are people that are simply interested in culture, manga, anime and drama.

And finally… those that do it just because they want to. Like me!

Some of these reasons are strong motivators. Some are weak.

But, don’t worry. People with weak reasons can and do succeed. People with “strong” reasons can and do fail. In fact, you can find people living in Japan for years who still can’t speak well. So, again, a strong reason does not guarantee success.

You’ll learn exactly why people quit/fail below.

But, knowing your reason will:

  • serve as motivation (always remember why you started)
  • serve as a benchmark (have you reached your goal yet?)
  • allow you to see progress (you started with nothing and where are you now?)
  • give you a clear purpose. (for family, friends, anime, personal goal, etc.)

To do now: Write down your reason. Or better yet, leave a comment down below! Keeping your reason in mind will motivate you to keep going. So now, you know how to stay motivated.

  • Next step: How do you avoid quitting? Keep reading.

3) Remember, consistency is important.

A lot of self-learners fail.

They start learning, they buy a book, they stick with it for a week… and they begin to fall off.

Why?

Many reasons. They get bored. Life gets busy and they stop. Or, they don’t see progress. Or, they get distracted. Excuse #4. Excuse #5. Whatever. These small reasons are not important. But the biggest reason they fail is that they don’t understand consistency.

Now, I warn you.

This part will sound like SELF-HELP preaching. And it is because…

…there is no one, not me, not the words on this page, no book, no app, no article that will help save you. Only you can save yourself. I can’t do it for you.

If you truly want to succeed in Japanese, you need to brainwash yourself and understand that….

  • learning Japanese will take consistent time and consistent effort over a long period of time.

Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (4)

If you can’t, you’ll never get good at Japanese.

You need to be consistent with Japanese. Here, just think about it for a moment…

  • Why do athletes practice consistently?
    • It doesn’t take a day. It takes a long time to get good. Then you have to maintain skill.
  • Why do bodybuilders spend most of their time in the gym?
    • Same as athletes. Serious progress takes a long time.
  • Why is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson still in the gym and eating truck-tons of food?
    • Again, he needs consistency to keep his muscles (aside from the fact that the guy loves the Iron Temple (the gym)).
  • Why do people that eat burgers daily gain weight?
    • They eat burgers consistently.
  • Why do people that eat “okay” food but don’t move much… become skinny-fat?
    • They’re consistently inactive.
  • Why are people that started programming at the age of 14 (and never stopped) so good now?
    • They may not have realized it as kids, but because they kept at it, they became good.
  • Why is your favorite singer so good at singing?
    • They’ve been singing since they were 16 and never stopped!

Time. Effort. Over a long period of time.

Some people were lucky to develop consistency without thinking about it. This is the case with those that start young. For example, when parents that force their kids to learn piano. The kids keep it at because that’s all they know and they can easily continue. They don’t have to think about consistency. They were raised on it.

Others had to practice hard to become consistent with things.

So, how do YOU become consistent? First, I’ll tell you a good Zen story.

A student came to a Zen Master and said “Please give some wisdom that will help me pay attention.” So, the old Master wrote “Attention” on a chalkboard.

“Is that it?” Asked the student. So, the old Master wrote “Attention” again.

“But that’s not wise or profound. Give me something that will shake my mind” whined the student. Again, the old Master wrote “Attention” on a chalkboard.

Attention. Attention. Attention. The student demanded “What does this Attention mean??” “

Attention means attention” replied the master.

Moral: In order to pay attention, you must pay practice paying attention.

So, what’s the point of this story? It’s this.

In order to be consistent, you must be… consistent.

See, the student was looking for something “deeper” – that would shake his mind and stir his soul. Intellectual masturbation without any actual results. This is the mistake most learners make. This is the mistake people make when reading self-help books. We’re all looking for some wise, inspirational statement. And once we stumble upon and read this magical statement… it will shake us to the core. Matrix code will drop down all around us. Our mind will suddenly become clear. Our vision will become 20/20. Our acne will clear up. Our sense of smell will become stronger… and we will be different.

Except, no. It doesn’t work that way. That will never happen.

See, instead of practicing the damn thing, people go to read about the damn thing. Just like learning Japanese, same goes for acting classes, dancing classes, calligraphy classes, writing classes, practicing sports, learning marketing, learning cooking, or anything….

  • Rule of life: through physical practice, you develop the mental habits. Through the physical, you develop the mental.

