The 5 Best Japanese Podcasts (2026)

Miku created this podcast specifically for the intermediate learner who has studied hard but still struggles to understand natural Japanese conversation. That gap between textbook knowledge and real-world comprehension is exactly what the show targets, and with 204 episodes and a 4.9-star rating from 311 listeners, it clearly delivers.

The format centers on Miku speaking at a moderate, natural pace about topics that actually matter — daily life in Japan, cultural differences between countries, language learning strategies, and personal reflections on everything from samurai ethics to modern values. When she encounters a word or phrase that might trip up intermediate listeners, she pauses to explain it in simpler Japanese rather than switching to English. This keeps the entire experience immersive while still being supportive.

Miku supplements the free podcast with paid transcript subscriptions, grammar courses, and shadowing practice materials for learners who want to go deeper. She also maintains an active presence on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, creating a multi-platform ecosystem for Japanese study. Guest conversations appear regularly, adding variety in speaking styles and topics. The show has become a staple recommendation in Japanese learning communities online, frequently cited as the podcast that finally made natural Japanese feel accessible.

Layla, a native Japanese speaker, has built an impressively consistent daily podcast aimed squarely at learners working toward the JLPT N3 and N2 levels. With nearly 700 episodes published, the show covers an enormous range of everyday topics -- how Japanese people approach health, daily routines, seasonal events, food culture, and more. Episodes typically run 15 to 30 minutes, though Layla occasionally drops longer immersion episodes stretching past an hour for listeners who want extended practice. The language is natural and conversational, but Layla keeps her pace and vocabulary accessible enough that intermediate learners can follow along without getting lost. Rated 4.8 stars from nearly 100 reviews, listeners regularly praise how the show bridges the gap between classroom Japanese and the kind of language you actually hear on the street. The daily release schedule means there is always something new, making it easy to build a regular listening habit. Patreon members get access to bonus episodes with vocabulary and grammar breakdowns, full transcripts, and exclusive content that goes deeper into specific language points. Layla's warm and engaging presentation style makes each episode feel less like a lesson and more like a friendly conversation. If you are at the intermediate stage and looking for consistent, high-quality Japanese input, this podcast is a standout choice.

MASA and ASAMI co-host this prolific daily podcast that has amassed nearly 1,000 episodes since launching in 2021. The format is straightforward and effective: two native Japanese speakers chat about everyday topics at a deliberately slower pace, using vocabulary and grammar pegged to the JLPT N3 level. Episodes are short, usually between 5 and 16 minutes, making them perfect for a morning commute or a quick study break. The bilingual episode descriptions in both English and Japanese help learners pick episodes that match their interests -- recent topics include Japanese bathing culture, seasonal foods, travel stories, and workplace conversations. What listeners appreciate most is the natural dynamic between MASA and ASAMI. Their back-and-forth feels genuine rather than scripted, which means you are training your ear for the kind of Japanese that happens in real conversations between friends. Rated 4.6 stars from 68 reviews, the show has been described as ideal for high beginners to intermediate students who want daily exposure without heavy study pressure. The hosts maintain an active presence on YouTube and offer a Patreon membership with extra content and priority feedback. With nearly a thousand episodes in the archive, you could listen to this show every single day for years and still have material left to explore.

Thersa Matsuura has lived in Japan for over 35 years, and she brings that lifetime of immersion to a podcast focused on the strange, spooky, and genuinely fascinating corners of Japanese folklore. Each episode explores a different superstition, mythological creature, cultural ritual, or historical curiosity -- the kind of material that rarely appears in travel guides or mainstream media about Japan. What makes Uncanny Japan truly distinctive is the binaural soundscape design. Thersa records ambient audio in Japan -- ocean waves, temple bells, autumn crickets, rain on tile rooftops -- and layers it beneath her narration, creating an immersive listening experience that puts you physically in the setting she describes. With 188 episodes and a 4.8 rating from 373 reviews, the show has earned a dedicated following among people who love Japanese culture, horror, and mythology. Thersa is not just a podcaster -- she is a published author and folklorist. Her book The Book of Japanese Folklore compiles much of this research, and her horror collection The Carp-Faced Boy and Other Tales received a Bram Stoker Award nomination. New episodes arrive twice a month, each one carefully researched and beautifully produced. The podcast is distributed through SpectreVision Radio. For anyone interested in the mythological and supernatural side of Japanese culture, or who simply wants to hear about Japan from someone with genuine deep roots in the country, this show is essential listening.

Tim Romero has spent decades in the Japanese startup ecosystem as a founder, advisor, and investor, and he channels all of that experience into candid long-form interviews with the people building new companies in Japan. Each episode features a founder, venture capitalist, or business leader discussing what it actually takes to start and grow a company in a market that operates by very different rules than Silicon Valley. Topics range widely across industries -- plant-based food, robotics, fertility technology, climate tech, logistics, AI -- but the common thread is always Japan itself and how its unique business culture shapes what works and what fails. Rated an exceptional 4.9 stars from 45 reviews, the podcast punches well above its audience size in terms of depth and quality. Listeners describe it as one of the few shows that genuinely pulls back the curtain on Japanese business culture, revealing patterns around risk tolerance, talent management, and how innovation happens in a society that values consensus. The interview format gives guests space to tell their full story, and Tim's own experience means he asks questions that surface insights a generalist interviewer would miss. Episodes release every two weeks, each one a focused 30-to-45-minute conversation. For anyone interested in Japan through the lens of technology, business, and the people trying to build something new there, Disrupting Japan is the definitive English-language podcast on the topic.