Your journey
Your learning journey
Your road to Japanese
Read the signs, follow the clues, and meet the people along the road.
- HiraganaLoading progress…
- First conversationsLoading progress…
- KatakanaLoading progress…
- Words for the journeyLoading progress…
Finding your next stop…
Your first 46 hiragana
Loading…Filled characters are ones you have practiced. Keep revisiting them to remember.
Vowels
あいうえおK row
かきくけこS row
さしすせそT row
たちつてとN row
なにぬねのH row
はひふへほM row
まみむめもY row
やゆよR row
らりるれろW row + N
わをん
How the rows work
Start with a, i, u, e, o. Most rows add a consonant: k + a = ka (か), k + i = ki (き). Some sounds change: say shi, chi, tsu and fu. The Y and W rows have fewer characters, and ん is a sound of its own.
Episodes 1–2 cover these 46. Episode 3 adds voiced sounds and small kana; then your first conversations open.
Every lesson adds a page to your travel album.
Open your travel albumLoading today’s journey…
Step 1
Hiraganaひらがな
Learn every hiragana: the basic sounds first, then the voiced sounds and small kana. Each word uses only characters you have already learned.
Episode 1
Shibuya, Tokyo渋谷
Arrival and greetings
Inspired by Shibuya. The route, shopping lane and storybook shrine are fictional.
Souvenirsおみやげ
- Shibuya Station
- The faithful dog
- Scramble Crossing
- Lantern Street
- Sushi counter
- Corner store
- Storybook shrine
Episode 2
Akihabara, Tokyo秋葉原
Anime, manga and games
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Episode 3
Tokyo backstreets東京の路地
Shops and small streets
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Step 2
First conversationsかいわ
Six short travel conversations. Every line uses hiragana you know.
0 of 6 done
- Your first hello: Greet someone during the day.
- A little kindness: Thank someone who helps you.
- One more time: Ask someone to repeat something.
- Excuse me…: Get someone's attention politely.
- This one, please: Ask for an item you can point to.
- Back to the station: Ask where the station is and recognise ‘over there’.
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Step 3
Katakanaカタカナ
The second set of characters, used for words from other languages, such as タオル (towel).
Episode 4
Hakone箱根
An inn in the hills
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Episode 5
Mount Fuji富士山
Mountains and hot springs
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Episode 6
Iga伊賀
The ninja village
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Step 4
Words for the journeyことば
With all the kana in hand, learn the words for each place along the road.
Episode 7
Fushimi Inari, Kyoto伏見稲荷
Shrines and a thousand gates
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Episode 8
Gion, Kyoto祇園
Kimono and tea ceremony
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Episode 9
Nara奈良
Deer and the Great Buddha
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Episode 10
Osaka大阪
Takoyaki and comedy
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Episode 11
Himeji Castle姫路城
Samurai and castles
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Episode 12
Summer festival夏祭り
Fireworks and food stalls
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A little culture
Tea and a story with Miyabi.
The Many Meanings of a Bow
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One Word for Sorry, Excuse Me, and Thanks
すみません (sumimasen) is one of the first words visitors learn, because it covers "excuse me," "sorry," and even a soft "thanks for the trouble" all at once.
Japanese Greetings: What to Say and When
Learn when to use ohayou gozaimasu, konnichiwa and konbanwa, with simple Japanese greetings, pronunciation notes and a short practice conversation.
How to Say Thank You in Japanese: Arigatou and More
Choose between arigatou, arigatou gozaimasu and arigatou gozaimashita. Learn natural thank-you phrases with examples and common beginner mistakes.
おみくじ
A fortune for today
A free daily wish for the road ahead, with 5 bonus XP. Practice fills your daily goal.