Kana Metro: Learn Japanese
Read Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji
Only for iPhone
Free · Designed for iPhone. Not verified for macOS.
iPhone
Learn to read Japanese, one metro station at a time.
Most apps teach characters you can't use yet. Kana Metro is different: every character you learn immediately unlocks real words from menus, signs and train stations — so reading Japanese is useful from your very first lesson.
FOUR NETWORKS, ONE MAP
Each writing system is its own metro network. Every line is a place in Japan, every lesson is a station, and every station earns you a stamp.
• カタカナ Katakana — words borrowed from other languages: ラーメン ramen, コーヒー coffee, ホテル hotel. You understand them the moment you read them, which makes katakana the fastest way to start.
• ひらがな Hiragana — the heart of Japanese: ありがとう thank you, おにぎり rice ball, すみません excuse me.
• 漢字 Kanji — 81 survival kanji for the signs all around you: 出口 exit, 無料 free, 営業中 open, 千円 ¥1,000. Learned by meaning, so words explain themselves.
• のりかえ Transfer — real phrases that mix both scripts, like トイレはどこですか (where's the toilet?). Stations open as you learn the characters they use.
REAL WORDS FIRST
Characters are taught in the order that unlocks the most common real-world words, chosen from research on how often they're used. Every lesson ends with real words you can now read.
READ THE WORLD
Point your camera at a menu, a sign or a snack package. Kana Metro shows which words you can already read — then say them out loud to add them to your collection.
REAL SENTENCES
Build the phrases you'll actually use in Japan: ordering food, asking for directions, asking prices, saying "no bag, thanks". Hear prices like a cashier says them, and read them written in kanji.
MONSTERS TO DEFEAT
A kaiju, a yōkai or a ninja attacks the last station of every line. Pass the review to save it.
HEAR EVERYTHING
Every character, word and phrase is spoken, with a slow mode that says it syllable by syllable.
FREE, WITH NO CATCH
Made by one person who's learning Japanese too. No ads, no subscriptions, no in-app purchases, no account and no tracking. Your progress syncs through your own iCloud.
Ratings & Reviews
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New pictures for words that had no matching emoji: table, floor cushion, cushion, handkerchief and tattoo now show what they really are. Thanks for learning with Kana Metro!
The developer, Diego Saez Contreras, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
- Seller
- Diego Saez Contreras
- Size
- 2.8 MB
- Category
- Education
- Compatibility
Requires iOS 17.0 or later.
- iPhone
Requires iOS 17.0 or later. - Mac
Requires macOS 14.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
- iPhone
- Languages
- English
- Age Rating
13+
- 13+
- Infrequent
Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
Alcohol, Tobacco, Drug Use or References
- Copyright
- © 2026 Diego Sáez Contreras