100% free · no account, no password

Learn Japanese,
one day at a time.

Michi turns “someday” into a daily plan. Answer 3 quick questions and get a personalized roadmap from JLPT N5 to N1 — week by week, built entirely on the best free resources. No paywalls. No fluff. No login.

Personalized to your level Real free resources only Honest timelines
Grammar Vocab Kanji Listening Reading Mock tests
What you get

Not another app that gamifies you into a paywall

Michi hands you the same map serious self-learners use to go from zero to fluent — then gets out of your way.

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A roadmap built around you

Start exactly where you are — total beginner or N2 — with the time you actually have and the goal you actually want.

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Only real, free resources

Tae Kim, Anki, WaniKani, NHK Easy, the official JLPT tests and more — every link hand-verified and free to use.

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Week-by-week, not vague tips

Each week has specific tasks with the resource links attached. You always know exactly what to do today.

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An honest timeline

Three paces — Aggressive, Standard, Sustainable. We never fake-compress N1 into “3 months.” Real numbers only.

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A skill tree that unlocks

Tick off weeks and watch N5 → N1 light up. Momentum you can see beats motivation you have to summon.

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Your progress saves itself

Come back any time, right where you left off. Switch pace or goal and the whole plan regenerates instantly.

How it works

From “I should learn Japanese” to a plan — in 15 seconds

01

Tell us 3 things

Your level, how much time you have a day, and your goal. That’s the whole sign-up.

02

Get your roadmap

Instantly see your personalized N5 → N1 path, week by week, with every resource linked.

03

Study a little daily

Follow the plan, tick off weeks, and let Michi track the climb. Small days add up.

Built on the resources that actually work
Tae Kim’s GuideAnkiWaniKaniBunpro NHK News Web EasyJisho.orgComprehensible Japanese Japanese Ammo with MisaJLPT OfficialTofuguRenshuuIMABI

Why Michi is different

Most Japanese apps keep you tapping for a streak, then nudge you toward a subscription. You finish a year “fluent” in an app and still can’t read a menu.

Michi isn’t a course and isn’t trying to be your teacher. It’s the map — the exact sequence of free tools and milestones that take you from kana to N1 — organized around your life.

You bring the daily reps. Michi makes sure they point in the right direction.

We’ll be honest with you

Study hours come from Coto Academy & the Japan Foundation: roughly 400–500 hours for N5, and 3,900–4,500 hours for N1 from zero.

That means N1 in a year is only realistic with near full-time study or living in Japan. Michi shows you the true timeline at every pace — because a plan you can trust is a plan you’ll actually follow.

N5 in a few months, though? Completely doable. Everyone starts there.

Questions

Everything you might be wondering

Is it really free?
Yes. Michi is free, and every resource it points you to has a genuine free tier — Tae Kim, Anki, Jisho, NHK Easy and the official JLPT practice tests cost nothing. No credit card, no trial that expires.
Do I need to create an account?
No login, no password. We ask for your email only so we can save your roadmap and progress — and so you can pick up where you left off.
What is the JLPT?
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test — the global standard for measuring Japanese ability, from N5 (beginner) up to N1 (advanced/near-native). It’s held twice a year and is widely recognized by employers and universities.
I’m a total beginner — does that matter?
Not at all. If you don’t know hiragana or katakana yet, your roadmap simply starts there, with the gentlest free resources, before any grammar.
How long until I can pass N1?
Honestly? From zero, N1 is a 2–3+ year journey even at an intense pace — it’s ~4,000 hours of study. Michi won’t pretend otherwise. But N5 is reachable in a few months, and every level is a real, motivating milestone.
Is Michi affiliated with the JLPT?
No. Michi is an independent free study planner. The JLPT is administered by the Japan Foundation and JEES; we simply link you to their official practice materials.

Your first day starts now

One email. Three questions. A complete, honest path to Japanese — free, forever.

Get my free roadmap →
MichiYour Japanese Path

Your path to fluency

Timeline — pick your intensity
Profile — starting point & goal
Skill tree — unlocks as you complete weeks
All resources in this roadmap — free & verified
A note on honesty: study hours are cumulative-from-zero estimates for learners without prior kanji background (Coto Academy / Japan Foundation, 2026). Learners who know Chinese/Korean, or who immerse in Japan, often move ~30–40% faster. Reaching N1 from zero realistically takes 2–3+ years even at intense study. The JLPT runs twice a year (July & December) — details at jlpt.jp.
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