Kanji Garden Japanese

Name: Kanji Garden Japanese
Rating: 4.7 (787 reviews)
Author: kyle coburn

By: kyle coburn

Grow your kanji knowledge

Features & Capabilities

Kanji Garden Japanese makes kanji learning engaging with a personalized study plan, adaptive reviews, and spaced repetition. It starts from your current level and sets daily goals, scheduling reviews to reinforce memory and prevent overload.

The app emphasizes building kanji from components, using phonetic hints and common readings, and tests you in context with vocabulary built from learned kanji. It tracks your progress visually with streaks and history graphs, helping you stay motivated while you master hundreds or thousands of characters.

User Growth & Download Statistics

App Education

By:

kyle coburn

Rating:

4.70

(787) 1 new ratings

Version:

1.3 Last updated: 2020-12-16

Version code:

839653062

Creation date:

2019-06-16

Compatible devices:

Size:

17.01MB

URLs:

Full description:

Source:

Apple Apps Store

Data ingested on:

2026-06-07

Compare stats and ranking:

Ranking

# 64,425 ▼ 33

For Developers

Monetize with App Pass Boost with Extension Booster

Contact the developer

Chrome-Stats does not own this Apple app. Please use these information below to contact the Apple app developer.

Developed by:

kyle coburn

Apple Apps Store

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kanji-garden-japanese/id1338967114

User Reviews

Kanji Garden Japanese is praised for its effective, memory-friendly kanji learning, engaging progress visuals, and rich content that supports JLPT study. However, it suffers from notable downsides: long-standing lack of updates and support, audio issues, usability and stability bugs, high pricing, and content gaps with outdated or uncommon terms. Overall, it’s valued for learning efficiency and design, but concerns about maintenance and reliability temper enthusiasm.

Pros

Effective kanji learning: users report it’s one of the best tools for memorizing multiple kanji readings and understanding readings (on-yomi/kun-yomi).
Engaging progress visuals: features like the animated grid, progress map, and plant metaphor are repeatedly praised for motivating study.
Rich, multi-faceted content: includes radicals, meanings, etymology, example sentences, and stroke order, offering a deep learning experience.
Helpful for JLPT prep and rapid lookup: many reviewers find it useful for fast kanji lookup, vocabulary context, and building long-term memory.
Perceived value versus alternatives: some users view it as cheaper or less restrictive than competing apps (e.g., vs. WaniKani).

Cons

Lack of updates / developer inactivity: many reviews say the app hasn’t been updated in years and support is unresponsive.
Audio issues: several users report audio not playing or audio files no longer being available.
UI/UX and stability problems: confusing flow, non-intuitive navigation, missing search, and various bugs (black screens, input non-responsiveness, crashes).
Pricing concerns: recurring complaints that pricing is high (monthly or lifetime), and that value does not match maintenance/updates.
Content gaps and outdated material: missing kanji (e.g., N1/N2), archaic or rarely used words, and calls for more current, common vocabulary.

Recent reviews

I unsubscribed at the end of April and turned off my automatic renewal option. They have continued trying to charge my card every other day since May began. I had my card locked temporarily but had to briefly unlock it today and their latest attempt to charge me went through. They have zero customer support and there is no way to remove my card info from their app. Avoid unless you want to be charged by these thieves eternally. Despicable.

by sa*****, 2026-05-14

Been using this app for years, in conjunction with other tools and learning methods. This is the best way I've been able to remember multiple kanji readings. One small addition I'd like is to be able to continue to access the audio versions of the readings that pop up when you learn a new word so that I can review the proper pitch accent. Other than that small nitpick, I'd say this is the most consistent tool I've used to learn how to read Japanese. Also I really like the animated feature that shows your progress filling in the little grid.

by Za*****, 2026-02-05

I would love to give this 5 stars as it single-handedly brought my kanji knowledge back, but sadly it has been abandoned by the creator with a lot of N1/2 kanji left out. If development continues or if the rest of the kanji are added, I would change the score and continue to recommend it. As is, look elsewhere for a kanji app that might get updated.