N3 is the "threshold" level of Japanese — enough to communicate in many real work and daily-life situations. It is also the level many Japanese companies require for non-technical positions. This article sets out a realistic six-month plan.
Starting assumptions
This plan is for someone who:
- Knows no Japanese at all, or only the basic syllabaries
- Can devote 2–3 hours a day to study
- Aims to sit JLPT N3 after six months
Month 1 — The writing systems and pronunciation
- Learn hiragana (46 characters): one week
- Learn katakana (46 characters): one week
- Start N5 kanji (80 characters): two weeks
- N5 grammar: Genki I (chapters 1–6)
- Flashcards: Anki with an N5 Japanese deck (2,000 words)
Materials: Genki I (textbook), the Dr. Moku app (kana), WaniKani (kanji)
Months 2–3 — Accelerating N5–N4 vocabulary and grammar
- Finish Genki I and II
- N5 and N4 vocabulary: around 1,500 words via Anki (20 new words a day)
- N5 and N4 kanji: around 300 characters
- Short reading practice with NHK Web Easy (nhknews.web.nhk.or.jp)
- Listening practice: JapanesePod101 (beginner level)
Months 4–5 — Diving into N3
- The Sou Matome N3 series (grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening)
- N3 vocabulary: 2,000 new words — around 3,500 in total
- N3 kanji: a further 200 characters (around 500 in total)
- Practise N3 papers from the JLPT Official Practice Workbook
Month 6 — Revision and exam technique
- Sit three to five full N3 mock exams under timed conditions
- Analyse your mistakes and focus revision on your weak areas
- Listen more: anime with Japanese subtitles, natural-speed Japanese podcasts
- Revise the grammar people get wrong most: the て-form, conditionals, passive and causative
A standard study day (2.5 hours)
- Morning (30 minutes): Anki — vocabulary and kanji review
- Afternoon (60 minutes): new grammar from the textbook
- Evening (60 minutes): reading practice and listening practice
Free apps and resources
- Anki: spaced-repetition flashcards — free on desktop
- Duolingo Japanese: daily practice to keep a streak going
- NHK Web Easy: simplified Japanese news — entirely free
- Jisho.org: the best Japanese-English dictionary; you can look up kanji by drawing them
- Bunpro: grammar practice organised by JLPT level
Practical advice: Do not study alone — find a speaking partner and join a Discord or Facebook group for Japanese learners. The brain retains language best when it is actually used. If you are aiming for the Japanese labour market, Nexora runs free weekly Japanese practice sessions for registered candidates.