PTT kana app recommendations: 4 apps for learning hiragana and katakana

Four kana apps at a glance

Check the platform first, then choose the practice format you want: charts, quizzes, a game or handwriting.

1. GraspJPN: kana practice followed by vocabulary

GraspJPN provides hiragana and katakana practice and tests, plus flashcards and N5–N1 vocabulary. It is a candidate if you want to continue using the same app after the first kana stage.

Best for: beginners who want ready-made exercises. Check recognition and listening separately, so correct answers do not depend on memorising where an option appears.

Before choosing: if handwriting is your priority, confirm whether its exercises meet that need.

Platforms and cost: iOS and Android, free download with purchases. App Store · Google Play.

2. Yoshiwara Sakura: charts and character-origin clues

Yoshiwara Sakura (吉原櫻) offers kana charts covering basic sounds, voiced sounds and combinations, with Chinese-character origins and quizzes. Those origins can provide a visual memory cue for learners familiar with Chinese.

Best for: learners who want a chart to consult or need help recognising shapes. This is a separate app from the role-playing game below.

Before choosing: a shape cue does not teach the Japanese sound by itself. Check whether you can recognise characters out of chart order too.

Platforms and cost: iPhone / iPad; the US listing checked on 8 October 2026 is free to download and lists the latest version update as 3 July 2018. We have not tested compatibility with current iPhones. View Yoshiwara Sakura.

3. Yoshiwara Hanamachi: practise kana matching through a game

Yoshiwara Hanamachi (吉原花巷) uses role-playing battles with timed, three-choice kana-matching questions. Matching a hiragana character to its katakana equivalent is part of the practice.

Best for: learners more willing to play than study a chart. Matching the two scripts can also reveal whether you recognise both sets.

Before choosing: the story is set in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter; check the store description for personal fit. It is not a complete beginner grammar course.

Platform and cost: iPhone; the US price checked on 7 October 2026 was US$0.99. Other storefronts and future prices may differ. View Yoshiwara Hanamachi.

4. Obenkyo: kana recognition and handwriting on Android

Obenkyo offers kana cards and exercises using selection, input and handwriting recognition, with kanji practice available as well. It is worth considering if you use Android and want to practise writing.

Best for: learners combining recognition and handwriting. Compare your written shape with a reference rather than treating recognition alone as proof of correct writing.

Before choosing: it is a practice tool, not a guided course. Its vocabulary material is based on an English dictionary, which matters if you plan to continue beyond kana.

Platform and cost: Android; free with ads. Obenkyo on Google Play.

Which kana app should a beginner choose?

Quizzes with a vocabulary path: consider GraspJPN.

Charts or handwriting: consider Yoshiwara Sakura on iPhone / iPad, or Obenkyo for handwriting on Android.

A game you want to keep playing: consider Yoshiwara Hanamachi. Pick one format you are willing to use, then address gaps in recognition, listening or writing separately.

What comes after kana?

When you begin reading short sentences, vocabulary and grammar become the next focus. See our vocabulary app comparison. Maho supports that later stage through text analysis and AI questions; we are not presenting it as a complete beginner kana-handwriting app.

PTT sources and product information

The linked PTT kana-game discussion mentions Hanamachi as a mobile option. GraspJPN has a separate promotional introduction. Other selections are additions to this guide, not a claim about PTT-wide popularity. Product information was checked on 7 October 2026; we have not tested every app under the same conditions.