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Rocket Languages Review

Monday, July 7th

2025 Japanese Lesson Reviews

Rocket Languages Review 4.5 Star Rating

Rocket Languages

4.5 Star Rating
  • Pricing at $149.95 to $282 for lifetime access
  • Japanese levels 1, 2, and 3
  • Listening and interactive activities
  • Focus on hiragana, katakana, and kanji
  • Guest account for free trial
  • 60-day money-back guarantee
  • Can use both online and in the car
  • Mobile apps for Android and iOS
  • 4.7-star average user rating

Rocket Languages was established back in 2004 by Jason Oxenham and Mark Ling. With over 2 million students, the program is highly beneficial for beginners venturing into Japanese learning. On Rocket Languages, you'll find audio and cultural lessons, with the content providing specific emphasis on pronunciation practice and interactive flashcards. Rocket Languages is designed to guide students toward fluency.

Trial multiple lesson types

To begin your study on Rocket Languages, you have the option to start with a guest account, which doesn't require any sign-up process. From there, you can explore various lesson types, including audio, language and culture, writing, and "survival kit" lessons. Each lesson is accompanied by icons indicating the included activities, such as flashcards, listening exercises, speaking exercises, and quizzes. The site design allows for easy navigation by level and module. While some lessons may be locked until you reach a certain proficiency level in Japanese, the layout remains clear and organized, and you can follow a lesson plan easily. Each lesson offers the used vocabulary listed beneath the lesson content for further study, and lessons feature cultural music, and gamified elements like scores and badges to keep you engaged in your Japanese study.

Tons of activities to guide you through Japanese

Many lessons on Rocket focus on audio and interactive exercises to help you learn Japanese. For example, in one lesson, Rocket Languages offers an introduction to Japanese writing systems. The lesson goes over the characters in hiragana, katakana, and kanji in detail as well as offering interactive portions where you're asked to draw some of the characters. Each lesson is around 25 minutes with a mix of listening, speaking, drawing, and other interactive activities. Many lessons also come with an average of 20-50 flashcards and a similar number of speaking and listening practices.

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Pay once and get 1-3 levels of Japanese

The pricing here is a little different than other companies in our review. Rocket Languages offers a one-time purchase that has three different pricing tiers depending on how many levels of Japanese you want to complete. For just level 1, the price is $99.95. If you want levels 1 and 2, you'll need to pay $249.90. Finally, if you want all three levels, the price is $259.90. If you don't want to pay for it upfront, you can choose a 6-month payment plan instead, though you'll end up paying more in the long run this way. Rocket Languages splits the cost of $282 over 6 months in payments of $47 per month.

Progress to advanced Japanese

In Japanese levels 1, 2, and 3, you'll progress from the beginning basics of Japanese to advanced study. With over 400 hours of lesson time, you'll be able to cover nearly everything you need to be ready to travel to Japan when you're finished. The goal of Rocket Languages is conversational Japanese, so you'll ideally be able to have real conversations that sound modern.

60-day refunds for any reason

Rocket Languages offers an impressive refund policy. You will get a 60-day window for testing out the Japanese lessons on Rocket Languages before you need to fully commit. This period extends beyond the trial available on a "guest" account. If during the 60 days you decide that Rocket Languages isn't for you, you'll get a full refund (no questions asked).

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Students are impressed with Japanese lessons

The reviews for the Rocket Languages Japanese program are pretty impressive. On average, students who reviewed the Japanese program left 4.7-star ratings out of 5. The ratings are similar on the mobile apps with another 4.7-star average on the Google Play store and a competitive 4.4-star rating on the Apple store (though these are for the app as a whole rather than just Japanese). Students praise the way that Rocket Languages moves step by step through Japanese and multiple reviews spotlight the quality of the audio lessons. Some students claim to have made faster progress here than with any other method of learning Japanese.

Japanese from beginner to advanced

Considering the overwhelmingly positive reviews for the Japanese lessons on Rocket Languages, we're highly impressed with what the company has to offer. With lessons that range from beginner to advanced level, Rocket Languages stands out as one of the most comprehensive learning systems for Japanese. For this reason, it gets a strong rating and a high recommendation.

Where Can You Find the Best Japanese Lessons?

Learning a new language opens up a world of opportunities, and Japanese is one of the most intriguing languages you can choose. Suppose you're fascinated by Japanese culture, anime, manga, or traditional arts like tea ceremonies and calligraphy. In that case, delving into the Japanese language can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of what you love.

Fortunately, with the increasing popularity of online learning, you can easily find Japanese lessons on the internet. Whether you're a complete beginner or seeking to refine your conversational skills, online Japanese courses offer a variety of teaching styles. From immersive audio lessons and interactive quizzes to multimedia resources and virtual language exchanges, online platforms offer an engaging learning environment.

