Hiragana Stroke Order: The Complete Guide

Learning hiragana is the essential first step for anyone studying Japanese. But knowing what each character looks like isn't enough — writing them with the correct stroke order builds muscle memory, makes your handwriting readable, and is required for Japanese schoolchildren and language exams alike.

This guide covers the stroke order for all 46 basic hiragana characters, organized by row.

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Why Stroke Order Matters

In Japanese calligraphy and everyday writing, strokes follow a systematic pattern: generally top to bottom and left to right. When you follow stroke order:

• Your handwriting looks natural to native Japanese readers
• You write faster once the pattern is internalized
• Digital handwriting recognition (on phones and tablets) works far more accurately

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The Vowels: あ い う え お

These five characters form the backbone of hiragana. Every other kana row uses these vowel sounds.

あ (a) — 3 strokes. Start with the horizontal stroke across the top, then the curved vertical stroke, then the final loop. い (i) — 2 strokes. Two parallel curved strokes, both moving downward. う (u) — 2 strokes. A small stroke at the top, then the curved body below. え (e) — 2 strokes. A horizontal bar first, then a cross-stroke through the center ending in a long tail. お (o) — 3 strokes. Horizontal stroke, then vertical stroke, then the final curved enclosing stroke.

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K-row: か き く け こ

か (ka) — 3 strokes. Resembles a cross with a sweeping final stroke. き (ki) — 4 strokes. Three horizontal lines crossed by a vertical, with a final loop — the most complex of the k-row. く (ku) — 1 stroke. A simple angular stroke, like an arrow pointing right. け (ke) — 3 strokes. A vertical line, then two horizontal strokes. こ (ko) — 2 strokes. Two horizontal lines, one below the other.

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S-row: さ し す せ そ

さ (sa) — 3 strokes. Cross shape with a curved final stroke extending to the right. し (shi) — 1 stroke. A single sweeping stroke that curves upward at the end — often the first character beginners master. す (su) — 2 strokes. Start with a cross-like stroke, then add the circular loop below. せ (se) — 3 strokes. Horizontal line at top, then the vertical stroke, then the base line. そ (so) — 1 stroke (or 2 in some styles). A looping stroke that crosses itself.

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T-row: た ち つ て と

た (ta) — 4 strokes. Built from a cross with two additional strokes adding the characteristic curved elements. ち (chi) — 2 strokes. A curved hook, then a circular loop below — resembles the letter "J" with a circle. つ (tsu) — 1 stroke. A single curved stroke moving right to left, then sweeping down and up. て (te) — 1 stroke. One flowing stroke with a distinctive leftward hook at the end. と (to) — 2 strokes. A vertical stroke, then the small looping stroke off the side.

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N-row: な に ぬ ね の

な (na) — 4 strokes. One of the more complex kana; includes a cross and a looping final stroke. に (ni) — 3 strokes. Two horizontal lines connected by a vertical, plus a third extending line. ぬ (nu) — 2 strokes. A sweeping stroke followed by a looping return stroke. ね (ne) — 2 strokes. Similar to ぬ but with a different ending loop. の (no) — 1 stroke. A simple counterclockwise oval — among the easiest to learn.

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H-row: は ひ ふ へ ほ

は (ha) — 3 strokes. Vertical stroke, horizontal crossbar, then the curved enclosing stroke. ひ (hi) — 1 stroke. A flowing stroke that loops back on itself. ふ (fu) — 4 strokes. The most complex in this row; begins with a horizontal stroke then three smaller strokes below. へ (he) — 1 stroke. A simple peak — the easiest single-stroke kana, almost identical to the katakana へ. ほ (ho) — 4 strokes. Similar structure to は with an added looping stroke.

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M-row: ま み む め も

ま (ma) — 3 strokes. Two horizontal strokes, then a vertical that ends in a loop. み (mi) — 2 strokes. A curved downward stroke, then a loop stroke. む (mu) — 3 strokes. Starts with a horizontal, then two curved strokes forming the body. め (me) — 2 strokes. Oval shape with an extending stroke — often confused with ぬ by beginners. も (mo) — 3 strokes. Two horizontal bars, then a vertical stroke passing through both.

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Y-row: や ゆ よ

や (ya) — 3 strokes. Three strokes form this angular character. ゆ (yu) — 2 strokes. Two curved strokes enclosing a vertical element. よ (yo) — 2 strokes. A horizontal crossbar over a vertical stroke.

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R-row: ら り る れ ろ

ら (ra) — 2 strokes. Horizontal then a curved downward loop. り (ri) — 2 strokes. Two vertical strokes, the left shorter than the right. る (ru) — 1 stroke. A looping oval that extends rightward — similar to the number 6. れ (re) — 2 strokes. A horizontal, then a long curved stroke with a looping return. ろ (ro) — 1 stroke. A backwards loop, similar to る but without the extending tail.

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W-row and N: わ を ん

わ (wa) — 2 strokes. A vertical stroke, then a curved enclosing stroke. を (wo/o) — 3 strokes. Horizontal line, then vertical stroke, then a looping final stroke. Primarily used as the object marker particle. ん (n) — 1 stroke. A rightward-leaning stroke that loops back — the only standalone consonant in Japanese.

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Practice Tips

Write slowly at first. Speed comes naturally after the stroke order is memorized.

Use grid paper. Japanese practice notebooks (方眼ノート) help keep proportions consistent.

Practice in sets. Drill one row at a time: vowels → k-row → s-row, etc.

Use a tracing app. Stroke-by-stroke tracing accelerates muscle memory dramatically.

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Learn with なぞり

なぞり is a free app specifically designed for hiragana and kanji stroke order practice. It uses touch-based tracing with real-time feedback — you'll know instantly if your stroke goes in the wrong direction.

Available on iPhone. Learn more at kotomori.app/products/nazori.