Romaji to Kana Converter
Free bidirectional Romaji ↔ Kana tool. Instantly convert Romaji (Romanized Japanese) to Hiragana (ひらがな) or Katakana (カタカナ), and convert Kana back to Romaji. Perfect for Japanese learners, typing practice, reading anime subtitles, pronunciation drills, writing exercises and understanding kana scripts. Works offline after first load — no sign-up, no ads.
Examples
| Input (Romaji / Kana) | Output | Type |
|---|---|---|
| konnichiwa | こんにちは | Romaji → Hiragana |
| arigatou | ありがとう | Romaji → Hiragana |
| tokyo | とうきょう | Romaji → Hiragana |
| anime | アニメ | Romaji → Katakana |
| sushii | すしー | Romaji → Hiragana |
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hiragana → Romaji |
| アニメ | anime | Katakana → Romaji |
| ありがとうございます | arigatou gozaimasu | Hiragana → Romaji |
How Romaji ↔ Kana Works
This tool uses WanaKana — the most popular and accurate JavaScript library for Romaji ↔ Hiragana/Katakana conversion. It supports:
- Hepburn romanization (most common: shi, chi, tsu)
- Kunrei-shiki (official: si, ti, tu)
- Long vowels (ー), small tsu (っ), small kana (ゃゅょ), and punctuation
- Automatic detection of input type when converting back to Romaji
Great for practicing kana reading/writing, typing Japanese on English keyboards, understanding anime subtitles, and early-stage Japanese learning.
How to Use This Tool
- Type Romaji (e.g. konnichiwa) or Hiragana/Katakana (e.g. こんにちは / アニメ)
- Click "Convert"
- Copy the result instantly
- Use it for typing practice, reading drills, or checking pronunciation
Works offline after first visit (WanaKana library cached in browser).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Romaji to Hiragana and Romaji to Katakana?
Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar; Katakana is for foreign words and emphasis. This tool automatically chooses based on typical usage, but you can mentally map as needed.
Does it support Hepburn or Kunrei-shiki styles?
Yes — it defaults to Hepburn (most common for learners: shi, chi, tsu), but handles Kunrei-shiki input/output correctly in most cases.
Can I convert full sentences?
Yes — short to medium sentences work well. Very long text may need breaking up for best results.
Does it work offline?
Yes — fully offline after the page loads once (no internet required afterward).
Is this tool free forever?
100% free, no ads, no registration, no limits — built for Japanese learners and enthusiasts.
Why use this instead of typing directly in Japanese?
Great for beginners who haven't memorized kana yet, practicing on English keyboards, checking spelling, or learning pronunciation step-by-step.
Other Free Japanese Tools on JP Tools
- English to Katakana Converter – For foreign names & loanwords
- English to Hiragana Converter – For native-style writing & pronunciation
- Back to JP Tools Homepage