You may already know that I am a huge fan of learning Japanese online.
but sometimes we need a good old textbook, either a hard copy or a pdf. maybe your Japanese teacher suggested you choose a textbook to study, or maybe you prefer to study from a book.
You are reading: Books to learn japanese
However, there are a wide variety of Japanese textbooks for self-study. Here is my selection of the best books to learn Japanese!
Japanese books for beginners
If you are a beginner learning Japanese, you should look for a textbook that covers basic grammar structures, vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening comprehension.
Ideally, it will cover useful phrases you need for everyday life or travel to Japan. it should also teach you basic reading and writing skills (hiragana and katakana are a must to get started, so the book should also introduce basic kanji).
Here are some recommended Japanese textbooks for beginners that address these points:
genki
Genki is a highly popular series of Japanese books for beginners. The books are easy to use and have cute illustrations. The same characters appear throughout the book, so you can follow their stories.
The books were first designed for college courses, so they cover a large number of situations and vocabulary aimed at students. this can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your situation!
genki was designed for use in classrooms, so there are some exercises, such as group discussions, that can be difficult to put into practice if you are self-taught. however, the book is still very easy to use. grammar, vocabulary, and other sections are easy to follow on your own.
comes with a cd to practice listening. and there is an optional companion book for further practice.
There are two books in the series. the first one is suitable for absolute beginners, and the second one will take you down to the lower intermediate level.
ideal for: a good all-round textbook for those who like traditional ways of learning. especially good for college-age students.
Japanese from scratch
The Japanese From Zero books are fairly new on the Japanese textbook scene, but they’ve already become very popular thanks to their easy to follow style.
Because the books are fairly new, the examples and vocabulary are modern and up-to-date.
There are four books in the series. the former is suitable for absolute beginners.
It is a bit slower than other textbooks on this list. the first book in the series only features hiragana of all Japanese writing systems, and it is presented slowly, a few characters per chapter throughout the textbook. katakana and kanji are not introduced until later books. the sample texts in the book mix hiragana characters with romaji (English letters), gradually introducing more and more Japanese.
This could be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how you look at it. If you already know some Japanese characters, this book may move too slowly for you. however, if you’re a little intimidated by the idea of learning to read and write in Japanese and want to take it easy, this is the perfect introduction for you.
Japanese from scratch is also a great Japanese textbook for kids or homeschooling.
ideal for: younger students and people who want to go slow
minna no nihongo
This is a very good series of textbooks for serious students of Japanese.
The most remarkable thing about minna no nihongo is that it is all written in Japanese! you can buy a companion book in English (in fact, it’s available in 14 different languages) with the translation and notes.
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While this may seem like a hassle, it’s actually great if you want to learn Japanese fast. you’ll be immersed in Japanese from the start, so your reading skills will improve much faster than someone using a primarily English textbook.
You can refer to the companion book in English whenever you need a translation, but because of the extra step, you’ll first try to read it yourself in Japanese.
Because of this, minna no nihongo is highly valued among people who want to achieve a high level of Japanese.
Of course, in addition to improving your reading skills, this book will teach you grammar, vocabulary, listening comprehension, and conversation. it is deeper and covers more ground than other textbooks on this list.
You should be familiar with hiragana and katakana before starting this book, but don’t worry, they don’t take long to learn (click here for tips).
don’t forget to buy the companion book (English) separately.
Best For: Those who want to challenge themselves and are willing to put in the effort to learn Japanese quickly.
Japanese for busy people
Japanese for Busy People is another popular book to learn Japanese. It is aimed at professionals, so you will learn a lot of vocabulary related to office/business situations!
there are two versions: romaji version and kana version. the romaji version uses all english characters. the kana version uses hiragana and katakana for Japanese texts. the book does not introduce any kanji.
The book is suitable for self-learning because it has the answers to all the quizzes in the back. contains a cd to practice listening.
