JLPT
JLPT December 2026: Exam Date, Admit Card, Timings & Results
The JLPT is on Sunday, 6 December 2026. Most hosts we checked send test vouchers (admit cards) in November; results come by around the end of January 2027.
12 min read
LenGaki blog · ブログ
Learn JapaneseFaster & Smarter
Guides, tips, and deep-dives on Hiragana, Kanji, Grammar, and everything you need to go from complete beginner to fluent reader.
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89 articles
JLPT
JLPT N5 in 7 Weeks: A Study Plan for 6 December 2026
Seven weeks to JLPT N5 on 6 December 2026: 45–75 minutes a day, the N5 lists done by 15 November, daily listening, and timed mocks on 25 Oct, 8 Nov and 22 Nov.
12 min read
JLPT
JLPT N4 Study Plan: 7 Weeks to the December 2026 Exam
A 7-week JLPT N4 plan for 6 December 2026: 60–90 minutes a day, grammar done by week 4, daily reading and listening, and timed mocks at 25, 55 and 35 minutes.
12 min read
JLPT
JLPT Exam Day Checklist: What to Bring, Rules and Timings
On JLPT day, bring a printed test voucher (admit card), photo ID, HB pencils, a plastic eraser and a plain watch. Arrive before check-in; keep your phone off.
11 min read
JLPT
JLPT N5 and N4 Pass Marks: 80, 90 and Sectional Cutoffs
JLPT N5 passes at 80/180 and N4 at 90/180. Both also need 38/120 in Language Knowledge・Reading and 19/60 in Listening, or you fail whatever your total.
11 min read
Resources
Best Japanese Books to Order in 2026: JLPT N5 Buyer's Guide
The best Japanese books for beginners: the LenGaki N5 set for JLPT self-study, or Genki I for a course. Compare them and see how to order in India or abroad.
11 min read
Resources
Best Japanese Language Schools in Japan by City (2026–27 Fees)
First-year fees at 28 accredited language schools in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and Nagoya run ¥758,000–¥1,380,000. All four intakes, dorms, maps, deadlines.
60 min read
Apps & Tools
Best App for JLPT Preparation in 2026 (What Actually Helps)
The best JLPT app follows the exam levels and ends in timed mock papers in the official format. Here is the checklist, how the popular apps fit, and our pick.
10 min read
Kanji
JLPT N5 Kanji List: All 124 Kanji With Meanings & Readings
There is no official JLPT N5 kanji list. Here are the 124 N5 kanji LenGaki teaches, with meanings, on'yomi and kun'yomi readings, and a six-week study plan.
12 min read
Grammar
JLPT N5 Grammar List: All 82 Points With Examples
All 82 JLPT N5 grammar points in one list, grouped by type, each with its meaning and an example in Japanese, romaji and English, plus a four-week study plan.
15 min read
JLPT
How to Use JLPT Mock Tests: Timing, Pass Marks and Review
Start JLPT mocks 8 weeks out, sit all three papers timed (N5: 20, 40 and 30 min), check 80/180 plus the 38/120 and 19/60 minimums, then log every error.
10 min read
Resources
Is LenGaki Free? What You Get Without Paying (2026)
Yes. Kana, every kanji and grammar page, all N5 words and kanji, and two N5 mock exams are free. Pro, a small monthly plan, adds N4–N1 and unlimited Lena.
10 min read
Apps & Tools
Best Duolingo Alternative for Japanese (to Pass the JLPT)
Duolingo is a great start for Japanese but doesn’t follow the JLPT. LenGaki keeps streaks and XP and adds deeper kanji, grammar, mock exams and an AI tutor.
11 min read
Study Tips
How to Study With the LenGaki N5 Books: A 12-Week JLPT Plan
Kana first, then about 90 words, 12 kanji and 8 grammar points a week from the four LenGaki N5 books, with free online practice and mock tests in weeks 10–12.
