Free Kanji Stroke Order Practice: MichiKanji.com for JLPT Students

The completely free website that teaches you to write kanji correctly

Want to learn proper kanji stroke order without paying for another app? MichiKanji.com (also known as Imiwa) is the free resource JLPT students have been waiting for.

I discovered this hidden gem while helping students prepare for their JLPT exams. While everyone argues about Wanikani vs Anki, most learners miss a fundamental skill: writing kanji correctly.

Why Stroke Order Actually Matters (It's Not Just Tradition)

Three weeks ago, my student Emma could recognize 500+ kanji on her phone. But when she tried writing them by hand during her JLPT practice test, she froze. Her characters looked wrong, took forever to write, and she couldn't remember half of them.

"I know what they mean," she told me, frustrated. "But I have no idea how to write them properly."

Emma's problem isn't unique. Digital study methods teach recognition but skip the muscle memory that makes kanji stick.

Here's why proper stroke order matters:

• Faster writing: Correct strokes flow naturally, saving time during exams
• Better recognition: Understanding how characters are built improves reading speed
• Memory retention: Physical practice creates stronger neural pathways
• Cultural respect: Shows you understand Japanese writing traditions

What Makes MichiKanji.com Different

Interactive Stroke Order Animations

Unlike static diagrams, MichiKanji shows you exactly how each stroke should flow. Watch the animation, then practice writing along with the guide.

Smart Search System

Find kanji three ways:

• By character: Type 人 to see stroke order
• By meaning: Search "person" to find 人
• By reading: Enter "jin" or "hito" to locate characters

Complete JLPT Coverage

The site covers kanji from N5 (beginner) through N2 (advanced intermediate) - exactly what most students need.

Zero Cost, Zero Ads

Completely free with no subscription tricks or annoying advertisements. Just pure learning.

How to Use MichiKanji for Maximum Results

Daily Practice Routine (10 minutes)

1. Pick 5 kanji from your current study level
2. Watch the animation for each character
3. Practice writing on paper or tablet
4. Check your strokes against the guide
5. Repeat tomorrow with 3 old + 2 new kanji

Integration with Your Study System

MichiKanji works perfectly alongside your existing tools:

• With Wanikani: Learn stroke order for characters you've unlocked
• With Anki: Add stroke order practice to your review routine
• With textbooks: Verify correct writing for new vocabulary

JLPT Exam Preparation

For test preparation, focus on:

• N5 students: Master the 80 essential kanji first
• N4 students: Practice compound kanji combinations
• N3-N2 students: Focus on complex characters with many strokes

The Stroke Order Patterns That Change Everything

Once you understand these patterns, learning new kanji becomes predictable:

Top to Bottom

• 三 (three): First stroke, second stroke, third stroke
• 王 (king): Horizontal lines first, then vertical line

Left to Right

• 林 (forest): Left tree (木), then right tree (木)
• 明 (bright): Sun radical (日) first, moon radical (月) second

Outside to Inside

• 国 (country): Outer frame first, then inner contents
• 固 (solid): Border strokes before internal elements

Horizontal Before Vertical

• 十 (ten): Horizontal stroke first, vertical stroke crosses it
• 土 (earth): Top horizontal, vertical, bottom horizontal

MichiKanji teaches these patterns naturally through its animations.

Why This Beats Expensive Kanji Apps

Wanikani: Great for mnemonics, $9/month, no stroke order
Skritter: Excellent writing practice, $15/month, limited free version
MichiKanji: Complete stroke order guide, $0/month, covers all JLPT levels

The truth? You need multiple tools anyway. MichiKanji fills the stroke order gap that most expensive apps ignore.

Common Stroke Order Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Wrong Direction

Many students write strokes backward. MichiKanji's animations show the exact direction and speed.

Mistake #2: Random Order

Without guidance, learners invent their own stroke sequences. The site teaches standard Japanese order.

Mistake #3: Skipping Practice

Thinking you can learn stroke order just by watching. You must practice writing to build muscle memory.

Mistake #4: Perfectionism

Trying to make every stroke perfect instead of focusing on flow and rhythm.

Your 30-Day Stroke Order Challenge

Week 1: Foundation (N5 Kanji)

• Learn basic stroke patterns
• Practice 5 simple characters daily
• Focus on direction and order

Week 2: Building (N4 Expansion)

• Add compound characters
• Practice character combinations
• Connect stroke order to meaning

Week 3: Complexity (N3 Characters)

• Tackle multi-radical kanji
• Practice complex stroke sequences
• Build writing speed

Week 4: Integration (Real Writing)

• Write full sentences
• Practice without guides
• Test your muscle memory

The Science Behind Stroke Order Learning

Research shows that proper stroke order activates multiple learning pathways:

• Motor memory: Hand movements create neural patterns
• Visual processing: Seeing correct formation improves recognition
• Sequential learning: Order patterns transfer to new characters

MichiKanji leverages all three pathways through its interactive approach.

Beyond Stroke Order: Building Complete Kanji Skills

Stroke order is one pillar of kanji mastery. Combine MichiKanji with:

1. Recognition practice (Wanikani/Anki)
2. Reading comprehension (native materials)
3. Writing practice (sentence composition)
4. Cultural context (understanding usage)

For the writing practice specifically, consider tools like Llanai's Japanese journaling where you can practice using these properly-written kanji in actual sentences.

Getting Started Today

1. Visit MichiKanji.com right now
2. Search for a kanji you think you know
3. Watch the stroke order animation
4. Try writing it on paper
5. Compare your version to the guide

You'll probably discover you've been writing familiar characters incorrectly. That's normal - and fixable.

The Bottom Line

Stop paying for stroke order features buried in expensive apps. MichiKanji.com gives you everything you need to write kanji correctly, completely free.

Your JLPT exam includes handwriting sections. Your Japanese conversation partners notice sloppy character formation. Your own memory improves when you understand how kanji are built.

Master stroke order now, and every other aspect of kanji learning becomes easier.

Because knowing what a character means is just the beginning. Knowing how to write it properly is what separates serious students from app collectors.