Quality Japanese Reading Websites

If you want to read authentic Japanese articles and essays beyond language tutoring material—covering everyday life, culture, and popular conversations, here are several choices:

1. note.com

A popular platform where individuals share personal essays and articles on a wide variety of topics including culture, food, travel, and daily life.

2. ほぼ日刊イトイ新聞 (Hobo Nichi Itōi Shinbun)

Founded by Shigesato Itoi, this site offers deep, thoughtful essays and interviews on Japanese culture, philosophy, and everyday reflections. A staple for understanding nuanced Japanese life beyond the surface.

3. Sekifusha (石風社)

Offers thoughtful, often critical perspectives on Japan’s past and present, making it a valuable resource for those interested in serious cultural and social discourse.

4. Aozora Bunko (青空文庫)

A free digital library of classic Japanese literature. Being more literary, it offers authentic Japanese texts for advanced readers interested in traditional essays and stories.

5. NHK News Easy

Published by Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, this site rewrites daily news in simple Japanese. (MeibunClipper automatically remove those furigana so that you don't have to do manually).

6. 小説家になろう (Shōsetsuka ni Narō)

This is Japan's largest user-submitted novel website, with over a million works available for free. It is the birthplace of the "Narō-kei" (なろう系) genre, often featuring themes of reincarnation into fantasy worlds ("isekai"), which has led to countless popular anime and light novel series. You could fetch Syosetu's sentences with the search tool in Meibun.

7. 読書メーター (Dokusho Meter)

A social network for book lovers in Japan. Users log the books they've read, write reviews, and interact with other readers. You can find countless examples of reviews for manga, light novels, and general fiction.

8. ライフハッカー・ジャパン (Lifehacker Japan)

This is the Japanese edition of the popular "life hacks" website, focusing on productivity and self-improvement for business professionals. It offers practical articles on work efficiency, technology, career development, and daily life tips. It's an excellent resource for learning modern, practical vocabulary related to work, gadgets, and personal efficiency.

9. 女子SPA！ (Joshi SPA!)

Aimed at women in their 30s and 40s, this web magazine delves into the "real talk" (ホンネ) on topics that women genuinely care about. Articles cover a wide range of subjects including love and marriage, beauty, fashion, entertainment, and current news. It provides a candid look into the contemporary concerns and lifestyles of working women in Japan.