In fact, one of the best ways to learn Japanese is to live in Japan. You’re surrounded by the language every day: on trains, in shops, at work, and on TV. That said, simply being in Japan doesn’t guarantee progress—many people live here for years without getting past basic conversation.
This guide covers the basics of how to approach learning Japanese in Japan in a practical, realistic way.
Set expectations early
Japanese takes time. The writing system alone can feel overwhelming at first. You’ll go through hiragana, katakana, and eventually thousands of kanji. Progress often feels slow, especially at the beginning.
That’s normal.
Instead of aiming for “fluency,” set smaller goals: ordering food without switching to English, doing basic paperwork, or chatting with a coworker for five minutes. These wins add up and keep you motivated.
Start with the writing systems
If you seriously want to learn Japanese, start with hiragana and katakana. They’re the foundation of the language, and you can learn them in a few weeks with steady practice.
Living in Japan makes this easier. Street signs, menus, and station names constantly reinforce what you’re learning. Once you can read kana, daily life stops being intimidating and starts becoming useful study time.
Kanji comes later—and it never really ends. Don’t try to memorize hundreds at once. Learn it gradually through words you actually use.
Use a structured study plan
Being surrounded by Japanese doesn’t replace structured study. You still need a plan.
Good options in Japan include:
- Full-time or part-time language schools
- Textbooks such as Genki or Minna no Nihongo
- Online courses or tutoring if you’re too busy to attend in-person classes
Studying 30 to 60 minutes a day, consistently, will make a huge difference. Early on, build a grammar foundation so you understand how sentences are put together. Japanese sentence structure is very different from English, and guessing rarely works.
Practice speaking as soon as possible
Too many learners wait too long to speak because they’re afraid of making mistakes. It slows everything down.
You don’t need perfect grammar to communicate. Start using what you know right away: order food, ask simple questions, greet people politely. Many people appreciate the effort, even if your Japanese isn’t perfect yet.
If possible, find low-pressure speaking situations like:
- Language exchange meetups
- Casual conversations with coworkers or classmates
- Short chats with shop staff you see often
Mistakes are part of the process. You’ll remember corrections far better than things you only read in a book.
Start with polite Japanese
In Japan, politeness matters. Beginners often get hung up on casual speech, but early on, polite Japanese is far more useful. It’s a safer choice in most situations and easier to learn and use consistently.
Focus on:
- Basic polite verb forms
- Common set phrases you hear in shops and at work
- Useful phrases for apologies and requests
You’ll hear certain expressions over and over in everyday life. Write them down—you’ll be able to reuse them quickly and naturally.
Turn daily life into study time
One advantage of learning Japanese in Japan is constant exposure. Use it.
Read signs while waiting for trains, listen for familiar words in announcements, watch Japanese TV with subtitles, and read menus instead of asking for an English one.
Carry a small notebook or use a notes app on your phone to jot down new words you keep seeing. If you notice the same word three times in one day, it’s probably worth learning.
Don’t rely too much on English support
Japan offers plenty of English-friendly services, especially in big cities. While that can make life easier, it can slow your learning if you depend on it too much.
Try doing a few things only in Japanese, even if it feels uncomfortable at first, such as:
- Going to the doctor
- Opening a bank account
- Asking for directions
These situations force you to listen and respond in real time, which builds practical skills faster than textbooks alone.
Accept frustration and plateaus
At some point, progress will feel slow. You’ll understand more but still struggle to speak smoothly. Many learners get frustrated at this stage.
That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re moving from beginner to intermediate learner, which is often the hardest jump.
Keep reading. Keep talking. Improvement can be harder to notice during this stage, but it’s still happening.
Make it sustainable
The best learning plan is one you can stick to. If studying two hours a day burns you out, scale back. If textbooks bore you, add podcasts, videos, or real conversations.
In Japan, you have countless opportunities to learn. You won’t use all of them perfectly. You just need to keep showing up.
Closing remarks
Learning Japanese in Japan is challenging—and rewarding. You’ll notice small moments when things suddenly click—a joke you understand, a conversation that flows a little longer than before.
Focus on steady effort rather than perfection. Practice using Japanese in your daily life, even in small ways. Over time, those small efforts add up to real ability.
And then one day, you’ll realize you’re no longer studying Japanese in Japan.
You’re just living your life—in Japanese.
