Guides

One guide per decision — what to buy, in your situation, and what to skip.

By JLPT level

What to buy for each exam — by runway and weak point.

JLPT N5 books: what you need (and mostly don't)JLPT N5 →The books you actually need for JLPT N4 (fewer than you think)JLPT N4 →The books you actually need for JLPT N3JLPT N3 →The books you actually need for JLPT N2JLPT N2 →The books you actually need for JLPT N1JLPT N1 →

By situation

The two decisions every learner hits outside exam season.

The best Japanese textbook for beginnersBeginner →What comes after Genki IIAfter Genki →Eight Weeks to the JLPT: What to BuyDec 2026 →

The data

Verified numbers the guides are built on — free to cite.

Japanese textbook edition trackerEditions →Japanese Textbook Price Index 20262026 data →

Tools

Answer a few questions, get a decision — not a listicle.

Which JLPT Level Should You Take?Tool →