Learning to read Japanese is a difficult and time-consuming task. It’s also very important if you ever want to reach fluency. Fortunately, the internet provides lots of free Japanese reading practice resources for anyone looking to improve their reading skills.
Japanese reading material
In this article, we will explore some of the best reading practice resources available. For beginners, intermediate and advanced learners. (If we miss any good resources, please leave a comment!)
So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s dive into the world of free online resources for reading practice in Japanese!
More Japanese study resources
- How to self-study Japanese and the best resources to do it
- Best resources for Japanese listening practice
- The best apps for studying Japanese
Japanese News and Magazine Sites
Online news can be an excellent resource for reading practice in Japanese. The news sites provide access to a wide range of articles, covering a diverse array of topics and written for different target audiences.
By reading news and magazine articles, you can improve your comprehension of the language and gain a better understanding of the culture and current events in Japan. Additionally, many of these sites provide articles written at different reading levels, making them suitable for learners at all stages of their Japanese journey.
Additionally, reading current and relevant content can help keep you motivated and engaged in your learning, as you can see the practical application of what you are learning.
For beginners
Wa Tanoshi
A magazine site that writes about all things Japanese, but in a very beginner friendly way. All the content range between JLPT N5 to N3 level and you can sort them on your prefered level.
NHK
NHK Japan has a whole section of lessons and other resources for beginners.
Intermediate
NHK Easy News
An incredibly valubale resource for Japanese learners. NHK Easy News gives you all the recent news, but they are written in a simpler language. Furigana (that you can hide) as well as word explainations are added to all articles. Furthermore, every article has been voice recorded so you can practice listening at the same time. The level is somewhere around JLPT N3.
Easy Japanese
Another site that brings you news in easy Japanese. More international focus on the news stories. Furigana can be switched on and of.
Matcha
Matcha is a website about travel and culture in Japan. When you choose language you will have the option to select easy Japanese, which will change all articles to lower intermediate level with furigana as well as much simpler senteces.
- Matcha (easy Japanese)
Advanced
NHK News
If you are on an advanced level NHK Easy News is not for you. Just head over to the actual new site. You can read about the latest news as well as watching video news and radio.
Matcha
Matcha is a website about travel and culture in Japan. Besides the option of selecting easy Japanese, you can of course also choose regular Japanese. Great place to practice reading as well as learning more about Japan in general.
Premium option
FluentU
The app FluentU use real-world video content with subtitles. These are interactive and you can hover words to get a deeper explaination, as well as translations and definitions for new words and phrases. Additionally, FluentU includes a variety of exercises and activities that reinforce the material covered in the videos, such as multiple-choice questions, flashcards, and quizzes.
Free Manga
Manga can be a great way to practice reading Japanese and improve your comprehension skills. There are a wide variety of stories and genres, allowing you to find content that appeals to your interests and preferences. Not like boring textbooks… Whether you’re into action, romance, comedy, or drama, there is likely a manga or novel available in Japanese that fits your taste.
Just remember that the language used in many manga books are not everyday language. It’s still a great way to practice reading and kanji in a fun way.
Advanced
Ebook Japan
A website for buying manga, but there are also many books you can read for free online. Just keep an eye out for titles marked with “無料” (free
Comic Days
Another manga website with many free issues to read. Look for “無料” (free). A number and “話” tells you how many episodes are free.
となりのヤングジャンプ (Young jump compics)
Website with lots of manga to read. It’s not free, but you can read 1 chapter for free from any story. Good for reading practice or if you want to try before buying anything.
Premium options
Although there are many great free mangas out there, the vast majority will require some payment. Here are som good options if you have run out of free options, or are looking for specific series to read.
Comixology
An Amazon Website (and apps) with a big catalogue of manga in Japanese. In the filter menu you can sort by Japanese language.
Crunchyroll
Many titles, both translations and in Japanese. Subscription required.
CDJapan
Website where you can buy lots of popular manga series in physical form and have them shipped you your home.
Short Stories and books
(Short) Stories are a great way to practice reading Japanese and improve your comprehension skills. Many sites provide free access to a wide variety of stories, like traditional tales, modern fiction, and even user-generated content. This gives you a wide range of reading materials to choose from.
For beginners
Russel Sensei’s short stories
Russel Mathews is a teacher who has written lots of fun short stories for learning Japanese reading. The purpose of the site is obviously to sell books and lessons, but there are a bunch of free stories to try out.
Tadoku
Tadoku offers a variety of resources to help learners practice their reading skills in Japanese. Here you’ll find books for all leveles of Japanese, from beginners to advanced. Although you have to pay for most books, there are many free books and samples in the lower levels.
- https://tadoku.org/japanese/book-search/?level=l0 (just change the last number to 1-3 to check other levels)
Traditional Japanese Children’s Stories
A webpage looking so old it belongs in a museum. It is however very on point and ads free. Read 16 classic Japanese children’s stories, all with word and sentence explainations.
Hukumusume
Ad-infested website, but also loaded with children’s stories to practice reading on. The stories even have voice recordings so you can listen to the stories while reading them.
Intermediate
Wasabi
At Wasabi-jpn.com you can find 5 free stories devided into a couple of episodes. It’s on the lower side of intermediate, so a good read for anyone who is still pretty new to the Japanese language. All kanji ave furigana and there are word explainations.
Hirogaru
Hirogaru-nihongo.jp is a Japanese language learning website that provides a range of resources and tools to help you improve your reading skills in Japanese. The website is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers.
The site has lots of short stories describing real things related to Japan, within different topics. There are also audio recordings, vocabulary lists, grammar explanations, and translation tools to help you understand the content you are reading.
Advanced
Gutenberg.org
On Gutenberg you can find a handful of older royalty free books in Japanese. Many different formats are available, read online, Epub and Kindle to name a few.
Premium options
Amazon
If you are prepared to open the wallet there are many short story books for Japanese learners available on Amazon.
Language Exchange
Language exchange communities are an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their reading skills in Japanese. These communities bring together language learners from all over the world, allowing you to connect with native speakers and other learners for language practice and exchange.
Through language exchange, you can improve your reading skills by reading and writing in Japanese with native speakers. This will give you exposure to the language in a real-world setting and help you build your vocabulary and comprehension skills. Additionally, language exchange partners can provide feedback on your reading and writing, helping you identify areas for improvement and correct any mistakes you may be making.
Final words
There are many free Japanese reading practice resources available online for anyone looking to improve their reading skills in Japanese. From news and magazine sites, to manga and novel sites, to story sites and language learning platforms, the internet provides a wealth of resources for learners at all levels.
Some recommendations on the way: It may be helpful to start with simple reading materials and gradually move on to more challenging texts. This can help you build your confidence. If you hop on to difficult texts before you’re ready your motivation might take a hit. Additionally, taking advantage of online dictionaries, translation tools, and audio recordings can help you understand and engage with the content you are reading.
Read more: How to self-study Japanese and the best resources to do it
Track your progress, and stay motivated. Joining a language learning community or finding a study partner can also provide valuable support and encouragement as you work towards your goals.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to find reading materials that you enjoy and that challenge you in a way that is manageable. Whether it’s reading news articles, manga, or short stories, finding materials that you are interested in will help you stay motivated and engaged, making it easier to stick with your reading practice and improve your skills over time.
