Japanese Typing Practice: IME Conversion With Tokyo and Osaka Station Names

Typing Kanji and Kana Together in Local Language Mode

Choose a Tokyo line in Local language mode and station names appear in kanji, such as 東京 and 上野. A romanized reading like Tokyo or Ueno is shown under the current station, so even if you cannot read the kanji, you can type that reading into a Japanese IME and convert it to the same kanji shown on screen. The current station appears on a station sign along with the previous and next stops, so you never lose track of the overall flow. Being able to glance at the next station’s kanji in advance also lets you prepare before an unfamiliar character arrives.

The Yamanote Line has 30 stations, making it a good length for practicing kanji and kana together. Type through names running from Tokyo to Kanda to Akihabara, and familiar and unfamiliar kanji show up in turn. Since it’s a loop line, going around it once naturally exposes you to a wide range of kanji styles. If 30 stations feels like a lot, it’s fine to type about half and pick it up again another time.

The timer starts the moment you type the first character, and a correct answer moves you to the next station automatically without pressing Enter, so the cycle of reading, typing and converting to kanji flows without interruption. Because the previous and next stations are visible, you can mentally prepare for the kanji that is coming next.

Hiragana and Katakana Are Judged as the Same

Japanese lines treat katakana and hiragana as the same characters. What counts as the answer, however, depends on the input language. In Local language mode the answer is the station name exactly as displayed, so 東京 must be converted to the kanji 東京; in English mode both the romanized name such as Tokyo and the kana reading such as とうきょう are accepted. Spacing and symbols such as hyphens are ignored in both modes, so you can focus on the pronunciation and the spelling itself.

So if you want to practise IME conversion, choose Local language mode; if you want to focus on kana input without converting, choose English mode. In English mode you can type hiragana with a Japanese IME and confirm it without converting to kanji, and it still counts as correct — the same goes for katakana. A correct answer moves you on automatically without Enter, and pressing Enter on a wrong answer records a typo and clears the box, so just type it again calmly.

In Local language mode, confirming plain hiragana does not count, so choosing the same kanji as the screen from the conversion candidates is part of the practice. You can pick the mode that matches the habit you want to build: fast kana input or accurate kanji conversion.

Reading Unfamiliar Kanji on Osaka Lines

Osaka’s Midosuji Line has short kanji names such as 江坂 whose reading does not come to mind immediately. The reading Esaka is shown under the current station, so type えさか and convert it to 江坂. With 20 stations, the Midosuji Line can be finished end to end even in a short session. For the first few rounds, ignore the clock and focus on picking the correct kanji from the conversion candidates one by one.

There are also familiar kanji mixed in, like 新大阪, so you experience unfamiliar and familiar kanji alternating. This alternating pattern is similar to what you’ll experience reading real signage at your travel destination. Building the habit of checking the reading calmly rather than panicking when you hit an unfamiliar kanji is ultimately what determines your finishing speed. Repeat the same line several times and even initially unfamiliar kanji naturally start to look familiar.

Osaka has several lines besides the Midosuji Line, so you can broaden your sense of reading unfamiliar kanji across both short and long kanji station names. Even the first time you see a kanji, the reading is shown, so you can just follow along and type without worrying.

Dialing It Down With Romaji Mode

If kanji and kana input still feels like a lot, you can switch the language to English (romaji) mode. The same station appears as Tokyo, Ueno, or Akihabara in romanized spelling, so you can learn the pronunciation first, then return to Local language mode afterward — adjusting the level as you go. Romaji spelling uses only the alphabet, making it the easiest first step for a beginner who feels overwhelmed by kanji or kana. Once the pronunciation sticks, you’ll recognize the kana much faster when you switch back to Local language mode.

Getting comfortable with pronunciation in romaji mode makes it easier to recognize the kana once you switch back to Local language mode. Going back and forth between the two modes lets you build up from the reading first, even without knowing the kanji. A line that felt intimidating at first can become comfortable to finish once you’ve gone through this kind of step.

You can switch languages right from the line selection screen or the top of the game screen, so even while finishing a single line you can briefly check a tricky stretch in romaji mode and switch back to Local language mode. Going back and forth this way lets you keep going all the way to the end instead of giving up.

