Best Podcasts to Learn Japanese for Beginners, by Level and Listening Style

Updated 2026-10-09

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn't change how we rank shows, and most of the podcasts here are free and pay us nothing. This comparison is based on our research of public episode pages, free samples, and official information, not on long-term personal use of every show.

I'm a native Japanese speaker living in Tokyo. I don't learn Japanese from podcasts, so I won't pretend I've worked through these courses. What I did instead: I went through each show's public episode pages, free transcripts, and official information, and checked whether the Japanese on those pages is the kind people in Tokyo actually say. Below, the shows are sorted by how much Japanese you can handle right now and how you like to listen.

Quick Picks: The Best Japanese Podcast for Each Listening Style

Beginner podcasts fall into two camps. Some explain Japanese in English, which is easier on day one. Others are all in Japanese but slow and simple, which is harder at first but closer to real listening. Most learners benefit from one of each.

Short version: If you're starting from zero, begin with NHK Easy Japanese (free) or JapanesePod101's free account if you want lessons that explain everything in English. Once you know basic greetings and desu/masu sentences, add one short all-Japanese show like Teppei's beginner podcast or Sakura Tips.

How We Chose (and What We Didn't Do)

• This is a research-based comparison. We reviewed each show's official site, podcast directory listing, public episode pages, free transcripts, and pricing pages. We did not complete these courses ourselves.
• Native-speaker check. Where a show publishes Japanese text on a public page (dialogues, transcripts, episode titles), we read it as a native speaker in Tokyo and noted whether it's natural and how polite it is. We only quote lines we found on public pages, and we link to the source.
• Beginner fit. We favored shows that either explain Japanese in English or use slow, simple, all-Japanese speech aimed at beginners.
• Still listenable today. We checked whether each show is still updating or is a finished archive. A finished course can still be excellent; you just shouldn't expect new episodes.
• Prices are dated. All prices and free-plan details were checked on official pages on 2026-10-09. Promotions change often, so confirm before paying.
• Free shows count. Three of our four picks are free and pay us nothing.

1. Best Free Course for Absolute Beginners: NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese

Best for: complete beginners who want a free, finished course with a clear start and end.

Not ideal for: learners who want new episodes every week, or who already know basic sentences.

What it is

Easy Japanese is a Japanese course from NHK WORLD-JAPAN, the international service of Japan's public broadcaster. Its official podcast, "Easy Japanese: Conversation Lessons," describes the course as free of charge and built around the story of Tam, a student from overseas at a Japanese university. Each lesson focuses on one practical task; the later episode titles include "Making a request politely" and "Asking how to do something."

Cost and format

At the time of writing (checked 2026-10-09), the Apple Podcasts listing showed 48 episodes, all free, with the most recent lessons listed at about 10 minutes each. The listing shows the show was active in 2019–2020, so treat it as a complete archive, not an ongoing series. The listing points to NHK's lesson site (nhk.jp/lesson) for the full course.

Native note

We couldn't open the dialogue text for these lessons on a page we could verify, so we're not quoting lines here. What we can say: a course from Japan's public broadcaster is a reasonable bet for standard, neutral Japanese, which is exactly what a beginner should learn first.

Pros and cons

Pros - Completely free, with a defined 48-lesson path - One task per lesson keeps it manageable - Story format gives you a reason to keep listening

Cons - No new episodes; the podcast feed ended in 2020 - Less depth than a paid course once you finish - 10-minute lessons cover one point each, so progress feels slow if you binge

2. Best for Guided Lessons in English: JapanesePod101

Best for: beginners who want each line explained in English, plus lesson notes and a set order to follow.

Not ideal for: learners who want pure immersion, or who don't want another subscription.

What it is

JapanesePod101 is a lesson library of short audio and video lessons, grouped into "pathways." Its first absolute-beginner lesson, "Say Hello in Japanese No Matter What the Time of Day," is listed in beginner pathways including "Conversational Japanese for Absolute Beginners" and "JLPT N5 Recommended Course: Part 1." Its featured beginner pathway, "Level 1.1 Can Do Japanese," lists 130 lessons and about 5 hours 15 minutes of total runtime (lesson library, checked 2026-10-09).

One thing to know: JapanesePod101 also has a free public podcast feed, "Learn Japanese | JapanesePod101.com (Audio)," but on 2026-10-09 it listed 78 episodes and only a few recent releases. The full beginner library lives on the website and app, not in that feed.

Price and free options

At the time of writing (checked 2026-10-09), the official pricing page showed:

The promo was labeled 45% off, with prices "based on the cost of a 24-month subscription," and the sale banner said it ends October 23, 2026. The free plan listed a 50+ lesson Survival Phrases course, the first 3 lessons in every pathway, Word of the Day, vocabulary lists, and a 7-day Premium trial. The site's FAQ describes a 60-day money-back guarantee. These offers change often, so check the current terms before buying.

Native-speaker notes on its public example

That first lesson's public dialogue pairs casual and polite greetings, including "Ohayō!" and "Ohayō gozaimasu." (おはよう！／おはようございます。)

• Natural? Yes. Both are exactly what you hear every morning in Tokyo.
• Politeness: The lesson notes call ohayō the casual version, which is right. Use ohayō with friends and family, and ohayō gozaimasu with coworkers, neighbors, and anyone you don't know well. At some workplaces, ohayō gozaimasu is even used as the first greeting of the day in the afternoon or evening.
• Why it matters for listening: Beginner audio often teaches the polite form only. Hearing both side by side helps you recognize the short form when real people use it.

