9 Best Japanese Language Classes in 2023

The communication gap has always been a hiccup for smooth communication. If we look at it statistically, the only reason for this gap is that people don’t have the know-how of a specific language. While many of us are willing to narrow this gap by learning a particular language, the major problem they face is that they can’t find the perfect resources.

Now if you have the will but don’t know where to start, then don’t worry. You have come to the right spot. Here in this article, we will be covering the 9 best Japanese language classes that will make you a pro in the language in no time.

These online Japanese language lessons also offer certificates just so you feel motivated towards your goal.

All of the courses nominated for this article are the best in the market, but we would highly recommend 2 and 6 on the list due to their overall outstanding reviews.

We have included the following details about each course:

  • Who is eligible for this course?
  • Features of the program
  • Cost
  • Reviews of students
  • Number of students who took the course
  • Additional details about the course

9 Best Programs to Learn Japanese Online

  1. Master Japanese Language Course – Udemy Online Lessons- All Levels
  2. Learn Japanese for Beginners: The Ultimate 100 Lessons Course– Udemy Online Lessons- Beginner Level
  3. Japanese Language Course: MISJ NOVICE PROGRAM LEVEL 1– Udemy Online Lessons- Intermediate Level
  4. Japanese for beginners 1– Coursera- Beginner Level
  5. Japanese for beginners 2– Coursera- Beginner Level
  6. Steps in Japanese for Beginners– edX Online Lesson- Beginner Level
  7. Go! Go! Nihon– Web-Course- All Levels
  8. FluentU– Web-Course- All Levels
  9. Marugoto– Web-Course- All Levels

1. Master Japanese Language Course- Udemy Online Lessons – All Levels

best way to learn japanese online

This course is for all levels, from beginners to advanced. These online Japanese language classes will enable you to learn the essential Kanji characters and will enable you to learn about the Japanese language test and will also prepare you for it.

By owning this online course, you will get 8 hours of on-demand video with lifetime access and 2 downloadable resources. This course is for anyone who wants to learn the Japanese language but with a slightly high price tag of $16.99.

The students find this course neat, concise, and to the point, as the course starts from scratch and enables you to end up with a bulk of knowledge. This online Japanese language course has helped 444 students till now.

We will score it 7/9 only because the course is slightly overpriced.

2. Learn Japanese for Beginners: The Ultimate 100 Lessons Course- Udemy Online Lessons- Beginner Level

best program for learning japanese

One of the most popular online courses on the list is this one. This course provides online Japanese classes for beginners, and not only that, but it also provides a certificate on completion of the course!

The course consists of 8 hours of on-demand video and 161 downloadable resources with full lifetime access. This course offers online lessons from real teachers and will enable you to read and write in Japanese.

Some pros of this course are that after this course, you can pick up basic conversions that sound like a native with pronunciation lessons, all for the price tag of 16.99.

This course is immensely famous amongst students and has helped 27,323 students, who claim that this course is the best for a head start.

We will score it 9/9.

3. Japanese Language Course: MISJ NOVICE PROGRAM LEVEL 1- Udemy Online Lessons- Intermediate Level

japanese classes online

If you are done with the basics of the Japanese language, then this course is for you. This online course requires the basic knowledge of the hiragana chart and will help you speak Japanese more fluently.

This course has an overall rating of 4.8 and has helped over 19,174 students around the globe. These online classes contain 16 hours of on-demand video along with 45 downloadable resources with full lifetime access. In addition, this online Japanese course comes with a certificate on completion.

The students find the tutor kind and unique, whereas the quality of the video lectures is satisfactory and could be improved.

We will score it 8/9.

4. Japanese for Beginners 1- Coursera- Beginner Level

japanese for beginners 1

This is one of the basic Japanese online classes out there, if you are someone willing to learn the easy way, then this course is offered by Saint Petersburg State University on Coursera.

This course will enable you to read simple text and also write using the hiragana and katakana scripts as well as the kanji characters. The vocabulary of the course consists of more than 200 words.

This online course has flexible deadlines and takes approximately 23 hours to complete with a shareable certificate only for the price tag of $29.

The course already has over 137, 840 enrollments, and the students attending this course find it clear and challenging but most importantly, they find it doable.

We will score it 8.5/9.

5. Japanese for Beginners 2- Coursera- Beginner Level

about japanese for beginners 2

Now if you are familiar with some of the basic words in Japanese then this Japanese lesson is for you as it is a sequel to the 4th course discussed in the article. These online lessons will help you with basic vocabulary in speech and the use of it in everyday communication.