The Best Japanese Lessons Compare Japanese Lessons Compare Japanese Lesson Reviews What are the best Japanese Lessons Best Japanese Lesson Reviews

Japanese Lesson FAQ

Japanese is in the top 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 130 million people who use it. 99% of those speakers live in Japan, but there are over a million people in the US, Brazil and Guam who also speak fluent Japanese.
Yes, but you probably won't encounter anything beyond Standard Japanese unless you travel throughout Japan itself. The Japanese you learn will be understood throughout the country, and differences are mostly related to accents and some vocabulary. It's not unlike what you find between speakers from different regions of the US, or between people from England and Australia.
If we're being completely honest, we'd say that Japanese is one of the hardest languages you could attempt to master: even the US State Department ranks it with Arabic, Korean and Chinese as one of the four most difficult! Part of that stems from the fact that Japanese has three separate writing systems (Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji). However, if you've got the grit to work hard and be patient with your studies, Japanese shouldn't be out of reach for you to learn.
You're going to need to wrap your head around the three Japanese alphabets: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. You'll find all of them as you learn the language! As you learn the alphabets, start memorizing basic vocabulary for how you intend to use Japanese, whether that's for business use or just to understand your favorite anime! Speaking of TV, it's a great way to pick up the accent and pronunciation naturally, especially if you don't have the chance to talk with native speakers on a regular basis.
There's no need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars for a one-semester Japanese class at a university when you can get on-demand instruction for much less. You may not even be able to find in-person classes near you, but there are always options online that let you learn Japanese as quickly (or as slowly!) as you desire.
You need to take a few extra steps to enable the Japanese language on your computer. The steps differ if you're using a Mac or Windows-based PC, and you'll have to search for the instructions based on your operating system. There are also online Japanese keyboards that let you click on characters without modifying your settings.
They're very affordable. You can get month-to-month subscription plans for less than $25/month, or make a one-time purchase of a Japanese lessons package for under $500. Either way, you'll get much more for your money than if you were paying for a semester or two of college courses.
You'll want to read the terms and conditions of any language platform you're considering. The subscription plans typically allow customers to cancel at any time but don't offer a refund of previous payments. The Japanese lesson packages that are one-off purchases may have a 30- or 60-day money-back guarantee. We suggest that you use all of the free resources that the language program has to offer - such as a sample lesson, or a trial period - so that you will already know how it approaches instruction and if it's a good fit for your preferences.
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Continued from above...

Whether you dream of exploring the bustling streets of Tokyo, immersing yourself in the serene landscapes of Kyoto, or simply connecting with Japanese speakers, learning the language can be a rewarding experience.

Japan has a rich cultural heritage, steeped in centuries-old traditions and modern innovations. From the graceful movements of traditional dance forms like Noh and Kabuki to the intricate artistry of sushi-making and bonsai cultivation, Japanese culture offers art, history, and innovation. By learning Japanese, you gain access to a vibrant cultural world that spans ancient history and contemporary pop culture phenomena like J-pop music. From the elegance of Japanese architecture to the dynamic energy of modern city life, learning Japanese allows you to delve deeper into the heart and soul of Japan.

In today's interconnected world, proficiency in Japanese can open doors to many personal and professional opportunities. Japan is a global economic powerhouse, home to leading technology companies, automotive giants, and influential cultural exports. Whether you aspire to work for a Japanese corporation, pursue academic research in collaboration with Japanese institutions, or engage in cross-cultural exchange programs, fluency in Japanese can significantly broaden your horizons.

As you embark on your journey to learn Japanese, it can be hard to narrow down the options. Here are some key factors to consider to help you find the best resource for your Japanese lessons:

  • Teaching methodology. Identify your preferred learning style - whether auditory, visual, or kinesthetic - and select a Japanese course that works best with how you learn. Whether you thrive on interactive exercises, audiovisual content, or structured grammar discussions, make sure you prioritize platforms that offer methods that support how you learn best.
  • Free trial option. Look for Japanese language platforms that offer free trials or sample lessons. This allows you to check out the program before committing to a subscription. Some platforms offer course previews or multi-day trials. These will give you the best chance at trying a language program before you have to pay.
  • Cost. Evaluate the cost of Japanese language courses with respect to the value they offer in terms of educational content and language proficiency outcomes. Many Japanese language lessons are free, but you may not get full proficiency from those sources. On the other hand, some programs are very expensive, but you still might miss some key features. Balance the cost and value of the language instruction to find your best fit.
  • Reputation. Research the reputation and credibility of Japanese language platforms through customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials. Explore third-party review sites, language learning forums, and social media channels to see if your favorite Japanese lesson provider offers the results you want. Look for platforms with positive feedback regarding instructional effectiveness, customer support, and learning outcomes for a rewarding and fulfilling learning experience.

To help you get the most out of your language studies, Top Consumer Reviews has tested, evaluated and ranked the best options for online Japanese lessons today. We know this information will give you all the info you need to choose the best program for your learning style and schedule.

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