11 min read
Apps & Tools
How to Learn Japanese With an AI Tutor: 15 Prompts That Work
Give the AI your level, a job and a format, make it quiz you, and check its readings. 15 copy-paste prompts with sample answers for ChatGPT or any AI tutor.
10 min read
Study Tips
Can You Learn Japanese in 15 Minutes a Day? A Realistic Plan
Yes: 15 minutes a day builds steady Japanese if you review first, learn one small thing and speak aloud. Here is the routine, a week plan and the science.
10 min read
ResourcesTrending
Best JLPT N5 Textbooks in 2026: Which One to Actually Buy
You need one textbook, not four. Genki, Minna no Nihongo and TRY! compared on what each is genuinely good at — plus the four things beginners regret buying.
5 min read
Resources
Genki vs Minna no Nihongo: The Comparison That Actually Decides It
They teach almost identical material. One question settles which you should buy, and it is not the one most comparisons argue about.
4 min read
KanjiTrending
Best Kanji Books: Remembering the Kanji vs Basic Kanji Book vs Look and Learn
Kanji books split into two incompatible philosophies. Picking the wrong one for how you study is why most people abandon kanji twice.
4 min read
Grammar
Best Japanese Grammar Books, and When Not to Buy One
Do not buy a grammar book at N5 — your textbook already is one. Here is what to buy at N4, what to switch to at N3, and how to judge any grammar book in thirty seconds.
4 min read
JLPTTrending
Best Books for JLPT N4 and N3: Where You Have to Switch Series
N4 is a continuation. N3 is a different exam. The books that carried you through beginner Japanese stop being enough, and most stalled learners switched too late.
4 min read
Resources
Japanese Study Stationery: The Four Things Worth Buying
Almost none of it matters. Three or four items genuinely improve handwriting practice and cost very little — and the rest is a hobby wearing a study disguise.
3 min read
Resources
How Many Japanese Books You Actually Need, Level by Level
Two books gets you through N5 and four through N4, and at N3 you swap rather than add. Here is the spending order, and how much of what people buy could have been free.
5 min read
JLPTTrending
JLPT N5 Vocabulary List: All 726 Words, and the Order to Learn Them
Everyone says "about 800 words". Nobody publishes the list. Here is the real N5 vocabulary load, broken down by word type, with the study order that gets you through it fastest.
6 min read
JLPTTrending
Free JLPT Mock Test Online: Full N5 Practice Exams with Listening, Plus N4
Most JLPT practice tests are quizzes in costume: no timer, no section structure, no listening. Here is what a real mock exam looks like and how to use one so it actually raises your score.
5 min read
Grammar
JLPT N4 Grammar List: All 139 Points, Grouped by What They Actually Do
N4 is where Japanese becomes a system. 139 grammar points collapse into eight families - and the exam tests the contrasts between them, not the definitions.
5 min read
GrammarTrending
Japanese Verb Conjugation: The Whole System in One Guide
Three verb groups, one of which has only two verbs. Once you can sort a verb and form its stem, every conjugation you will ever need comes off a handful of rules.
5 min read
Kanji
Kanji Stroke Order Rules: How to Write Any Character Correctly
Stroke order is a compression algorithm - eight rules that let you write 2,000+ characters without memorising 2,000 procedures, including ones you have never seen.
5 min read
JLPTTrending
JLPT Listening Practice: How to Stop Losing Points in Choukai
Listening has its own pass minimum and tests a skill reading never builds. Train on single hearings; nearly half of it is learnable set phrases, so start there.
5 min read
JLPT
JLPT N3: The Level Where Most Learners Quit, and Why
N5 and N4 feel like progress. N3 feels like starting over. Everything that worked before stops working - here is what changes and what to do differently.
5 min read
HiraganaTrending
The Complete Guide to Mastering Hiragana in One Week
Hiragana is the first script every Japanese learner must conquer. With the right method you can learn all 46 characters — and start reading real Japanese — in just 7 days.
2 min read
Grammar
は (wa) vs が (ga): The Particle Confusion Finally Solved
Even intermediate learners mix these up. We break down the exact difference between は and が with real sentence examples so it finally clicks.
