I don't know any Japanese, so I'm at the beginning level.
Thanks.

I also recommend Rosetta stone software. Its a little exp. but worth it.

books: TY Books teach yourself Japanese by NTC publishers

Hi, I recommend Minna no Nihongo by 3A Corporation as well. There's a main textbook (in Japanese) and another explanation book (available in several languages including English). I have used them up to JLPT level 3 and found the English explanations very good. There are also plenty of practice exercises. If I'm not wrong, the National University of Singapore is using these textbooks for their beginner-level Japanese course.
Ganbatte ne!

software-Rosetta stone is the best
books: Japanese for Busy People

I've used the "Minna no Nihongo" and "Japanese for Busy People" textbooks.

I found "Minna no Nihongo" to be the best.

Good luck with your studies.

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Some books are geared for business, so it depends what you want your Japanese for. Japanese for Busy People is business related but moves along very slowly. I use Genki at Uni, it's based more around everyday things and life as a student, it's pace is quite fast and has a Kanji learning section in the back. My friend used Minna no Nihongo and his Japanese is excellent, it's quite in depth with lots of vocab and drills.

If you really want to get heavily into grammar I recommend the Kodansha range of books that focus on Verbs, Particles, Adjectives etc. These go a little more in depth into specific areas of grammar but it can be pricey getting all of these, depends on how serious you are.

Hope this helps, good luck!

My favorite is www.japanesepod101.com
So many Japanese text books are boring. This site is interesting.