So, to be consistent, you must practice being consistent. You must DO. You must make a habit of doing it every day or every 5 days out of the week. If you’re not actually doing the studying, the speaking practice, and the reviewing…. you’re never going to get it.

Okay, enough.

Let’s move on.

4) When is the Best Time to Start Learning Japanese?

Yesterday. Last year. Five years ago. And of course, right now.

Everyone that has succeeded, or has seen some Japanese progress, will tell you the same thing — “I wish I started earlier.” Why do they say that? Time. More time. That’s because they would have been tons better thanks to extra time. Yes, time — the thing that we waste by searching for “inspiration” and “the next best possible app” instead of doing the work now.

Remember:

  • learning Japanese will take consistent time and consistent effort over a long period of time.

So, the next best time to start learning is today. Here’s why. Imagine that learning Japanese is like rolling a snowball. Look at routine #1 and routine #2.

With #1, you skip a day. With #2, you keep on going.

DaysRoutine #1Routine #2
Day 1You roll it and it gets a little bigger – 3 inches in diameter.You roll it and it gets a little bigger – 3 inches in diameter.
Day 2You roll it – now 3.2 inches in diameterYou roll it – now 3.2 inches in diameter
Day 3You skip this day.You roll it – now 3.4 inches in diameter
Day 4You roll it – now it’s 3.4 inches in diameter.You roll it – now 3.6 inches in diameter

Do you see? If you rolled it on day 3 and continued on day 4, you’d be much further ahead.

But because you skipped it, you lost 2 things:

  1. you LOST day 3’s progress
  2. you lost future progress that is made possible by day 3.

When you skip a day… the problem is not just about skipping that day. The problem is, you lose future progress made possible by day 3. That’s something you can never gain back.

But you do gain something when you do skip it. You’re now rolling ANOTHER snowball. Instead of practicing Japanese learning and strengthening that habit, you’re now practicing LAZINESS and INCONSISTENCY and you’re getting better at ’em. Like muscles, when you skip your biceps, they will grow weak and what you focus on (doing nothing/being lazy) will get stronger.

Note: This is also a good lesson in consistency.

So, that’s why right now is the best time to start.You can make Japanese progress right now. Then, tomorrow. And if you keep that snowball rolling, the better you get. But, the more you put it off, the more you lose as shown by my sweet snowball example.

If you don’t start now — starting things is a skill to be learned too — you likely never will.

5) How Much Japanese Should You Learn a Day?

Okay, before you get excited, all “rah-rah” and try to spend the next 5 hours cramming, stop.

Do not overwhelm yourself. If you have an app or a learning program, do NOT do all the lessons right now.

  • Learners who steamroll through their first few days failin the long run.

Let me say that again in another way…

  • People fail at goals because they do too much. More than they can handle. They overwhelm themselves with big goals and thinking that they must suffer and put in hours. Sure, you need to put in hours. But not now. Not tomorrow. Not any time soon. You can’t lift 200 pounds on your first day at the gym and you shouldn’t do too much right now. You’ll get to it eventually. Besides, cramming for 3 hours upfront is won’t help you remember anything in the long term.

Learn for just 5-10 minutes and that’s it. When you’re done, back off, back up and walk away.

You might not think that’s enough… but this is a marathon, not a race. Yes, 5 minutes of study won’t help you get fluent in the next 5 minutes but…

  • it will add up (see step 4) in the long run
  • it will help you become consistent
  • it will strengthen your learning habits (roll that snowball) and make it harder to quit
  • you will then be able to increase your study-time
    • just like in the gym, you start with 5 pound dumbbells, work your way up to 10, 15 and so on.

So, a learn a little bit. Let’s get specific now.

6) Set A Small & Easy Goal Every Month.

Another reason most learners fail — they aim for goals like “I want to be fluent.” Oh yeah? How soon? How will you get there? When they realize they set a goal that they don’t know if they’ll ever reach – because it’s so big and vague – they quit.

Here’s what you do. Set a goal for yourself that is:

  • Small & Easy – why? So you can easily achieve it.
    • example: learn 100 Japanese words in 1 month.
  • Measurable – why? You’ll know how much you have left to go.
    • example: 100 words is measurable.
  • Has a Deadline – why? You’ll know when to reach it by. Otherwise, you’ll be forever wading through the same learning materials and never making progress.
    • example: if you set for 1 month, make the deadline the end of the month: December 31st.

Doing this will guarantee that 1) your goal is a lot more realistic, 2) you’ll know how much progress you’ve actually made and 3) you’ll be inspired to aim a little higher – and make more progress. In other words, you’ll become consistent.

