Dallen Nakamura 
Name: Rosetta Stone Japanese Website: http://www.rosettastone.com/learn-japanese/ Price: Online Subscription: $59 for 3 months, $84 for 6 months, $129 for 12 months, $179 for 24 months. CD-ROM: $144 for levels 1-3 Instant Download: $89 for level 1 Japanese Level: Beginners to Low-Intermediate Materials: Vocabulary and Grammar Lessons, Japanese Language Games, Speaking and Listening Activities JLPT Materials: Not Recommended … Read more
What is the best way to learn Japanese? If you want to know how to learn Japanese fast and efficiently, this list of 15 tips will show you exactly how to do that. The methods covered in this guide are a collection of advice from Japanese teachers, people who have gained fluency in a second … Read more
Chapter II: Where to Start Learning Japanese In this chapter, we’ll show you what you should study for each level. If you don’t know where to start learning Japanese, this guide will help you. Absolute Beginners If you have never studied Japanese before, you’re in for a treat. The beginning of your journey to learn … Read more
Chapter III: 5 Steps to Mastering Japanese (Or Any Language) In Chapter I, you learned the basic formula and tips that will put you on the path of becoming fluent in Japanese. In chapter II, we gave you an outline of all the material you should learn and master at each level. In chapter III, … Read more
How to Practice Speaking Japanese if You’re Shy What if I’m too afraid or shy to speak Japanese with anyone? This is an issue that many people have. It can be difficult speaking to someone in a totally different language, especially if you’re a beginner. You don’t know many words and grammar patterns, so you … Read more
Chapter IV: Common Questions and Frustrations About Studying Japanese You’ll probably have lots of questions about learning Japanese. How long does it take to learn Japanese? Can I become fluent in Japanese in 3 months? What if I’m too shy to speak to anyone? In chapter 4 of the best way to learn Japanese guide, … Read more
Here are all of the resources I have used to learn Japanese. I have tried a lot of different programs, books, and apps, but I only listed the best ones here. I believe that if I found all of these resources from the start, I would have learned Japanese much faster. I hope that these … Read more
5 Ways to Practice Speaking Japanese on Your Own If you have already read our “best way to learn Japanese” guide, then you know that I highly recommend you practice speaking Japanese with a teacher or tutor. There are so many great Japanese teachers online now that it’s easy to find someone who you can … Read more
How to Learn Kanji in Record Time Kanji. Just hearing that word brings fear and intimidation to many people. Learning kanji takes time, patience, and a lot of effort. The number of jouyou characters (common-use kanji) is 2,136. On top of that, most kanji have multiple readings, and some contain many strokes that you have … Read more
If you want to learn Japanese but have no idea where to start or what to study, this guide is for you. So let’s get started! 7 Steps to Start Mastering the Japanese Language If you are beginning your journey to learn Japanese, an exciting world awaits you. With Japanese, you’ll be able to live and … Read more
The Best Foods That You Can Find Easily Anywhere in Japan Japan has some of the best food in the world, hands down. If you plan on taking a trip there, you’ll be amazed at how many food shops and restaurants there are. With so many options, it’s hard to find true Japanese foods that … Read more
Dining Out in Japan: How to Order Food in Japanese like a Pro Japan has some of the best food in the world. I’m talking about finger-licking, lip-smacking, and spine-shivering deliciousness. However, many restaurants in Japan don’t have an English speaking staff. Sure, you could use gestures and very simple English to your point across. … Read more
Itsukushima, or more commonly known as Miyajima, is home to a giant torii gate which is a world heritage site. It is ranked as one of the three best views in Japan. Miyajima: The Sacred Island Filled with History, Good Food, and Friendly Deer While there are no amusement parks or high-tech attractions on … Read more
If you got accepted to the JET Program as an ALT, congratulations! All of your hard work and patience has paid off.Now you’re probably excited and anxious to find out all about your school, and what working for the JET Program will be like. Here’s a general guideline about what you’ll be doing on a … Read more
The Best Sushi in the World…Is Not Where You Think It Is If you have seen the documentary, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” then you already know that he has the best sushi in the world. Sukiyabashi, Jiro’s Michelin three-star restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo is where you’ll find him preparing his world famous sushi. I unfortunately … Read more
