# Kana School: Japanese Letters — Learn the Hiragana & Katakana

> Learn Japanese hiragana and katakana characters through structured lessons and quizzes. (iPhone/iPad app by Andrew McGee.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-school-japanese-letters/id1214626499 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Andrew McGee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1100649154)
- Category: Education, Reference
- Price: $0.99 (on sale, was $1.99)
- Rating: 4.90/5 from 92 App Store ratings · 118 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 1 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-03-16
- Data updated: 2026-08-30
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-school-japanese-letters/id1214626499/reviews.md

## What is Kana School?

Welcome to Kana School!

Learn to read the Japanese hiragana and katakana characters:

- Simple step-by-step approach, breaking the characters into bite-size groups. 

- Pass tests to unlock more levels!

- Brush up on your existing knowledge by diving right into the infinite quiz!

- Synthesized audio to improve pronunciation.

- Browse kana tables.

- No in-app purchases or ads.

Thanks for looking! Arigato! :-)

## Key features

- Step-by-step character learning
- Unlockable levels via tests
- Infinite quiz mode
- Synthesized audio for pronunciation
- Browse kana tables

## What do users think of Kana School?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Straightforward, easy-to-use interface
- 🎯 Effective for learning hiragana and katakana
- 🚀 Quick and efficient learning method
- 💰 Free with no ads or in-app purchases
- 🔄 Repetition-based learning reinforces memory
- 📚 Comprehensive coverage of all kana characters
- 🎮 Randomized questions improve retention
- ⚡ Fast loading and smooth performance
- 🎨 Clean, aesthetically pleasing design
- 🔊 Clear pronunciation audio included
- 📖 Good reference charts for studying
- 🎓 Suitable for absolute beginners

**Cons**

- 🐢 Occasional slow loading times
- 😑 Repetitive content can feel monotonous
- 🎮 Limited gamification elements
- ❓ Unclear how to access all features
- 🔊 Pronunciation audio plays in background (can't disable easily)
- 📊 No high score tracking for infinite mode

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Slow loading performance reported by some users
- Feature discoverability issues

**Most requested features**

- Stroke order tutorials for character writing
- Writing/drawing practice to reinforce learning
- Multiple font options (serif, brush stroke, handwritten)
- Dakuten and han-dakuten character options
- Kanji learning section
- Timer feature for challenges
- Optional pronunciation toggle
- Hiragana to katakana conversion practice (without romaji)
- High score tracking for infinite mode
- Word and phrase learning beyond basic kana

## Recent user reviews (10 of 118)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-school-japanese-letters/id1214626499/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Kana School

*2026-08-06, version 1.2.0*

Very, very good. It helps quite well.

### 5/5 — Good review

*2026-08-05, version 1.2.0*

Amazing and super convient

### 5/5 — Super.

*2026-03-15*

Simpel aber effektiv. Gerne noch eine Kategorie zum Schreiben der Linienführung/Reihenfolge, sonst hat es alles nötige.

### 5/5 — Great basics

*2026-02-13, version 1.2.0*

I really like this app because you can go over lessons as much as you as you like and it has been super helpful for me in learning Japanese letters. Other apps I have looked at seem to think I should already know them and are too advanced for true beginners. This one is just right to start with.

### 5/5 — Great App

*2025-11-03, version 1.2.0*

Once I found all of the features, I went well, easy to use and a great learning tool!

### 1/5 — Not for me

*2025-10-29, version 1.2.0*

I liked it at first but then it got a bit slow loading. Also, The infinite part isn’t that exciting. I would recommend this to people who really like and want to learn Japanese.

### 5/5 — It’s a OG

*2025-07-16, version 1.1.3*

Quick, easy and a very straightforward app. Revised and replenished my hiragana knowledge in 15min. Also it’s a original

### 5/5 — Great App

*2024-12-24, version 1.1.3*

Once I found all of the features, I went well, easy to use and a great learning tool!

### 5/5 — Amazing

*2024-09-24, version 1.1.3*

This app is excellent for memorising hiragana and katana.
To improve the app, I recommend the developer/s add some options for dakuten / han-dakuten. 
All in all, this app is one of the best I’ve ever used.

### 5/5 — Fantastic way to learn the Kana quickly!

*2024-09-01, version 1.1.3*

Really enjoying this app - the approach of randomising the kana and also whether you need to think first what is the Japanese or the English is so helpful. Finding it is speeding up the retention of information. Thank you for making this great app!

## Frequently asked questions about Kana School

### What does Kana School teach?

Kana School teaches users how to read the Japanese hiragana and katakana characters. It uses a simple, step-by-step approach, breaking down characters into manageable groups to facilitate learning.

### How does the app help users learn?

The app offers a structured learning path where users can pass tests to unlock new levels. It also includes an infinite quiz mode to brush up on existing knowledge and synthesized audio to help with pronunciation.

### Is Kana School free to use?

Yes, Kana School is completely free to use. The app explicitly states that there are no in-app purchases or advertisements, making it a free educational tool.

### What are the main learning features?

Key learning features include a step-by-step method for learning characters, tests to progress through levels, an infinite quiz for practice, synthesized audio for pronunciation, and browseable kana tables for reference.

### Who is this app designed for?

This app is designed for anyone wanting to learn the Japanese hiragana and katakana writing systems. It's suitable for complete beginners and also for those who wish to review and improve their existing knowledge of these Japanese characters.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.2.0 — 2025-09-27

Updated for iOS 26!

New settings menu so you can reset your progress!

Thanks for using this app! Happy learning!

### 1.1.3 — 2023-11-03

Updated for iOS 17!

### 1.1.2 — 2023-01-10

Fully updated for iOS 16. Enjoy.

### 1.1.1 — 2021-12-18

Please keep enjoying Kana School! This update includes:
- Stability fixes
- Updates for iOS 15

### 1.1.0 — 2019-11-23

- Fully updated for iOS 13!

- Improved the user interface!

- Please always feel free to email me (using the email on the support page) with suggestions to make the app better!

- Thanks for using this app!

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## More apps by Andrew McGee

- [Space Cheese: Free The Fromage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-cheese-free-the-fromage/id1100649155)
- [Amino Acid Academy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/amino-acid-academy/id1191208428)
- [Jelly Cubes - From Outer Space](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jelly-cubes-from-outer-space/id1196859529)
- [Cyrillic School](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cyrillic-school/id1514803860)
- [BPM Buddy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bpm-buddy/id1523153748)

All apps by Andrew McGee: https://appshunter.io/developer/1100649154

## Related topics

[hiragana letters](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hiragana-letters) · [learn japanese letters](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/learn-japanese-letters)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-30.*