5 Best Japanese Textbooks For Beginners

With countless Japanese textbooks filling the market, finding the perfect learning companion feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. Whether you're dreaming of Japanese anime without subtitles or planning a trip to Tokyo, the right Japanese learning textbooks can make all the difference between frustration and fluency.

In this post, I'll show you the 5 best Japanese textbooks that actually deliver results. I’ve analyzed what makes each one special, who they work best for, and how they stack up against each other. By the end, you'll know exactly which textbook matches your learning style and goals. Let's begin!

How To Choose The Right Japanese Textbooks

Choosing a Japanese textbook comes down to matching it with your specific language goals. While most textbooks are actually good, there are a few designed specifically for different types of learners and purposes. Before spending money on any resource, clearly identify why you’re learning Japanese and what specific outcomes you want to achieve.

For anime and manga fans

You need textbooks that introduce casual speech, common slang, and entertainment-related vocabulary early. Look for resources that don’t overemphasize formal Japanese.

For JLPT test preparation

Choose structured textbooks that explicitly align with test levels, include practice questions, and focus on the grammar points most frequently tested. When comparing Japanese textbooks, note which JLPT level they target:

• N5 level (first steps): Hiragana, katakana, basic phrases, ~100 kanji
• N4 level (basic conversations): More grammar patterns, ~300 kanji
• N3 level (intermediate): Complex structures, ~650 kanji
• N2/N1 levels (advanced): Nuanced expressions, 1,000+ kanji

For travel

Select conversation-focused textbooks featuring dialogues for hotels, restaurants, transportation, and shopping. These should prioritize speaking and listening over complex reading.

For living in Japan

Find comprehensive textbooks covering both daily conversation and formal situations, with cultural context explanations to help you navigate social norms. You might also look for those that cover honorific speech (keigo), workplace vocabulary, and business communication if you are going to work in Japan.

Best Japanese Textbooks

Now that you know how to match a textbook to your goals, let's explore the top Japanese learning resources that have proven their worth for thousands of students worldwide. I've personally used several of these during my own Japanese journey, and each offers something special!

Genki

Genki has earned its place as the #1 Japanese textbook globally, with over 2 million copies sold and adopted by most university programs for the Japanese language. Each chapter kicks off with Japanese dialogues showing new words and grammar in action. While some find the pace steady (or even slow), this thoughtful progression helps you build a solid foundation without getting overwhelmed.

The complete package includes two main textbooks plus companion workbooks packed with practice exercises. By working through both books, you'll learn about 300+ basic kanji, 1,700 vocabulary words, and all the basic grammar rules needed for JLPT N4. Most students can read simple manga and hold basic conversations after finishing the series.

Genki's main limitation? Its kanji teaching lacks structure. You'll learn new characters throughout but without many memory aids or practice systems. Many students add flashcard apps or dedicated kanji books alongside Genki.

Minna no Nihongo

Unlike Genki, which eases Western students into Japanese, Minna no Nihongo takes the opposite approach. Every page of the main textbooks is written entirely in Japanese! This might seem scary at first, but it actually jumpstarts your Japanese brain.

MNN comes in four main levels:

• Beginner Stage: Two levels that teach foundations
• Intermediate Stage: Two levels that build conversational ability

Each level uses a smart system of connected books. The main textbook (in Japanese) pairs with separate translation books available in 14 languages. You also get dedicated books for kanji practice, sentence patterns, and grammar drills.

The tradeoff? MNN demands more from students and costs more than single-book options. You'll also need to buy multiple books for each level. Due to this, I highly recommend MNN for Japanese learners who:

• Want to learn Japanese as it's actually spoken
• Prefer jumping straight into Japanese materials
• Plan to use Japanese in real-life settings fast
• Don't mind investing in a complete learning system

Not sure if this Japanese textbook is for you? Here are the pros and cons table for Minna no Nihongo.

If you'd rather ease into Japanese with lots of English guidance, stick with Genki. But if you’re ready to be immersed in real Japanese from day one, MNN delivers remarkable results.

Dekiru Nihongo

Created by language expert Kazuko Shimada and published by ALC, this series puts you into realistic scenarios you'll encounter. Each chapter starts with an illustrated situation - maybe ordering food, asking for directions, or handling a work conversation - and shows you exactly how to respond.

