I also have some resources that have yet to be mentioned:
My favorite online dictionary, just copy and paste:
Reading Tutor - Toolbox
This is good to check yourself in translating, though, not word for word (it's like babble fish):
http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english
Good site:
Art of writing japanese kanji and kana - All for your japanese studies!
This is from Yamasa U, a highly recommend language school in Okazaki, Japan:
http://www.yamasa.cc/members/ocjs/ka...nPage?OpenForm
This program is amazing! I love it:
WaKan Project Website - Download
(though sometimes the site is down, so if you can't get it one time, try again later)
These are basic sites, but good for beginers:
Japanese Language & Characters - Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji
Teach Yourself Japanese
Similar to the Kanji project:
http://www.kanjisite.com/
Good for grammar:
Japanese grammar
Tae Kim's Japanese guide to Japanese grammar
Just a great set of sites...has grammar parts and Kanji parts:
J-PREP: Japanese Study Tool
J-PREP Traveller: Trip Preperation Japanese Study