Japanese reading & listening Resources
FANTA JIKAN
This site has videos of Japanese dialogs/stories with Japanese subtitles. Some of them you need to purchase, but there are many others that are free, especially on the Youtube channel. Great listening AND reading practice! I recommend for beginner to intermediate learners.
Website: http://fantajikan.com/lineup/eizo/index.html
Youtube Site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7d741rXWSw
This site has videos of Japanese dialogs/stories with Japanese subtitles. Some of them you need to purchase, but there are many others that are free, especially on the Youtube channel. Great listening AND reading practice! I recommend for beginner to intermediate learners.
Website: http://fantajikan.com/lineup/eizo/index.html
Youtube Site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7d741rXWSw
NEWS IN SLOW JAPANESE
This site is great for people with intermediate/low-advanced Japanese who like reading to recent news while listening.
http://newsinslowjapanese.com/
This site is great for people with intermediate/low-advanced Japanese who like reading to recent news while listening.
http://newsinslowjapanese.com/
Japanese Audiobooks
This is a great resource for reading while listening and it seems to be updated periodically. List of free Japanese Audiobooks with their transcripts:
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6241&PN=1&TPN=1
http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6241&PN=1&TPN=1
Japanese REading Resources
The below websites are created specifically for Japanese learners. If they are still a bit challenging to read, you can always try using the "Wakaru" app browser so that you can look up words as you read the website (and save them in a wordbank if desired). If you don't have an iPhone or iPad, try using Rikachan or Rikaisama instead.
Choko Choko
This website provides Japanese reading material organized by JPLT level on a variety of topics, including science, history, fiction, etc. You can download the material as pdfs and read them offline. All the readings have difficult vocabulary provided at the bottom of the page.
http://chokochoko.wordpress.com/the-great-library/
http://chokochoko.wordpress.com/the-great-library/
JOI Japanese Teacher's Blog
On this blog, Japanese teachers regularly post stories about events or cultural things in Japan that may be of interest to foreigners. The first post is in Japanese, the second includes furigana, and the third post includes the translation. It's actually quite a nice reading resource!
http://www.japonin.com/Japanese_teachers_blog.html
http://www.japonin.com/Japanese_teachers_blog.html
Nippon Talk
This site is similar to the JOI Teacher's blog in that it has readings with furigana attached as well as an English translation. The readings are separated by topic. This is probably good practice for 2-4th year Japanese students.
http://www.nippontalk.com/en/
http://www.nippontalk.com/en/
Tofugu: Japanese Reading Practice for Beginners
Tofugu is a fun website for many reasons, but this page specifically provides really helpful information about resources for reading Japanese.
http://www.tofugu.com/2012/08/28/japanese-reading-practice-for-beginners/
I particularly like the site they recommend for Japanese folktales:
http://hukumusume.com/douwa/betu/jap/01/15.htm
http://www.tofugu.com/2012/08/28/japanese-reading-practice-for-beginners/
I particularly like the site they recommend for Japanese folktales:
http://hukumusume.com/douwa/betu/jap/01/15.htm
Watch Japanese Anime/TV/Drama
There are a number of sites where you can stream Japanese TV for free. These can be great for listening practice, but it's easy to stop listening and simply rely on the English subtitles. If you want to do the most to improve your Japanese, I suggest taking notes to jot down new words/sentences you hear as you watch these shows. I also suggest you try "shadowing" (repeating what the speakers say a few seconds after they say it for each line) if you can. Unfortunately, these videos usually don't have Japanese subtitles.
Crunchy Roll
http://www.crunchyroll.com/
For Anime?
My Drama Fever
http://www.dramafever.com/?gclid=CIOQ3oGy2LcCFUJqMgod1QUAlQ
For Japanese Dramas
You Tube Variety 動画倉庫(どうがそうこ)Video Warehouse
http://youtubeowaraitv.blog32.fc2.com/
For anything that comes out on Japanese TV (Anime, Drama, talk shows, etc.). I personally like using this one because the links work very well, but it is a Japanese site, so there are usually no subtitles.
Crunchy Roll
http://www.crunchyroll.com/
For Anime?
My Drama Fever
http://www.dramafever.com/?gclid=CIOQ3oGy2LcCFUJqMgod1QUAlQ
For Japanese Dramas
You Tube Variety 動画倉庫(どうがそうこ)Video Warehouse
http://youtubeowaraitv.blog32.fc2.com/
For anything that comes out on Japanese TV (Anime, Drama, talk shows, etc.). I personally like using this one because the links work very well, but it is a Japanese site, so there are usually no subtitles.