Minna no Nihongo is a comprehensive textbook designed for beginners. It focuses on basic Japanese necessary for daily life and covers a wide range of topics.
Here is the dealbreaker for many: The main textbook (Honsatsu) is written entirely in Japanese – no English, no romaji, no translation. You are forced to buy a separate Translation & Grammar Notes book (English version) just to understand the rules. For N5, you need two physical books open at once. n5 minna no nihongo