TikTok, with its billions of users, is a great place to find entertaining and educative content. Whether you’re a lifelong linguist or someone who just wants to understand their favorite anime without looking at the bottom of the screen, TikTok has evolved into a surprisingly potent classroom.
Here is how to transform your “For You” page into a private Japanese tutor.
Why using TikTok to learn Japanese?
TikTok stood out from other social media by providing short audio-visual content.
As someone learning a language, you can therefore access this content from your phone and study whenever you have 30 seconds available.
Furthermore, you can access content from people in Japan or native Japanese speakers, which in addition to listening to real and modern Japanese provides you with visual cues on how Japanese people behave in everyday situations. For instance you can see how people use gestures when communicating, or how they behave when in a public spaces. With that, in addition to learning the language, you will learn complementary aspects of the Japanese culture that will help you blend more easily in the Japanese society, and not be considered as one of these bad mannered foreigners.
Finding Japanese educative content on TikTok
The best way to find Japanese educative content on Tik-Tok is to search for specific keywords:
- Learn Japanese
- Nihongo
- Study Japanese
- Japanese vlog
- Japanese podcast
You can also indicate your proficiency level in Japanese to refine the query:
- beginner / N5: if you are a beginner and want to learn the basics of the Japanese language.
- intermediate / N4 / N3: if you have an intermediate level and want to deepen your knowledge of Japanese grammar and language.
- advanced / N2 / N1: if you have an advanced level and want to reach Japanese native proficiency level.
Note: N5/…/N1 are the Japanese proficiency levels defined in the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test).
Creators Who Actually Teach
Beginning of 2026, here is a quick landscape of Japanese creators to get a balanced diet of grammar, slang, and culture:
| Account Name | Account id | Why Follow? |
| Japanese with Dokidokicomics | @dokidokicomics | Base vocabulary presented by cute animals. N5 level |
| Himawari | @japanesepika | Learn base Japanese grammar. N5 level |
| reAlpha Japanese | @realpha.japanese | Small skits to discover Japanese language and culture. N5/N4 levels |
| Taka Nihongo Dojo | @takanihongodojo | Uses rapid-fire movement and props to teach verbs/adjectives. |
| Nihongo time | @nihongo.time | Reading and speaking challenges to train your skills. N5/N4 levels |
| sakijapaneselessons | @sakijapaneselessons | Short Japanese skits good to look for your words in Japanese N5/N4 levels |
| SASA Sensei | @sasasensei | Learn vocabulary and basic grammar and Japanese lifestyle. N5/N4 levels |
| Nihongodeasobou | @aoi_japanese | Simple beginner friendly content with normal and slow speed speech and subtitles. N5/N4 levels. |
| fukune-chan N4 | @fukune_chan_jlpt_n4 | Great to train for JLPT N4 examination. N4 level |
| Japanese for All | @minsama143 | Short drama in different situations. N5/N4/N3 levels |
| Seika | @seika929 | Japanese everyday life vlog. N5/N4/N3 levels |
| Saya’s Japanese Lessons | @saya_japanese | Good to learn expressing opinions and sentiments, as well as more intimate topics. N4/N3 levels |
| すいかせんせい | @suikasensei | Short situational skits N4/N3 levels |
| NoRa@ | @learningjapanese0.1v | Compilation of podcasts with different speakers and subtitles, with longer content. N4/N3 levels |
| taitojapanese | @taitojapanese | Easy everyday content provided by a native Japanese speaking person. N4/N3 levels |
| Coto Academy | @cotoacademy | High-quality grammar breakdowns from native instructors. N3/N2 levels. |
| 日本語の森 nihongonomori | @nihongonomori | Grammar and vocabulary quizzes and lessons. N3/N2 levels |
| ただつわたなべ | @tadanabe | Funny Japanese skits with subtitles. N2/N1 levels |
|
日本も絶体絶命 |
@honjitsumo_zz | Funny skits like you could see on Japanese TV, with subtitles in Japanese. N2/N1 levels |
| RKB毎日放送NEWS | @rkbnews4ch | Everyday topics taken from Japanese television with subtitles. N2/N1 levels |
In addition, here are a few accounts more focused around Japanese culture:
| Account name | Account id | Why follow? |
| Kyota Ko | @Kyota.ko | Interesting facts about Japanese culture. |
| Nathalie Kitahara | @nathaliekitahara | Focuses on the “unspoken” Japanese that textbooks miss. |
| CrazyJapanese | @crazyjapanese_tv | Facts about Japanese everyday life |
|
川原毛筆硬筆書道教室 |
@coco_shodo | Correction of Japanese calligraphy writing. |
Leverage “Hidden” Features
TikTok isn’t just for watching; it’s for participating. Use these tools to move from passive listening to active speaking:
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The “Duet” for Speaking: Find creators who do “Roleplay” videos (searching #JapaneseRoleplay). They leave gaps for you to say the lines. It’s the lowest-stakes conversation practice you’ll ever have.
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Saved Folders: Don’t just “Like” a video—save it into specific folders like “Grammar,” “Kanji,” or “Travel Phrases.” This turns your Favorites tab into a custom-built textbook.
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Auto-Captions: Turn on auto-generated captions in the accessibility settings. This helps you bridge the gap between the sounds you hear and the characters (Hiragana/Kanji) they represent.
A 20-Minute Daily Routine
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5 Mins: Scroll your “Japanese-only” FYP (Active Listening).
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10 Mins: Practice 3 “Duet” roleplays (Speaking).
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5 Mins: Pick one new word you heard and look up its Kanji/Usage (Deep Dive).
Stef
