Best books for JLPT N5 (2026)
For N5 we would pick three books: Genki I to learn the basics, Try! N5 to check the grammar the exam tests, and the official workbook for one real timed test. If you are starting from zero, Genki I alone covers most of what N5 asks.
| Book | What it covers | Exam section | Who it suits | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genki I Textbook (3rd Edition) ↗The Japan Times | CoversLessons 1 to 12 of the Genki course: grammar, vocabulary, first kanji and reading | Exam sectionVocabulary, grammar and reading basics (not in exam format) | SuitsBeginners, including those still learning kana | LanguageEnglish explanations, Japanese text |
| Try! JLPT N5 (Revised Edition, English) ↗Ask Publishing | CoversN5 grammar taught through short scenes, then practice questions | Exam sectionGrammar | SuitsLearners who finished a beginner course and want to check N5 grammar | LanguageJapanese with English explanations |
| JLPT Official Practice Workbook N5, Vol. 2 ↗Bonjinsha, for the test makers | CoversOne full N5 test made from real past questions, with listening audio | Exam sectionAll sections, including listening | SuitsAnyone 2 to 4 weeks out, as a timed rehearsal | LanguageJapanese only |
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to amazon.com. Picks checked on Amazon on October 22, 2026.
If you only buy one
- If you are starting from kana or close to it: Genki I (3rd ed.)
- If you finished a beginner course and want to check N5 grammar: Try! N5
- If you are ready and want one real test before exam day: Official Practice Workbook N5 Vol. 2
Genki I or Try! N5?
They do different jobs. Genki I is a full course with dialogues, vocabulary and kanji, built for a classroom or long self-study. Try! N5 is a shorter grammar review aimed at the exam. Start with Genki I if you are new; pick Try! N5 if you already studied the basics elsewhere.
Which part of the N5 exam each book trains
The N5 exam takes 90 minutes. You need 80 of 180 points overall and the minimum in every scored section.
Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) 文字・語彙
20 minutes
Books: Genki I (3rd ed.), Official Practice Workbook N5 Vol. 2
Free practice here: N5 vocabulary
Language Knowledge (Grammar) and Reading 文法・読解
40 minutes
Books: Genki I (3rd ed.), Try! N5, Official Practice Workbook N5 Vol. 2
Free practice here: N5 grammar, N5 reading
Listening 聴解
30 minutes
Books: Official Practice Workbook N5 Vol. 2
Free practice here: N5 listening
How to use them with our free N5 tests
- Work through Genki I or Try! N5 a chapter at a time. After every two or three chapters, take one numbered N5 practice set here to see whether the grammar sticks in exam format.
- Genki and Try! teach grammar but give little exam-style vocabulary practice, so use the N5 vocabulary and kanji pages for that.
- Train your ear with the free N5 listening sets. Listening has its own minimum score, so a weak ear can fail you even with a good total.
- Two to four weeks before the exam, sit the official workbook under real timing. Then use the two original timed mocks in the Final Mock Pack for more full rehearsals.
JLPT N5 Final Mock Pack
2 original timed N5 mocks: vocabulary, grammar and reading.
or get the full JLPT N5 Study Pack for US$9.99 (includes these mocks)
What these books leave out
No listening book is on this list. The official workbook has one test's worth of audio, and our free N5 listening sets add more.
JLPT Practice Test is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the JLPT administering organizations or the publishers listed here.