11 Best Japanese Language Courses for Beginners
We compared 11 Japanese Language courses currently listed on edX and Udemy, priced from $129.00 to $348.30. 1 comes from a named university or institution, including Waseda University. They are ordered by our CourseAsk score, which is built from how thoroughly each course describes what it teaches, whether it comes from a named institution, and how it compares on price — not from star ratings, which our course data does not include.
- Courses compared
- 11
- Price range
- $129.00 – $348.30
- Providers
- edX, Udemy
- Last updated
- 30 Aug 2026
How these 11 courses were chosen
Every course below is a real, currently listed course from edX, Udemy, matched to "japanese language" by our catalog and ordered by our CourseAsk score. Courses whose own title names the topic rank above those only tagged with it.
The grade on each entry scores how much the provider publishes about the course before you pay — the length and detail of the description, whether it lists learning outcomes and objectives — and whether a named university or institution stands behind it. A is fully documented and institution-backed; E is little more than a title and a price. Courses with almost nothing published are left ungraded rather than marked down, because an unknown course and a poor one are not the same thing.
There are no star ratings on this page — the course feeds we license do not include them, and we would rather leave a column out than fill it with a number we cannot stand behind. What we do have is price: these range from $129.00 to $348.30, as listed by the provider when we last updated the page.
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1
Steps in Japanese for Beginners 3
Offered by Waseda University
This course is designed for beginners aiming to build a strong foundation in the Japanese language. Through engaging content and practical exercises, you'll learn essential vocabulary and basic grammar to help you start...
$348.30listed price -
2
Steps in Japanese for Beginners 2
Offered by Waseda University
This course, Steps in Japanese for Beginners 2, is designed to continue your journey in learning the Japanese language. You'll engage with essential vocabulary and grammar to help you communicate more effectively in ever...
$348.30listed price -
3
Steps in Japanese for Beginners 1
Offered by Waseda University
This introductory course is designed for those who want to learn Japanese from the ground up. You'll explore fundamental vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, all while developing listening and speaking skills through...
$285.30listed price -
4
Comprehensive Essential Japanese for Beginners
This course offers a structured approach to learning polite Japanese over five weeks, with each week's content taking less than 20 minutes to digest. You'll cover essential vocabulary and grammar for everyday situations,...
$139.99listed price -
5
Steps in Japanese for Beginners2 Part1
Offered by Waseda University
Learn casual expressions which are used among people who know each other well and the small talk which helps build personal relationships.
$129.00listed price -
6
Steps in Japanese for Beginners3 Part1
Offered by Waseda University
Learn manners and rules needed develop personal relationships with various people and expressions necessary for natural disasters
$129.00listed price -
7
Steps in Japanese for Beginners2 Part3
Offered by Waseda University
Learn how to explain a troubling situation, and how to ask for assistance from people.
$129.00listed price -
8
Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3
Offered by Waseda University
Learn important words and phrases for building relationships with other people.
$129.00listed price -
9
Steps in Japanese for Beginners2 Part2
Offered by Waseda University
Learn how to ask the details about a situation and make requests to people.
$129.00listed price -
10
Steps in Japanese for Beginners3 Part2
Offered by Waseda University
Learn how to express emotion both publicly and privately
$129.00listed price -
11
Steps in Japanese for Beginners3 Part3
Offered by Waseda University
Learn academic expressions and interaction at companies
$129.00listed price
Best Japanese Language Courses for Beginners compared
| # | Course | Provider | Offered by | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners 3 | edX | Waseda University | $348.30 | View → |
| 2 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners 2 | edX | Waseda University | $348.30 | View → |
| 3 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners 1 | edX | Waseda University | $285.30 | View → |
| 4 | Comprehensive Essential Japanese for Beginners | Udemy | — | $139.99 | View → |
| 5 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners2 Part1 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
| 6 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners3 Part1 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
| 7 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners2 Part3 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
| 8 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners1 Part3 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
| 9 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners2 Part2 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
| 10 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners3 Part2 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
| 11 | Steps in Japanese for Beginners3 Part3 | edX | Waseda University | $129.00 | View → |
Prices shown are the provider's listed price when we last updated this page. Confirm on their site before enrolling.
What the prices here tell you
The 11 priced courses on this page run from $129.00 to $348.30, with the middle of the range around $129.00 — a spread of $219.30. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.
Who is behind these courses
These courses come from edX and Udemy. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 1 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including Waseda University — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.
Before you enrol
Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page on 30 August 2026 — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.