To do now:

  • Write down your small Japanese goal for the month. Write it down in the comments!

7) What Next? Stay Focused & Finish.

Alright.

You have some material to get you going.

What’s next? Well, aside from starting to learn…

First of all, remember the steps and your success is guaranteed.

And just as importantly, stay focused on your learning material and finish it.

Finishing it is a good sign that if you can take down one textbook, you can definitely succeed with the language. If you call it quits on a piece of learning material, who’s to say you won’t quit on the language as well? Be a finisher.

Unless you have to, don’t quit one and jump to another because “you’re bored.”

Anyone can jump from one thing to the next.

Very few finish it to the end.

And those are the ones that tend to develop the learning habits to make good Japanese progress.

8) Bonus Learning Ideas

  • Subscribe to the Japanese Word of the Day
    • Write down the words in your notebook every day.
    • This is an easy way to drill some Japanese and keep your habit going.
  • Get Easy Japanese News by NHK
    • Read the same article 3x in a day for reading practice
    • Copy it out by hand to practice writing
    • Read it out lout for speaking practice
  • Copy out Japanese social media posts from Twitter or Facebook by hand
  • Watch 1 episode of a drama and force yourself to repeat every line

What do you think?

If you find this helpful, do print it out and keep it by your desk. Steps 1, 2, 3 and 5 are particularly important that most learners never grasp.

Be sure to leave a comment below!

– The Main Junkie

P.S. I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (5)

Successful Learning: How To Self Study Japanese Alone. (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to learn Japanese through self study? ›

As an independent learner, you will be the captain of your own ship in the vast sea of language learning. But with motivation, commitment and some good resources, you will not only find it's totally possible to learn Japanese by yourself, it's also one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences!

What is the best way to learn Japanese on your own? ›

The Best Way to Learn Japanese: 11 Proven Study Methods That Work
  1. Take a Class or Computer Course. ...
  2. Listen to Language Podcasts. ...
  3. Watch Japanese TV With English Subtitles. ...
  4. Learn Hiragana and Katakana. ...
  5. Read Manga or Children's Books. ...
  6. Get a Workbook. ...
  7. Use Flashcards. ...
  8. Sing Japanese Karaoke Songs.
Mar 23, 2015

How can I learn Japanese at home by myself? ›

5 easy ways to learn Japanese from home
  1. Pick a core Japanese curriculum and work with it every day. Most Japanese schools use the “Minna no Nihongo” series (“Japanese for Everyone”). ...
  2. Watch anime, movies, and TV in Japanese. ...
  3. Listen to Japanese radio, music, and podcasts. ...
  4. Cook Japanese food. ...
  5. Make Japanese friends.
May 13, 2020

How many hours should I study Japanese per day? ›

So, you will want to spend a good chunk of time learning every day. In general, it is recommended that learners spend 2 hours per day studying Japanese. This rate of study will enable a learner to achieve general professional proficiency in Japanese in a time frame of 6.2 years.

How many hours do Japanese study a day? ›

School finishes around 3:15 pm, so they have to be in school for about six and a half hours every day from Monday to Friday. However, most kids also attend after-school clubs, and many also go to juku (cram school) in the evening to do extra studying. Learn more about school life in Japan in our Meet the Kids section.

How long does it take to self study Japanese? ›

How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese on Average? With consistent studying and speaking, for about 30 minutes to an hour a day, you could speak at a conversational level in Japanese in about 3 months. It's all about using the right method, and I'll say it again: speak from day one!

Should I study Japanese everyday? ›

1. Study Japanese every day. I know I just said that traditional studying methods are only a small part of it, but they're an essential part nonetheless. Grab a few recommended textbooks and knuckle down for at least twenty minutes a day (ideally an hour or two, but twenty minutes is better than nothing).

How many kanji should I study daily? ›

1. How many kanji will I learn each day? Some simple math will show that you need to learn at least 23 kanji every day to complete your mission on schedule (2,042 kanji ÷ 90 days = 22.7).

Can I learn Japanese just by listening? ›

Listening to learn Japanese can be a very effective way to immerse yourself in a new language. Another bonus: audiobooks are super convenient. No matter how busy you are on any given day, it's easy to find the time to throw on a Japanese audiobook and just allow yourself to be immersed in the language and its cadence.

