My Journey from Hiragana to JLPT N3: Real Study Methods【A Personal Story】

2025/05/31

Learning Japanese has been one of the most rewarding — and humbling — experiences of my life. When I first saw a wall of kanji or tried to understand anime without subtitles, I thought, How will I ever get there? But years later, I’ve reached a level where I can have full conversations with native speakers, understand everyday topics, and even take language exams like the JLPT and JPT. In this article, I’ll walk you through my personal journey — how I went from zero knowledge to near JLPT N2, and what study methods, apps, and real-life routines helped me pass the JPT and nearly clear the JLPT N3.

Whether you’re just getting started or stuck somewhere in the middle, I hope this guide helps you find your own rhythm in this incredible language.

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Step 1: From Hiragana Headaches to Kanji Confidence

I started where most learners do: hiragana and katakana. At first, it felt like learning a new alphabet — or two — all over again. I spent a few weeks memorizing the characters using handwritten flashcards and mobile apps. But I quickly realized that Japanese wasn’t going to wait for me to be “ready.” Kanji was everywhere, and ignoring it would only make things harder in the long run.

So I embraced it. One of the best tools I found was Kanji Study. The app let me trace kanji strokes, test myself on meanings and readings, and create sets based on JLPT levels. I didn’t memorize 2,000 characters overnight — but little by little, I got used to seeing kanji not as a wall, but as a puzzle. I even started recognizing them in subway signs, restaurant menus, and YouTube thumbnails. That was my first taste of real-world comprehension, and it motivated me to keep going.

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Step 2: Building My Toolkit – Apps That Actually Helped

You can’t climb the mountain of Japanese without the right tools. Throughout my journey, I experimented with many apps, textbooks, and learning systems. These are the ones that truly made a difference:

• 🔍 Takoboto: My go-to dictionary. It’s simple, fast, and gives example sentences and JLPT level tags. I used it constantly during reading practice.
• 📷 Yomiwa: Life-changing when it comes to reading signs, books, or documents. Just scan the kanji and get instant translations and readings.
• 📚 Anki: I created custom flashcards for N3 grammar points, kanji, and vocabulary. The spaced repetition system kept everything fresh in my memory without burnout.
• 🧠 ChatGPT: Sometimes I didn’t understand a grammar point even after multiple textbook explanations. I’d ask ChatGPT to break it down for me with custom examples, and it made things click.

I also used JLPT prep books like 「TRY! 日本語能力試験 文法から伸ばす日本語」 and Nihongo Sou Matome, but the apps are what allowed me to study anytime, anywhere — especially on the train or during short breaks.

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Step 3: Living the Language – Real Input Every Day

Books and apps were my foundation — but I truly started improving when I made Japanese part of my daily life. Here’s how I did that:

• 🎧 Twitter Spaces & Podcasts: I listen to Japanese speakers talk casually in real time. Topics range from everyday life to random stories — exactly what the JLPT doesn’t prepare you for.
• 💬 Voice chats: I challenge myself to speak in Japanese during online group calls. It’s scary at first, but over time, it builds confidence and fluency.
• 🍻 Talking to locals in bars: On weekends, I go out and start conversations with people of all ages. Whether it’s a casual chat or a deep discussion, every exchange helps.
• 🎵 Japanese music on Spotify: I create playlists of Japanese songs I like, and follow the lyrics as I listen. It’s fun, and I get to discover new vocabulary and expressions in a natural way.
• 🎮 Watching Japanese gamers on YouTube: I follow Let’s Play creators and streamers who speak naturally. This helps me hear real Japanese reactions, daily vocabulary, and speech patterns you don’t find in scripted content.

This daily immersion created input-output balance: I wasn’t just memorizing words — I was hearing them, using them, and seeing how they’re used naturally.

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Step 4: My Daily Routine – How I Stayed Consistent

Consistency is the real secret to progress. It doesn’t matter if you study 10 hours one day and none the rest of the week — you’ll get farther by doing just 20–30 minutes every single day. Here’s what my average study day looks like:

• 🌅 Morning (10–15 min): Review Anki flashcards with grammar, vocab, and kanji
• ☕ During commutes: Listen to a Japanese podcast or a Twitter Space in the background
• 📖 Afternoon: Read a short article or manga chapter using Yomiwa
• 💬 Evening: Join a voice chat or write comments on Japanese tweets
• 🎵 Late night: Listen to music on Spotify while reading the lyrics
• 🎮 Weekend: Watch Let’s Plays in Japanese or go out to talk to locals

Even when I was tired, I made sure to do something. And if I didn’t understand a phrase or grammar point? I wrote it down and asked ChatGPT for clarification.

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Step 5: The Exams – JLPT vs JPT

I first took the JLPT N3, and although I studied hard, I missed passing by just a few points. I was disappointed, of course — but honestly, it felt like I deserved to pass. I had the comprehension. I had the vocabulary. I just needed a little more time and strategy.

That motivated me to take on a new challenge: the JPT (Japanese Proficiency Test). Unlike the JLPT, the JPT gives you a numerical score, and based on that, you’re assigned an equivalent JLPT level. With the momentum I had built up, I took the JPT — and passed with a score that placed me right at JLPT N3 level, nearly touching N2.

It was a huge confidence boost. Failing the JLPT N3 didn’t mean I wasn’t ready — it just meant I had to try again with more perspective. That’s one of the biggest lessons I learned: language proficiency isn’t defined by one test.

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Final Thoughts: How You Can Reach JLPT N3

If you’re aiming for JLPT N3, here’s what I’d say:

• Don’t skip kanji — learn a few each day, and start early
• Use tools that work for you, not just what’s popular
• Make Japanese part of your daily life — listen, speak, read, and interact
• Find your pace — consistency beats intensity
• Don’t fear native content — embrace it, even if you don’t understand 100%
• Track your progress with real-world goals, not just tests

Passing the JLPT isn’t the only goal. Being able to watch a Japanese YouTuber and actually laugh at the jokes, or have a chat with a stranger at a bar and understand their story — that’s what fluency feels like.

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Ready to Start Your Own Journey?

If you’re serious about learning Japanese and want support, structure, and guidance, come study with us.
🎌 At Nihongo Online School, we offer flexible, practical lessons that fit your life and goals.

Whether you’re starting from hiragana or aiming for N1, we’ll help you make real progress — one step at a time.