• Local language mode: convert to the kanji/kana shown on screen
• English mode: type the romanized name or the kana reading
• Korean mode: type in Hangul transliteration

Learning Pronunciation First With Korean Mode

Tokyo and Osaka lines also support Korean mode. 東京 appears as its Hangul transliteration of “Tokyo,” and 上野 as the transliteration of “Ueno,” so you can learn the pronunciation first even without knowing kanji or kana. If you’re heading on a trip, this mode is also a way to read station names out loud ahead of time. Since it’s typed in Hangul, it carries the least pressure of the three modes and is a good place to start. Reading the pronunciation out loud first makes kana or kanji feel less unfamiliar later.

Once the pronunciation feels comfortable in Korean mode, stepping up to romaji mode and then Local language mode puts less pressure on you than trying to memorize kanji from the start. All three modes can be switched right from the line selection screen or the top of the game screen. You don’t have to go through all three stages — it’s fine to practice only the stage you need. Finding the order that works for you is the key to enjoying this game for a long time.

Learning the pronunciation first in Korean mode means that when you later read kana in Local language mode, you can connect it to a sound you already know, which makes it feel much more manageable.

Why Japanese Lines Feel Harder Than Other Countries’

Japanese lines require converting kanji to kana, which tends to make them feel harder than other countries’ lines. Tokyo lines range from 14 to 38 stations, and Osaka from 10 to 26, so you can adjust difficulty when picking a line. By station count, Beginner is 20 or fewer, Intermediate 21–35, and Advanced 36 or more, so you can mix lines from both cities to adjust your level.

If it’s your first attempt, we’d recommend starting with a shorter Osaka line to get comfortable with the back-and-forth between kanji and kana, then moving on to a longer line like the 30-station Yamanote Line. Rather than jumping into a hard line right away, gradually raising the level helps cut typos and improves your finish rate. Climb the steps one at a time and eventually no line will feel too intimidating to pick.

Even at the same station count, difficulty can vary depending on how hard the kanji is, so when picking a line it helps to consider both station count and how it actually felt after a few tries.

• Tokyo lines: 14–38 stations (Yamanote Line 30)
• Osaka lines: 10–26 stations
• Difficulty guide: Beginner 20 or fewer, Intermediate 21–35, Advanced 36 or more

Checking Conversion Speed Through Records

Time, typing speed, typos, and your best record per line appear after you finish. On Japanese lines, it helps to watch how your typo count changes more than your speed. If typos keep happening on a certain kanji, it’s worth checking that station name’s kana separately. A typo only counts when you press Enter on a wrong answer, so you can look back after finishing and see exactly where you got stuck.

Repeat the same line several times in Local language mode and you can watch, through your record, kanji that once felt unfamiliar gradually become familiar as your typos drop. Records are saved only to your browser and aren’t sent to a server. A “New record!” message appears whenever you beat your best, giving you the fun of comparing yourself against your own past.

Line up your Korean-mode or romaji-mode record next to your Local-language-mode record, and you can see for yourself at which stage things take longer.

Using It to Learn Station Names Ahead of a Trip

If you’re heading to Tokyo or Osaka, pick the line you’ll actually be riding and type it a few times in Local language mode. Getting names you’ll run into often during the trip — like 東京, 上野, or 秋葉原 — into your eyes ahead of time means they won’t feel unfamiliar when you read the signs on the ground. If there’s a line you’ll use often around your hotel or the airport, it’s efficient to pick that one first. Repeating a little each day lets you get comfortable with several lines before you fly out.

That said, this game doesn’t provide real transfer information or timetables. Use it as practice for getting station names into your eyes and hands, and check the actual route separately through local guidance. It’s best to think of this practice purely as preparation for becoming familiar with the names themselves. Checking a local line map and the announcements together lets you recognize the station names you practiced with confidence once you’re actually traveling.

Even a short amount of repeated practice in the days before your flight will mean the kanji on signs or announcements won’t feel completely unfamiliar once you’re there.

Keeping Up Practice by Going Between the Three Modes

Try starting a line in Korean mode to learn the pronunciation, checking the romaji in English mode, then typing kanji and kana in Local language mode. Going through all three steps builds skill with less pressure than sticking only to Local language mode from the start. All three modes share the same judging standard, so your record carries over and stays comparable.

Switching lines between Osaka and Tokyo, or the other way around, lets you apply the same learning method to different station names. Check your record every time you finish and decide which line to try next. Keep going through several lines steadily and the kanji-conversion process that once felt unfamiliar gradually settles into a natural habit.

Once going between the three modes feels comfortable, you’ll eventually be able to finish a line comfortably in Local language mode alone. Once you reach that point, you’ll find kanji station names much easier to face at your actual travel destination too.