What is the fastest way to learn Japanese fluently? ›

7 tips for learning to speak Japanese fluently
  1. Don't rush the basics. For some learners, the three Japanese writing systems can be intimidating. ...
  2. Find media you love. ...
  3. Practise with native speakers. ...
  4. Record yourself speaking. ...
  5. Set goals. ...
  6. Use mnemonics. ...
  7. Stay positive.

Can I learn Japanese in 2 weeks? ›

You really can't. Japanese is rated on the high side of 2200 hours of intensive study. There is no fast way to do that. There just isn't. The language is too different from English, so you end up having to learn everything from scratch.

Can I learn Japanese 1 hour a day? ›

However, if you study only one hour per day and don't do anything else to learn Japanese, it can take you up to twenty years to learn the language! So if you don't want to be speaking Japanese only in 2039, keep reading to see how you can shorten this time frame.

Can I learn Japanese in 10 days? ›

While it may not be possible to become fluent in Japanese in just ten days, it IS possible to learn the basics of speaking in a short period of time and move on to becoming fluent. Don't be discouraged. You can and will learn Japanese much faster than you expect.

Can you learn Japanese without spending money? ›

You really don't have to spend a lot, if any money to learn Japanese! You can find a basic chart of Hiragana and Katakana online, as i've said textbooks are free as well and you don't need vocabulary books, just use sites like Memrise which have a lot of vocabulary courses for Japanese!

Is 2 years enough to learn Japanese? ›

The average length of time to learn advanced Japanese is 2-3 years. At the intermediate level, you can understand most of what your teacher says, and you can follow along with TV programs. When it comes to using the language with other Japanese speakers, however, you still have some limitations.

How many words do you need to be fluent in Japanese? ›

Generally speaking, you need to know about 3,000 – 5,000 Japanese words to be fluent in the language. But it can't just be any words, as you could simply learn the names of people, places, and Pokémon to hit one or two thousand.

Can one study 16 hours a day? ›

Studying 15-16 hours per day is possible for only 2-3 days if very necessary. Studying at high pitch continuously drain your body's capacity to recover & hamper retaining capacity.

How much sleep do Japanese students get? ›

The Japanese high school student, with an average of 6.3 h sleep, is an extreme example. A recent feature in Japanese adolescents' life-style is a pattern of frequent exposure to bright nocturnal light, which is believed to bear considerable impact on their sleep habits.

What time do Japanese students wake up? ›

The survey revealed that the majority of respondents in Japan, over 35 percent, tend to wake up at around 6am on weekdays, while only 0.8 percent reported to get up at 11am.
...
Average wake up time on working days in Japan as of 2018.
CharacteristicShare of respondents
--
9 more rows
Nov 30, 2021

How many hours does Japanese sleep? ›

In 2016, people in Japan slept on average 457 minutes per night, equaling about seven hours and 37 minutes and representing the lowest amount of time during the period examined.
...
Weekly average duration of sleep among people in Japan from 1976 to 2016 (in minutes)
CharacteristicTime of sleep in minutes
--
--
7 more rows
Nov 30, 2021

How long will it take a 14 year old to learn Japanese? ›

Depending on how many hours per day you can study Japanese, attaining a basic level of fluency can take between six months and one year. Once you've reached a basic level of Japanese fluency, you should be able to: Ask for and understand directions.

How much Japanese can you learn in 2 years? ›

For most Westerners, it is possible to be somewhat conversational in 2–3 years if you live in Japan. If you add in learning to read Kanji it is closer to 5 years. Some people can do it faster, but 5 years is a pretty realistic estimate for most people.

Why is learning Japanese so hard? ›

The Japanese language is considered one of the most difficult to learn by many English speakers. With three separate writing systems, an opposite sentence structure to English, and a complicated hierarchy of politeness, it's decidedly complex.

How much Japanese can I learn in a year? ›

You can become fluent in a year. As in, incredibly fluent. But the majority of people simply do not have the time, let alone mental ability (as in, they'd burn out from over study) and funds to do this. Basic conversations are easy and 18 months is a long time.

Can I learn 20 kanji a day? ›

If you learn 20 kanji a day, you can learn all of them in 100 days (just over 3 months). If you learn 10 kanji a day, you can learn all of them in 200 days (just under 7 months) If you learn 5 kanji a day, you can learn all of them in 400 days (just over 13 months)

Can you learn 2000 kanji in a year? ›

Most people who want to learn the 2000 Jouyou Kanji take around 1-1.5 years if they are going at a steady pace. The timing is similar for N1 kanji lists. This of course depends on a lot of factors so let's take a look at how fast you could learn the kanji and get it out of the way!

