Do I really need to learn kanji to live in Tokyo?

Not to survive — translation apps and English signage at major stations cover a lot. But recognising even 20 to 30 common kanji by shape makes daily errands faster and far less stressful, and it is genuinely satisfying. Start with the ones above.

Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?

Most learners start with hiragana because it appears most often in everyday Japanese. Katakana is a close second and is especially handy for menus and product names since many words come from English. Free official courses (linked below) teach both with audio and stroke order.

What is the fastest way to read a sign I do not understand right now?

Use your phone's camera translation (Google Translate or Apple's built-in translation) — point it at the sign for an instant overlay. It is not perfect, but it is great for menus and notices. Learning the kanji above is the long-term shortcut so you rely on it less.

Reading Japanese signs: kana basics + the kanji you actually see

A gentle, no-pressure intro to hiragana and katakana, plus the ~30 everyday kanji on Tokyo's doors, stations, and shop windows — with readings and meanings.

6 min readChecked against official sources 2026-06-19

When you first arrive in Tokyo, the signs can feel like a wall of mystery. The good news: you do not need to 'learn Japanese' to start reading the most useful things. Japanese writing mixes three systems, and just recognising a couple of dozen shapes will let you find the right exit, the toilet, and an open shop. This is a gentle starting point, not a course — the goal is to make daily life a little less stressful.

The three writing systems, in one minute

Hiragana (ひらがな) — rounded, flowing characters. A set of ~46 sounds used for Japanese grammar and native words. Great first thing to learn because the shapes repeat everywhere.
Katakana (カタカナ) — sharper, more angular. Same ~46 sounds, but used mostly for foreign and loan words. If you can sound these out, you can read コーヒー (coffee), ビール (beer), and トイレ (toilet).
Kanji (漢字) — characters borrowed from Chinese that carry meaning. There are thousands, but the handful on signs repeats constantly. You can recognise these by shape long before you can write them.

The ~30 kanji you actually see every day

入口 (iriguchi) — entrance
出口 (deguchi) — exit
非常口 (hijōguchi) — emergency exit (usually a green running-person sign)
止 / 止まれ (tomare) — stop
危険 (kiken) — danger
注意 (chūi) — caution / attention
禁止 (kinshi) — prohibited / forbidden
立入禁止 (tachiiri-kinshi) — no entry
駅 (eki) — station
改札 (kaisatsu) — ticket gate
トイレ / お手洗い (toire / otearai) — toilet
男 (otoko) — men
女 (onna) — women
円 (en) — yen (¥), seen after prices
営業中 (eigyōchū) — open (for business)
準備中 (junbichū) — getting ready / not open yet
閉店 (heiten) — closed / shop closed
押 (osu) — push (on doors)
引 (hiku) — pull (on doors)
開 (hiraku/kai) — open
閉 (shimeru/hei) — closed / shut
右 (migi) — right
左 (hidari) — left
上 (ue) — up / above
下 (shita) — down / below
中 (naka/chū) — inside / middle
大 / 小 (dai / shō) — large / small (common on toilet flush buttons)
水 (mizu) — water
火 (hi/ka) — fire
無料 (muryō) — free of charge
有料 (yūryō) — paid / fee required

Learn 非常口 (emergency exit) first. In an earthquake, fire, or any emergency, this green sign with a running figure points you to safety. Tokyo's official disaster guides for foreign residents are worth bookmarking before you ever need them.

Confusing 営業中 (open) with 準備中 (preparing / not yet open) — both hang on shop doors. 営 looks busy; 準 starts with three water drops on the left.
Mixing up 入口 (entrance) and 出口 (exit) — remember 入 looks like a person stepping in, 出 looks like stacked boxes going out.
Reading katakana too slowly and giving up — many katakana words are just English in disguise (メニュー = menu, レジ = register/checkout).
Pushing a 引 (pull) door — a small kanji on the glass tells you which way it opens.
Assuming every sign has an English version. Major stations do; small shops, residential streets, and older buildings often do not.

Do I really need to learn kanji to live in Tokyo?: Not to survive — translation apps and English signage at major stations cover a lot. But recognising even 20 to 30 common kanji by shape makes daily errands faster and far less stressful, and it is genuinely satisfying. Start with the ones above.
Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?: Most learners start with hiragana because it appears most often in everyday Japanese. Katakana is a close second and is especially handy for menus and product names since many words come from English. Free official courses (linked below) teach both with audio and stroke order.
What is the fastest way to read a sign I do not understand right now?: Use your phone's camera translation (Google Translate or Apple's built-in translation) — point it at the sign for an instant overlay. It is not perfect, but it is great for menus and notices. Learning the kanji above is the long-term shortcut so you rely on it less.

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