There are many places in Japan that I absolutely love, and the Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen area are both at the top of my list. As the title suggests, they are both onsen towns. So if you don’t like onsen, you might not enjoy this place as much as I do. However, there are still … Read more
If you have ever seen a picture of a monkey bathing in an outdoor hot spring surrounded by snow in Japan, it was probably taken at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Japan. This park is located in Yamanouchi city, in Nagano prefecture. Jigokudani means, “hell valley,” because of the many streams of steam that comes … Read more
Things to Bring on JET Getting ready to move to Japan with the JET Program is both exciting and scary. Packing up your life to live in another country is a big step. Many of you have never been to the area you have been placed, so you don’t know what to expect. Some of … Read more
Working for the JET Program – 7 Things You Need to Do before Coming to Japan 1. Prepare a Short Introduction Speech in Japanese You’ll have to give a short introduction about yourself several times when you first come to Japan. This may or may not include some very important people (like the boss … Read more
7 Essential Tips on How to Be a Great ALT – JET Program 1. Be Super Chill and Go with the Flow This is the key to being happy at your workplace. There will be many times where you won’t know what’s going on. There will also be times where you’ll be asked to do a … Read more
Congratulations! You made it past the first round! Honestly, completing the application and essay is by far the hardest part. However, the interview can be pretty nerve-racking. Here are 5 tips to ace that interview as well as some questions that my friends and I were asked. 1. Be Yourself…Your Confident, Fun Self I’m not … Read more
I have tried many weird and crazy foods in Japan. Some of them were absolutely delicious, while others made me want to gag. By far the worst thing I ever ate is something called “pidan” or “pitan.” If you don’t know what this is, consider yourself lucky. They are Chinese preserved eggs that you … Read more
In addition to the amazing food, wonderful culture, and helpful people, onsen, or hot spring baths, are another reason why Japan is so awesome. Japanese onsen etiquette is pretty straightforward once you know the basic rules. Don’t let this intimidate you. If you are in Japan, you should definitely try soaking in an onsen. The … Read more
I love Japanese onsen. Soaking in a hot, natural bath takes away all of my stress and fills me with peace and relaxation. However, I have also had some traumatizing experiences. Here is one of them. Welcome to… My Japanese Onsen Experience…or should I say Nightmare? Run away while you still can. I remember it … Read more
If you want to get accepted into the JET program, you’ve come to the right place. I was accepted into the program as an ALT (assistant language teacher) a few years ago and loved every minute of it. However, this didn’t come easily. If awards were given out to JET applicants, I would definitely win the “Most … Read more
Disneyland. The place where dreams come true and magic is made. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park to be build outside of the United States and was opened in 1983. As of 2013, it was the 2nd most visited theme park in the world. With this much hype, Disneyland should be a must-visit place … Read more
Best Books for the JLPT N2 (Or Any Level) If you’re planning to take the JLPT N1 or N2, then getting the right books and study guides is essential. There are tons of books out there, and I have used many of them. Here are the ones that I think are the best. … Read more
*Updated November 15th, 2020 Is it possible to pass the JLPT N2 on your first try? You bet it is. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has struck fear in the hearts of many, but it doesn’t have to. I passed it on my first try and actually enjoyed studying for it. If you have the … Read more
Normal Counting – Sino-Japanese Number Japanese – Romaji Kanji Hiragana Katakana 0 rei, zero 零 れい、ぜろ レイ、ゼロ 1 ichi 一 いち イチ 2 ni 二 に ニ 3 san 三 さん サン 4 yon, shi 四 よん、し ヨン、シ 5 go 五 ご ゴ 6 roku 六 ろく ロク 7 nana, shichi 七 なな、しち ナナ、シチ 8 … Read more
1. Natto (Fermented Soybeans) This lovely treat made from fermented soybeans is packed full of nutrients…if you can get past its slimy, mucous-like coating. It also has a very distinct smell that screams, “I’m rotten! Don’t eat me!” That being said, it is a popular food, especially in the Kanto region of Japan. It can … Read more