2 min read
JLPTTrending
JLPT N5 Study Plan: Pass in 3 Months from Zero
A month-by-month plan to go from absolute beginner to passing the JLPT N5 exam, with kanji and vocabulary targets, practice tools for each month, and a final checklist.
2 min read
Kanji
Top 50 Kanji You Must Know for JLPT N5
These 50 kanji appear in almost every N5 exam. Learn their readings, meanings, and real-world usage with example sentences.
10 min read
CultureTrending
5 Anime That Are Actually Good for Learning Japanese
Not all anime is created equal for learning. These 5 titles, from slow and simple to fast and dense, have natural conversations and vocabulary you will actually use.
3 min read
GrammarTrending
Japanese Counters: The Complete Beginner's Guide
Japanese has different words for counting flat things, long things, animals, and more. Here is how to stop guessing and start counting correctly.
4 min read
Study TipsTrending
How to Learn Japanese From Zero in 2026
Step-by-step roadmap to go from complete beginner to conversing in Japanese using modern active-immersion techniques in 2026.
3 min read
HiraganaTrending
Best Way to Learn Hiragana Fast
Struggling to remember Hiragana? Here is the absolute fastest method to memorize all 46 characters using visual mnemonics in under 3 days.
2 min read
Katakana
How I Learned Katakana in 3 Days
A complete day-by-day breakdown of how to conquer the second Japanese script, Katakana, in exactly 72 hours with active recall testing.
2 min read
JLPTTrending
JLPT N5 Study Guide for Beginners
A beginner's guide to passing the JLPT N5: the pass marks and section times, five key kanji, a preparation checklist, and where to practice.
2 min read
Culture
Can You Learn Japanese Without Living in Japan?
Yes, you can! Learn how to create a high-density immersion environment at home using podcasts, anime, and the LenGaki app.
2 min read
Resources
Best Free Resources to Learn Japanese
Save your money! We list the top dictionaries, grammar databases, reading sites, and apps you can use to learn Japanese completely free.
2 min read
Study TipsTrending
How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?
A realistic timeline with rough study-hour estimates for each JLPT level, from your first kana to conversational intermediate (N3) and advanced (N1) Japanese.
2 min read
Culture
Is Japanese Hard for Indians?
Comparing Hindi/Indian languages with Japanese. Discover why SOV word order, pronunciation, and grammatical structures actually make Japanese easier for Indians.
2 min read
Grammar
Japanese Grammar Guide for Beginners
An easy-to-understand breakdown of basic Japanese sentence structure, particle rules, and verbs for complete beginners.
2 min read
VocabularyTrending
Top 100 Basic Japanese Words You Must Know
A must-have vocabulary cheat sheet featuring greetings, everyday nouns, useful adjectives, and essential verbs, with romaji, meanings and a sample dialogue.
5 min read
CultureTrending
Life of an Indian Student in Japan
The real story of living in Japan as an Indian student — food, friends, culture shocks, academics, and the daily realities nobody talks about.
4 min read
CultureTrending
Things Nobody Tells You About Japan
The hidden side of Japan — garbage rules, the social silence, the cash culture, the loneliness, and the beautiful surprises that guidebooks skip.
4 min read
Student LifeTrending
Cost of Living in Tokyo for Students
A complete monthly budget breakdown for international students in Tokyo — rent, food, transport, and the smart strategies that make Tokyo affordable.
3 min read
Student LifeTrending
Best Part-Time Jobs in Japan for Students
Top part-time jobs for international students in Japan — hourly rates, Japanese requirements, income potential, and how to land your first baito.
3 min read
EducationTrending
How to Study in Japan After 12th
Complete guide for Indian students: how to apply to Japanese universities after 12th, scholarship options, the language school route, and visa requirements.
3 min read
Student Life
What to Pack Before Moving to Japan
The ultimate packing list for moving to Japan — what to bring, what to leave behind, what to buy on arrival, and the seasonal clothing guide.