Is knowing 1000 Kanji enough? ›

If all you want to do is speak the language, the answer is none. If you want to understand about 95% of what you read, just 1000 kanji will get you there.

What should you not do when learning Japanese? ›

  1. 1: Make sure you have the right resources. ...
  2. 2: Thinking you are going to become a master by watching only anime. ...
  3. 3: Not actually using Japanese. ...
  4. 4: Copying the wrong gender. ...
  5. 5: Overusing Pronouns. ...
  6. 6: Speaking with the wrong level of formality. ...
  7. 7: Using “san” in your introduction. ...
  8. 8: Learning too quickly and getting stressed.
Dec 23, 2019

What is the easiest form of Japanese to learn? ›

Although most Japanese reading guides will tell you to start with kanji, hiragana is actually much easier to master. So, if you can learn hiragana first, you can already see and recognize Japanese characters. Hiragana is as close to a Japanese alphabet as we can get.

Is reading or speaking Japanese is easier? ›

Speaking is easier and more encouraging than reading

Let's face it – reading Japanese can look like a herculean task for a beginner. This applies to kanji, katakana, and even hiragana.

What is the best place to learn Japanese? ›

28 Best Websites to Learn Japanese
  1. Best for Audiovisual Learners: JapanesePod101. ...
  2. Best for Japanese Immersion: FluentU. ...
  3. Best for Speaking Practice: italki. ...
  4. Best Online Video Lessons: “Erin's Challenge! ...
  5. Best Online Japanese Quizzes: Linguti. ...
  6. Most Content: Imabi. ...
  7. Best Game for Japanese Learners: Japanese Level Up.
Jun 29, 2022

Why do Japanese speak so fast? ›

Syllabic Rate: This refers to the number of syllables per second. Japanese is the highest here, just beating out the fast-talking Spanish. The hypothesis of the study is that languages with a lower information density (like Japanese) will make up for it by speaking faster.

Can I learn Japanese at 30? ›

You may have heard recently that it's now impossible to study in Japan if you are over 30 years old. Luckily for those who fall in that category, this isn't actually true and it's actually never too late to chase your Japanese language dreams.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Japan? ›

In more rural areas you can certainly find such apartments, but in any city you should expect to pay 50,000 yen or more. The average rent for a studio apartment in Tokyo is about 90,000 yen!
...
Cost of Living Expenses.
Food¥38,257
Other expenses¥6,576
Excess entertainment expenses​¥12,934
Total expenditures¥148,351
13 more rows
Mar 8, 2021

What is the easiest language to learn? ›

15 of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers - ranked
  • Frisian. Frisian is thought to be one of the languages most closely related to English, and therefore also the easiest for English-speakers to pick up. ...
  • Dutch. ...
  • Norwegian. ...
  • Spanish. ...
  • Portuguese. ...
  • Italian. ...
  • French. ...
  • Swedish.
Oct 24, 2021

Is it easier to learn Japanese or Chinese? ›

Japanese is slightly easier to learn. But, Chinese is much more widely spoken. Both languages have their pros and cons.

What is the best age to learn a second language? ›

They concluded that the ability to learn a new language, at least grammatically, is strongest until the age of 18 after which there is a precipitous decline. To become completely fluent, however, learning should start before the age of 10.

How fast can Japanese be learned? ›

Japanese is one of the most difficult languages for English natives to master. This is because it does not have a lot of likeness in structure to English. Approximately it will take 88 weeks, or 2200 hours of studying, to become fluent. But this article shows tips and tools to expedite and make the process easier.

What should I learn first in Japanese? ›

Learn to Read Hiragana

The other two are katakana and kanji, but hiragana is where everything starts. The ability to read hiragana is going to be a prerequisite for most beginner Japanese textbooks and resources. It's the first thing you learn in a traditional classroom.

How much Japanese should I learn before going to Japan? ›

But aside from the fact that it's a rich and fascinating language, learning even just one or two Japanese words or phrases will help endear you to the Japanese people you meet during your trip, and enhance your overall travel experience.

Is it hard to visit Tokyo If you dont speak Japanese? ›

You don't have to understand Japanese to have a great time in Japan. You can travel in Japan just fine without knowing any Japanese.