What sets Dekiru Nihongo apart is its action-oriented approach. Instead of simply memorizing grammar rules, you practice forming complete sentences and dialogues that solve real communication problems. The books include plenty of role-play activities where you apply what you've learned immediately.

The series comes in multiple levels:

• Beginner: Targets JLPT N5-N4 (includes 3 CDs)
• Beginner-Intermediate: Bridges the gap (JLPT N4-N3)
• Intermediate: Enhances communication skills (JLPT N3)

The visual learning style works great for students who get bored with traditional textbooks. Every page features illustrations that set the scene, helping you understand the context of conversations instantly.

Many business professionals choose Dekiru Nihongo because it includes workplace scenarios often missing from other textbooks. You'll learn how to handle meetings, give presentations, and navigate office relationships - not just order food or ask about hobbies.

This book isn't for grammar enthusiasts who want deep analysis of language rules. It's designed for practical learners who want to start communicating quickly, making it perfect for those preparing to work or live in Japan.

Marugoto

Created by the Japan Foundation, Marugoto rethinks textbook structure completely. Instead of linear progression through grammar points, it organizes content around practical topics you'll need daily. Want to order food first? Jump to that chapter. Need emergency phrases? Go straight there.

Marugoto uses the European CEFR level system (A1-C2) rather than the Japanese JLPT levels. This approach focuses on what you can actually do with the language rather than what grammar patterns you've memorized. Six levels take you from complete beginner to advanced communication:

• A1: First survival phrases and basic interactions
• A2.1 & A2.2: Essential daily conversations
• A2/B1: Building more complex communication
• B1.1 & B1.2: Expressing opinions and discussing various topics

The early levels cleverly split learning into two complementary books:

• Katsudō (Activity): Speaking and listening through natural situations
• Rikai (Understanding): Reading, writing, and grammar explanations

This split lets you practice real communication first, then understand the mechanics behind what you're saying—similar to how children learn their native language.

Irodori

Released in 2020 by the Japan Foundation, Irodori is an entirely free Japanese textbook. This textbook breaks the mold of traditional textbooks by focusing on what you can actually do with Japanese rather than how much grammar you know. Each lesson revolves around practical "Can-do" goals like ordering food, finding an apartment, or explaining symptoms at a doctor's office.

The series comes in three levels:

• Starter (A1): Basic greetings and survival phrases
• Elementary 1 (A2-1): Daily conversations and important situations
• Elementary 2 (A2-2): More complex social interactions

For something that is free, Irodori is a must-have resource. The full textbooks, audio files, and practice materials can be downloaded as PDFs from the Japan Foundation website. The quality rivals paid textbooks with colorful layouts, clear explanations, and tons of authentic photos showing real-life situations in Japan.

The only limitation? Currently, Irodori only covers beginner to lower-intermediate levels (A1-A2). For more advanced study, you'll need to transition to other resources like Marugoto's higher levels.

Resources To Use With Japanese Textbooks

Textbooks alone won't get you fluent in Japanese. Add these tools to your study routine to hear and use real Japanese, strengthening what you learn from books.

• Lingopie: Watch actual Japanese TV shows with interactive subtitles. Tap any word for an instant translation, and save new words as flashcards. The dual-subtitle feature helps you connect Japanese speech with meaning while enjoying authentic content.
• Anki: This flashcard app uses smart spacing to help you remember vocabulary longer. Many students create cards for words from their textbook or download pre-made decks that match books like Genki.
• Dictionary apps: JapanDict or Jisho offer quick word lookups with example sentences when your textbook doesn't explain something clearly.
• Grammar books: "A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar" explains points your textbook might rush through.
• Graded readers: Short stories written specifically for learners let you practice reading without getting stuck every few words.

Our top recommendation? Lingopie. When paired with any textbook on this list, your Japanese learning speeds up dramatically. Watching native content with Lingopie takes what you learn in books and shows you how it works in real life.

Just finished a chapter on shopping phrases? Watch a Japanese shopping scene, and suddenly, those textbook dialogues make perfect sense when you hear real people use them. Students who combine structured textbook study with Lingopie's authentic videos typically report understanding Japanese faster than with books alone.

Level Up Your Learning With Lingopie

Ready to take your Japanese beyond the textbook? Try Lingopie free for 7 days and watch your comprehension improve as you enjoy Japanese shows with interactive subtitles. Unlike rigid textbook dialogues, Lingopie shows you Japanese as it's actually spoken today, with all its slang, humor, and cultural nuances.