The course has flexible deadlines and has a shareable certificate upon completion. It takes almost 20 hours to complete, and the whole package costs $49.

The students enrolled in this course find the teaching methodology unique and a super source for learning a new skill.

We will score it 7/9.

6. Steps in Japanese for Beginners- edX Online Lesson- Beginner Level

japanese online classes

This self-paced course is one of the courses that we recommend. This online course will enable you to have basic conversational skills and will provide you with the basic vocabulary you need for a conversation.

The course has expert instruction consisting of 3 high-quality online courses that will guide you from level 0 up. The time span to complete this course is 4 months if 3 to 5 hours are spent on the course weekly.

The cost of the full program experience is $222.30 and you can try the course before you decide to pay.

The students enrolled in this edx course get a certificate from Waseda University on completion of the course and the pack of 3 courses has helped many students in polishing their communication skills.

We will score it 9/9.

7. Go! Go! Nihon- Web-Course- All Levels

online japanese lessons

This website is a complete package, if you are someone who doesn’t know where to start, then this web is just the perfect match for you. This platform offers you online courses that start from scratch and are mostly 12 weeks long. 

The platform also has a student/teacher community, gives out certificates on completion of online lessons, and has its curriculum! The price of the courses varies from $128 up to $823, depending on the size of the course you choose.

We will score it 7/9.

8. FluentU- Web-Course- All Levels

best programs for learning japanese

This Web course enables you to learn Japanese online through the web’s best videos, and videos that have real-life context and will also help you understand and enjoy Japanese native online lessons.

The platform allows you to have a 14-day trial before you make your decision. The platforms also have different plans for both annual and monthly payments. The monthly billing will cost you $29.99, whereas the annual billing will cost you $239.99, which will be $19.99 per month.

We will score it 8/9.

9. Marugoto- Web Course- All Levels

best online japanese courses

This website has a Japanese-style interface and offers online courses of different levels of difficulty that are both self-paced and tutor-supported. This course is mainly for adult learners of Japanese overseas.

The platform offers free online lessons that are self-paced, whereas you have to pay for tutor support courses. The best part is it’s available in different languages as well!

We will score it 8.5/9.

Check Out the Other Language Courses

Best Japanese Language Classes - FAQs

How much does it cost to take Japanese classes?

If we talk about physical classes, it typically costs around $1 per day to $70 dollars a month. Whereas the semester-long classes will likely cost a few hundred dollars.
If we talk about Online Japanese classes, these classes vary, as mentioned in the article.

Can you learn Japanese in 3 months?

Learning a language all depends on the individual itself, it can take months for one to be fluent in Japanese and even years. Studies show that 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.

Can I learn Japanese on my own?

Yes, you can learn a lot of Japanese on your own. Starting from Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. Then you can learn to read. You can also improve your listening comprehension by watching Netflix and YouTube.

Can I study Japanese for free?

Yes! You can study Japanese for free from different websites like Duolingo and Busuu. These platforms are a great way to learn beginner Japanese for free as it is a great way to study consistently and build up your Japanese day after day.

How do I find a Japanese tutor?

You can always go to JapaTalk to find the best Japanese tutor or search online for tutors at a reasonable price according to your budget.

Can I learn Japanese by watching anime?

Yes, people can learn at least a bit by watching anime! Although it may be tricky at times and might take some time, it is possible to enjoy and learn Japanese at the same time.

Is learning Japanese hard?

If we speak statistically, then Japanese is ranked by the U.S. Foreign Services Institute as the most difficult language for native English speakers to learn. The institute uses the time it takes to learn a language to determine its difficulty 23-24 weeks for the easiest and 88 weeks for the hardest.

Though it purely depends on your will to learn and explore the language!

How should a beginner learn Japanese?

It is highly recommended for a beginner to start by learning how to read Hiragana and become familiar with katakana as they serve as the base to the Japanese language. Once that is done, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with Kanji, a set of logographic characters.

Once you are done with that, build the core vocabulary of Japanese and take baby steps to converse in Japanese.

Conclusion

Exploring the world of languages, including the fascinating Japanese, has become incredibly accessible through online learning. The internet offers the convenience of mastering a futuristic language like Japanese while also providing opportunities to delve into other popular language classes, such as Spanish and French, all from the comfort of your home.

Additionally, discovering the advantages of language acquisition in 2023 can illuminate the myriad benefits that come with expanding your linguistic horizons. From improved cognitive abilities to enhanced communication skills, learning a new language opens doors to personal growth and global connectivity. So, embark on your journey into the realm of languages, starting with the best Japanese language classes, and unlock a world of possibilities.