Pros and cons

Pros - English explanations make day-one listening possible - Clear beginner pathways and lesson notes - Free account lets you test the format before paying

Cons - The lowest monthly prices require a 24-month commitment - The free public podcast feed is small; the real library is behind an account - So much content that it's easy to jump around; pick one pathway and finish it

Prices shown were checked on 2026-10-09 and may have changed.

3. Best Short All-Japanese Show: Nihongo con Teppei for Beginners

Best for: beginners who know basic sentences and want daily, low-pressure listening in Japanese only.

Not ideal for: absolute beginners in week one, or learners who need a transcript for every episode.

What it is

Teppei's beginner show is published on its official site under the name "Japanese podcast for beginners (Nihongo con Teppei)." Episodes are in Japanese, and the site offers each one as a stream or MP3 download, plus an RSS feed. On 2026-10-09 the latest episode was #1596, posted 2026-10-08, so the show is active and has a very large back catalog.

Recent episode topics on the site include grammar, kanji, pronunciation, keigo, and Japanese for restaurants, hotels, and travel. Third-party guides such as Tofugu's resource listing describe episodes as short, around four minutes; the official site doesn't list durations.

Cost

Free to listen and download on the official site (checked 2026-10-09). We could not confirm official transcripts on the site, so plan on listening without a script.

Native note on its episode titles

Episode titles follow a simple pattern, for example 「レストランでの日本語について！」 ("About Japanese at restaurants!").

• Natural? Yes. ~ni tsuite ("about ~") is a pattern you'll hear constantly, from casual talk to meetings.
• Helpful detail: some titles add readings in parentheses, like 敬語（けいご）, which helps if you're still learning kanji.

Pros and cons

Pros - Free, active, and huge back catalog - Short episodes make a daily habit easy - All-Japanese listening from early on

Cons - No official transcripts we could confirm - Natural pace, not heavily slowed down, so it can feel hard at first - No structured order; it's listening practice, not a course

4. Best for Reading Along: Sakura Tips

Best for: beginners moving toward pre-intermediate who want all-Japanese audio with a free script to check.

Not ideal for: total beginners, or anyone who wants English explanations.

What it is

Sakura Tips is run by Mari, who describes the site as "Sharing a real Japan for all those who love Japan." The official site combines a Japanese-language podcast with blog lessons, a hiragana chart with audio, and a learning roadmap that runs from "Level1 - Beginner" to intermediate. Episodes cover everyday topics; recent titles listed on the site include 家族 (family) and 断捨離 (decluttering).

Cost

Listening and the transcripts we checked are free (checked 2026-10-09). The site also offers paid textbooks and a patron program. We couldn't verify their current prices, so check the official site.

Activity note: the site listed episode 653 as its latest, but the posts we opened were older (the transcript below is dated 2023-11-03), and we couldn't confirm a recent release date. The archive is large either way.

Native note on its public transcript

The transcript for episode 626 opens with 「みなさん、こんにちは。」 and 「今日のテーマは東アジアについてです。」

• Natural? Yes. This is standard, polite Japanese, the same way a teacher or presenter would open a talk.
• Politeness: desu/masu style throughout, which is the right register for beginners to copy.
• Listening tip: read the transcript once after listening, not before, so you actually train your ears.

Pros and cons

Pros - Free transcripts make it easy to check what you missed - Calm, polite Japanese that's safe to imitate - Big archive of everyday topics

Cons - No English support, so it's better a few weeks into your studies - Current update schedule unclear - Paid extras' prices weren't confirmable on the official pages

Japanese Listening Practice for Beginners: A Simple Routine

Podcasts work best when you use them on purpose. A routine that fits most beginners:

1. First month: guided audio. One NHK Easy Japanese lesson or one JapanesePod101 beginner lesson per day. Replay the dialogue until you can follow it without the English.
2. Once you know desu/masu sentences: add one all-Japanese episode a day. Teppei's beginner show for short daily listening, or Sakura Tips if you want a script to check afterward.
3. Listen twice. First for the general idea, second for details. Only then check a transcript if one exists.
4. Shadow a little. Pause and repeat a short line out loud. Five minutes of this builds more speaking confidence than an hour of passive listening.
5. Don't chase 100%. Understanding 60–70% of an all-Japanese episode is normal and useful at this stage.

If you'd rather learn with apps, video, or a tutor instead of (or alongside) audio, see our guide to the best Japanese learning apps for beginners.

FAQ

What is the best podcast to learn Japanese for a complete beginner?

Start with a show that explains Japanese in English. NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese is a free 48-lesson course, and JapanesePod101 offers a free account with beginner lessons. Move to all-Japanese shows once you know basic sentences.

Are there good free Japanese podcasts?

Yes. NHK Easy Japanese, Nihongo con Teppei for Beginners, and Sakura Tips are free to listen to (checked 2026-10-09). Free shows are enough for listening practice; paid options mainly add structure, lesson notes, and study tools.

Can I learn Japanese just by listening to podcasts?

Podcasts are excellent for listening and pronunciation, but they won't fully teach reading, writing, or speaking. Pair them with kana practice and, later, some conversation practice.

Should beginners listen to all-Japanese podcasts?

Yes, in small doses once you know basic sentences. Short, slow, all-Japanese episodes train your ear for real speech. If you understand almost nothing, go back to a show with English explanations for a few more weeks.