One cool feature is that there is an accompanying app so you can study on the go!
ideal for: businessmen who need to learn Japanese to work.
best intermediate Japanese textbook
While there are a wide variety of books for beginners to learn Japanese, it can be a bit more difficult to find the right textbook at the intermediate level.
Most of the beginner textbooks listed above have at least two books in the series, so you can always move on to the next book in the series if it worked for you.
Also, once you’ve reached the intermediate level, you might think about taking your jlpt exams. There are many excellent textbooks designed to help you pass the JLPT, which we’ll look at next. but if you’re not interested in taking any exams yet, here are my suggestions:
minna no nihongo
Yes, we listed these books in the beginner section, but I’m going to repeat them here because there are four books in the series that do take you up to a genuine intermediate level.
There are two books in the intermediate level: chukyu 1 and chukyu 2. chukyu 1 is lower intermediate and chukyu 2 takes you to the level of jlpt n2.
minna no nihongo books are written entirely in Japanese. you can purchase a companion book with translations and notes in English (or any of the other 13 languages, if English is not your native language).
That’s why it’s a great book for serious students! at the intermediate level, you should already be able to read basic Japanese. your biggest challenge is probably speed. Due to the amount of Japanese text in this book, your reading skills will improve a lot.
These books also have very comprehensive grammar explanations and give you a very solid grasp of Japanese.
read real japanese
At the intermediate level, you will want to improve your reading speed and solidify your knowledge of vocabulary and grammar by reading more in Japanese. The Read Real Japanese books are excellent because they have authentic Japanese texts, written for Japanese people, not students!
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next to the side of the page, you will find the original Japanese text. on the opposite page, you will find notes in English. unlike some readers, you don’t get a full translation. this is great because it prevents you from being lazy!
There are two books in the series: fiction and essay. if you buy both, you will cover a wide range of different texts.
they also come with a cd to practice listening.
>> related post: Free Japanese Reading Practice Websites
best japanese textbooks for jlpt
The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is a series of internationally recognized Japanese language tests conducted by the Japan Foundation. there are five levels, from n5 (basic) to n1 (fluent).
passing the higher levels (n2 and n1) may be a requirement to work in japan or attend a japanese university. Tests at each level will test your vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening comprehension.
There are very specific sets of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji that you need to know to pass the jlpt. So if you plan to take these exams, it’s worth investing in some specific jlpt textbooks.
These are my recommendations:
new kanzen master
The New Kanzen Master books cover Levels N4 to N1.
There are five books available at each level: Grammar, Vocabulary, Kanji, Reading and Listening. you can buy all five books as a set, or just buy the books you need to work on. (I would say that grammar and vocabulary books are essential, but you can improve your reading and listening skills through other methods if you wish).
These books are very complete. They cover a lot of material, with lots of practice questions, great explanations, and a mock test in the same format as the exams.
may be a little dry. no funny pictures or cartoons to keep you entertained!
from #2 onwards all the books are entirely in Japanese.
Ideal for: Serious students who want detailed explanations and rapid progress.
nihongo so-matome
Nihongo So-Matome is a fantastic JLPT prep series for every level, from N5 to N1.
From #3 to #1, there are five books in each set: Grammar, Vocabulary, Kanji, Reading, and Listening. n5 is just one book and n4 is two books.
A great feature of these books is that they are broken down into an eight-week study plan for you. each double page spread covers one day’s lesson, which introduces new points and then has some practice exercises. there is new material six days a week and a revision on the seventh day.
They have brief explanatory notes in English, Chinese and Korean (all three languages in one book).
These books are fun and easy to follow, and I like the structure. there are images to illustrate the key point on each page.
but they are not as in-depth as the new kanzen master and you may turn to other resources for additional explanations and examples.
Best for: Those who want a plan of action and who are ready to study every day.
What do you think of my textbook recommendations? Have you tried any of these books? What are your favorite textbooks to learn Japanese?
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