3 min read
Culture
Japanese Culture Shocks for Indians
The biggest cultural differences between India and Japan — silence in public, cash culture, indirect communication, and how to adapt gracefully.
4 min read
EducationTrending
Best Cities in Japan for International Students
Compare Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and more — cost, university quality, job markets, and lifestyle to choose your ideal Japanese city.
3 min read
Culture
How to Make Japanese Friends
The proven strategies to build genuine Japanese friendships — from university circles and language exchange to the 4-stage friendship deepening cycle.
4 min read
Culture
Daily Life in Japan Explained
A full walkthrough of what a typical day looks like in Japan — from morning commutes to konbini culture, evening clubs, and weekly student routines.
4 min read
TechnologyTrending
Best AI Tools to Learn Japanese in 2026
The main AI tools for Japanese learning and where each one fits — from AI tutors like LenGaki's Lena and ChatGPT to spaced-repetition apps and popup dictionaries.
6 min read
TechnologyTrending
Can ChatGPT Help You Learn Japanese?
An honest breakdown of ChatGPT for Japanese learning — 9 powerful prompts, skill-by-skill ratings, and the optimal hybrid system combining AI with structured study.
6 min read
TechnologyTrending
Best Japanese Learning Apps Compared (2026)
Our comparison of the major Japanese apps, including our own, LenGaki — Duolingo, WaniKani, Anki, Bunpro and more on curriculum, review system, JLPT alignment and cost.
5 min read
TechnologyTrending
Why Most Japanese Learning Apps Fail
The 7 fatal flaws destroying your Japanese progress — gamification over grammar, the Romaji trap, passive learning illusion — and the science-backed system that actually works.
7 min read
VocabularyTrending
Best Websites for Japanese Reading Practice
Top 10 websites for Japanese reading practice by level, most of them free — NHK News Web Easy, Satori Reader, Aozora Bunko — with the active reading protocol that maximizes vocabulary retention.
6 min read
JLPTTrending
JLPT in India: Complete Guide to Registration, Cities & Preparation
Everything about the JLPT in India — levels N5 to N1, the July and December sessions, the 8 test cities and their host institutions, how to register, fees, and how to prepare effectively.
8 min read
JLPTTrending
NAT-TEST in India: What It Is and How to Apply
Complete guide to the NAT-TEST (Nihongo Ability Test) in India — what it is, how it differs from JLPT, the 2026 test dates and centres, how to apply step by step, and official links.
8 min read
EducationTrending
Best Way to Learn Japanese Fast (Backed by Science)
Stop memorizing vocabulary lists. Discover the neuroscience of language acquisition, including Spaced Repetition (SRS) and comprehensible input.
3 min read
JLPTTrending
JLPT Study Plan for N5, N4, and N3 (Step-by-Step)
A complete month-by-month roadmap to pass the JLPT. Includes daily schedules, resource recommendations, and milestone checks for N5 to N3.
3 min read
CultureTrending
How to Order Food in Japan (With Dialogue)
Intimidated by Japanese menus? Learn the 3 magic phrases, exact ordering dialogues, and essential restaurant etiquette (including why you shouldn't tip!).
3 min read
Student LifeTrending
Can You Survive Japan with Basic Japanese?
Yes! Here is the ultimate survival toolkit for tourists and students: navigation phrases, shopping scripts, and the digital tools that fill the gaps.
3 min read
Student LifeTrending
Part-Time Jobs in Japan for Students: Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about arubaito: the 28-hour rule, minimum wages and typical pay for Konbini vs Izakaya jobs, and how to nail the interview.
3 min read
CultureTrending
Top Mistakes Foreigners Make in Japan
Don't stick your chopsticks in rice! A guide to the unspoken rules of Japan, from train etiquette to indoor shoe policies.
3 min read
Student Life
How to Make a Japanese Resume (Rirekisho)
A complete step-by-step guide to writing a traditional Japanese Rirekisho, including structure breakdowns, date conversion rules, and the photo requirement.