How long does it take to self study Japanese? ›

How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese on Average? With consistent studying and speaking, for about 30 minutes to an hour a day, you could speak at a conversational level in Japanese in about 3 months. It's all about using the right method, and I'll say it again: speak from day one!

How long does it take to learn Japanese by yourself? ›

Japanese is one of the most difficult languages for English natives to master. This is because it does not have a lot of likeness in structure to English. Approximately it will take 88 weeks, or 2200 hours of studying, to become fluent. But this article shows tips and tools to expedite and make the process easier.

How long does it take to learn Japanese self taught? ›

Learning Japanese isn't easy and it will take time. It's probably fair to say that you can expect a commitment of at least three years in order to achieve something resembling fluency. The average learner gets to the advanced level in three or four years.

Can I study in Japan if I don't speak Japanese? ›

Myth #1: You need to speak fluent Japanese.

Some universities in Japan offer courses fully taught in English, as well as language classes to help international students learn Japanese too. At Tokyo's Waseda University, for instance, seven schools and 12 graduate schools offer all-English degree programs.

Is 1 hour a day enough to learn Japanese? ›

However, if you study only one hour per day and don't do anything else to learn Japanese, it can take you up to twenty years to learn the language! So if you don't want to be speaking Japanese only in 2039, keep reading to see how you can shorten this time frame.

How long will it take a 14 year old to learn Japanese? ›

Depending on how many hours per day you can study Japanese, attaining a basic level of fluency can take between six months and one year. Once you've reached a basic level of Japanese fluency, you should be able to: Ask for and understand directions.

Can I learn Japanese in 10 days? ›

While it may not be possible to become fluent in Japanese in just ten days, it IS possible to learn the basics of speaking in a short period of time and move on to becoming fluent. Don't be discouraged. You can and will learn Japanese much faster than you expect.

Is 2 years enough to learn Japanese? ›

The average length of time to learn advanced Japanese is 2-3 years. At the intermediate level, you can understand most of what your teacher says, and you can follow along with TV programs. When it comes to using the language with other Japanese speakers, however, you still have some limitations.

How many words do you need to be fluent in Japanese? ›

Generally speaking, you need to know about 3,000 – 5,000 Japanese words to be fluent in the language. But it can't just be any words, as you could simply learn the names of people, places, and Pokémon to hit one or two thousand.

How do you memorize kanji fast? ›

Best Japanese Kanji Learning Method
  1. Rote Memorization. The best way to learn any language is through repetition. ...
  2. Mnemonics. ...
  3. Learn 常用漢字 (Jouyou Kanji) ...
  4. Study the Kanji of Words that You Most Commonly Use. ...
  5. Learn Radicals. ...
  6. Learn the Kanji of Words on Your Vocabulary List. ...
  7. Read Japanese Reading Material. ...
  8. Use a Dictionary.

Can I learn Japanese in 2 weeks? ›

You really can't. Japanese is rated on the high side of 2200 hours of intensive study. There is no fast way to do that. There just isn't. The language is too different from English, so you end up having to learn everything from scratch.

How much Japanese can you learn in 2 years? ›

For most Westerners, it is possible to be somewhat conversational in 2–3 years if you live in Japan. If you add in learning to read Kanji it is closer to 5 years. Some people can do it faster, but 5 years is a pretty realistic estimate for most people.

Which subject is best to study in Japan? ›

29 Top Courses in Japan 2023
  • Course: Electrical and Electronics. Read More. ...
  • Vital signs measurement. Read More. ...
  • Immunology. Read More. ...
  • Japanese Language & Culture Program. Read More. ...
  • Welfare and health. Read More. ...
  • Course of Food Science and Technology. Read More. ...
  • Summer Intensive Language. Read More. ...
  • Japanese affairs. Read More.

Should I study Japanese everyday? ›

1. Study Japanese every day. I know I just said that traditional studying methods are only a small part of it, but they're an essential part nonetheless. Grab a few recommended textbooks and knuckle down for at least twenty minutes a day (ideally an hour or two, but twenty minutes is better than nothing).

What should you not do when learning Japanese? ›

  1. 1: Make sure you have the right resources. ...
  2. 2: Thinking you are going to become a master by watching only anime. ...
  3. 3: Not actually using Japanese. ...
  4. 4: Copying the wrong gender. ...
  5. 5: Overusing Pronouns. ...
  6. 6: Speaking with the wrong level of formality. ...
  7. 7: Using “san” in your introduction. ...
  8. 8: Learning too quickly and getting stressed.
Dec 23, 2019

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