Learn Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji

Hiragana, without exception. It carries Japanese grammar, appears in every sentence, and every beginner textbook assumes it from page one. Katakana is easier once hiragana has taught you the sound system, because it uses the same 46 sounds.

Most learners can recognise all 46 basic characters after two or three focused days, and read them fluently after two to three weeks of regular reading practice. Writing them from memory takes longer than reading them.

To read anything written for adults, yes. Japanese is written with all three systems at once. The usual path is hiragana, then katakana, then kanji in JLPT order starting with the 80 N5 characters.

It gets you through a first phrasebook and nothing beyond it. Romaji hides the sound structure of Japanese and no real material is written in it, so time spent on romaji is time you spend again later.

No. The charts, guides and practice drills are free, and no account is required — your progress is stored in your own browser.