Learn Japanese from Scratch: The Complete Roadmap 2026

Want to learn Japanese but don't know where to start? This is the guide I wish I had. No useless theory, no impossible promises. Just the most efficient path from zero to 'I speak Japanese', with all the steps in the right order.

The Roadmap: Big Picture

Here's the complete path. Each phase builds on the previous one. Don't skip steps, even if they seem boring.

• Phase 0: Mindset and preparation (1 day)
• Phase 1: Hiragana (1-2 weeks)
• Phase 2: Katakana (1-2 weeks)
• Phase 3: Foundation - first kanji and vocabulary (1-3 months)
• Phase 4: Basic grammar (2-4 months, parallel to Phase 3)
• Phase 5: Expansion - more kanji, more grammar, input (6-12 months)
• Phase 6: Intermediate - consuming real content (1-2 years)
• Phase 7: Advanced - refinement and specialization (ongoing)

Phase 0: Mindset (Before Starting)

Some uncomfortable truths you need to accept before starting:

• Japanese is hard. Not impossible, but it takes years, not months
• Consistency beats intensity. 20 minutes daily > 3 hours once a week
• There's no magic method. All methods work if you stick with them
• You must tolerate ambiguity. You won't understand everything immediately, and that's normal
• Your 'why' must be strong. Without clear motivation, you'll quit

Ask yourself: why do I want to learn Japanese? Anime? Work? Travel? Culture? The answer will guide your choices.

Phase 1: Hiragana (Week 1-2)

Hiragana is the basic phonetic alphabet of Japanese. 46 characters representing all the sounds of the language. You MUST learn it before everything else.

How to Learn Hiragana

• Use mnemonics: あ looks like a stylized 'A', の looks like 'no' written in cursive
• Learn in groups: あいうえお, then かきくけこ, then さしすせそ...
• Practice writing: handwriting fixes characters in memory
• Daily tests: every day, try to write all characters you know
• Don't use romaji: as soon as possible, read only hiragana

Realistic time: 1 week if you study 30+ minutes daily. 2 weeks at a more relaxed pace. Don't move on until you recognize all characters without hesitation.

Phase 2: Katakana (Week 3-4)

Katakana uses the same sounds as hiragana but with different characters. It's used for foreign words, proper nouns, onomatopoeia. It's more angular and, for many, harder to remember.

Why Katakana Seems Harder

It's not actually harder, you just practice it less. Hiragana appears everywhere in beginner materials. Katakana less so. Solution: actively look for katakana words (コーヒー, パン, コンピューター) and read them.

Realistic time: 1-2 weeks. Use the same method as hiragana.

Phase 3: First Kanji and Vocabulary (Month 1-3)

Now the serious part begins. Kanji are characters of Chinese origin, and they're the heart of written Japanese. Learning them takes time, but without kanji you'll never read real Japanese.

Where to Start

• Start with N5 kanji (about 100 characters)
• Learn each kanji WITH the words that contain it
• Use spaced repetition (SRS) - apps like Kanjidon
• 5-10 new kanji per day, no more
• Review EVERY DAY. Kanji are forgotten quickly

Common mistake: learning isolated kanji without words. 日 alone means little. 日本 (Japan), 今日 (today), 日曜日 (Sunday) are useful. Always learn in context.

Phase 4: Basic Grammar (Month 1-4)

This phase runs parallel to Phase 3. While learning kanji and vocabulary, you also need to understand how the language works.

What to Learn First

• Basic structure: Subject + Object + Verb (SOV)
• Fundamental particles: は, が, を, に, で, へ, と, も, の
• Verbs in polite form (ます form)
• Adjectives: い-adjectives and な-adjectives
• Basic forms: present, past, negative
• Simple questions and answers

Recommended Resources

For grammar, you need structured resources. Options:

• Genki I: university textbook, complete but academic
• Minna no Nihongo: the standard in Japan, all in Japanese (translation sold separately)
• Tae Kim's Guide: free online, clear explanations
• Cure Dolly (YouTube): non-traditional approach, very logical

Phase 5: Expansion (Month 4-12)

Now you have the basics. It's time to expand on all fronts.

Kanji and Vocabulary Expansion

• Move to N4 kanji (about 200 more)
• Then N3 (another 350)
• Goal: 500-650 kanji by year's end
• Vocabulary: 2000-3000 words

Intermediate Grammar

• Verb forms: て-form, た-form, potential, volitional
• Conditionals: たら, ば, なら, と
• Giving/receiving: あげる, もらう, くれる
• Expressions of opinion, desire, obligation
• Passive and causative forms

Input: Start Consuming Content

This phase is crucial. You need to start reading and listening to real Japanese, even if you don't understand everything.

• Graded readers: simplified books for learners
• NHK Easy News: news in simplified Japanese
• Anime with Japanese subtitles
• Podcasts for beginners (JapanesePod101, Nihongo con Teppei)
• Simple manga (Yotsuba&! is the classic recommendation)

Phase 6: Intermediate (Year 1-2)

Now you can start enjoying real Japanese content. You won't be fluent, but you'll understand enough to have fun.

What to Do

• Read manga without a dictionary (accept not understanding everything)
• Watch anime without subtitles (or with Japanese subs)
• Read light novels or simple books
• Speak with natives (language exchange apps, tutors)
• Write: diary, posts, emails to Japanese pen pals

Kanji and Vocabulary

• Goal: 1000+ kanji (N2)
• Vocabulary: 4500+ words
• Learn vocabulary from what you consume (mining)

Phase 7: Advanced (Year 2+)

There is no 'end'. Advanced Japanese is an ongoing journey.

• Consume native content without aids
• Specialize: business Japanese, literature, technical
• Work on accent and naturalness
• Keep active what you know (Japanese fades if you don't use it)

Essential Tools

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Studying only grammar without vocabulary (you can't speak)
• Studying only vocabulary without grammar (you don't know how to use it)
• Avoiding kanji (you'll be stuck at N4 forever)
• Not practicing speaking (you'll become a fluent mute)
• Waiting to be 'ready' for content (you never will be)
• Changing methods every week (no method works that way)
• Comparing yourself to others (everyone has their own pace)

Realistic Timeline

Conclusion

Learning Japanese is a marathon. You don't need to run fast, you just need to not stop. Kanji are the highest mountain on the path, but with tools like Kanjidon and spaced repetition, it's a climbable mountain. One character at a time. One day at a time. 頑張れ!