4 min read
CultureTrending
Japanese Resume vs. Western Resume: Key Differences
Why submitting a standard Western CV to a Japanese company can get you rejected. Learn the core philosophy differences between a Rirekisho and a CV.
3 min read
Technology
Best Japanese Resume Builders in 2026
Skip the hours of handwriting. Here are the best digital Rirekisho builders (like Yagish) that lay out your resume on the standard form and export a clean PDF.
3 min read
CultureTrending
How to Learn Japanese by Watching Anime (Step-by-Step)
Stop reading English subtitles. Here is the 3-step active watching method to turn your favorite anime into a powerful language learning tool.
2 min read
Culture
Top 10 Easiest Anime to Watch Without Subtitles
Ditch the complex sci-fi. Here are the best Slice of Life anime for N5 and N4 learners to practice listening without relying on subtitles.
2 min read
Grammar
Japanese Honorifics Explained (San, Kun, Chan, Sama)
Never call yourself Tanaka-san. Learn the golden rules of Japanese honorifics and how to navigate the social hierarchy like a native.
2 min read
Vocabulary
10 Beautiful Untranslatable Japanese Words
From Komorebi to Tsundoku, explore the poetic side of the Japanese language and the deep philosophical meanings hidden inside Kanji.
2 min read
JobsTrending
IT Jobs in Japan for Foreigners: Complete Guide
Salaries, visa requirements, and the best job boards. Everything you need to know to land a software engineering role in Tokyo.
3 min read
Jobs
Do You Need Fluent Japanese to Work in Tech in Japan?
The short answer is no. The long answer involves breaking the 'glass ceiling' of management. Here is a breakdown of language requirements by role.
2 min read
JobsTrending
SSW Visa vs. TITP: Complete Guide for Workers
Don't get stuck in an exploitative training program. Learn why the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa is the better path to working in Japan, and what replaces the TITP in April 2027.
4 min read
Grammar
Business Japanese Essentials: Email & Keigo
Using 'Gomen nasai' in a business email is a massive mistake. Learn the Uchi-Soto rule and how to write a perfectly polite Japanese business email.
2 min read
KanjiTrending
On'yomi vs Kun'yomi: The Secret to Reading Kanji Fast
Stop memorizing random sounds. Learn the 80% rule that helps you instantly know whether to use the Chinese or Japanese reading of a Kanji.
2 min read
Grammar
Japanese Pitch Accent: Does it Matter for Beginners?
Is it Hashi (Chopsticks) or Hashi (Bridge)? The harsh truth about whether N5 and N4 learners should waste time studying pitch accent.
2 min read
GrammarTrending
Polite (Teineigo) vs. Casual Japanese: When to Use Which
Using polite Japanese with your friends actually pushes them away. Learn how to calculate 'Social Distance' and switch to casual form.
2 min read
Technology
How to Setup a Japanese Keyboard (Windows, Mac, iPhone)
You can't learn if you can't type. A step-by-step guide to installing Romaji input on desktop and mastering the Flick Keyboard on your phone.
2 min read
CultureTrending
The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Convenience Stores (Konbini)
From buying Famichiki to understanding what the cashier is asking you. A complete survival guide to Japan's 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart.
3 min read
Culture
Tattoo Culture in Japan: Onsen Rules for Foreigners
Will you get turned away from a hot spring for having a tattoo? Often, yes. Learn how to use cover stickers, book private baths and find tattoo-friendly onsen.
3 min read
Travel
How to Use the JR Pass & Navigate the Shinkansen
After the 2023 and 2026 price rises, is the JR Pass still worth it? Plus, a step-by-step guide to boarding the Bullet Train with oversized luggage.
3 min read
Student LifeTrending
MEXT Scholarship Guide for Indian Students: Step-by-Step
How to get a fully-funded government scholarship to study in Japan, including tuition, flights, and a monthly living stipend.
3 min read
Culture
Surviving as a Vegetarian in Japan: Tips & Hidden Ingredients
The Dashi problem: Why your 'vegetarian' miso soup actually has fish in it, and the Japanese phrases you need to order food safely.
2 min read