What are the best websites and forums for learning Japanese at the advanced beginner to intermeditate level. Im interested in sites where I could get help with day to day communication.

Well, there's Japan Today's Learning Section. I'm a mod there and I recognize a few names from here over there. If you're looking for online resources I could name a few, or you could check out the link above since there's a bunch of stuff listed there already.

I think the best practice would be to find some people to talk/write to. Get a penpal, do mixi, go to local language meetups, find people to IM(most Japanese people I've met prefer MSN for some reason), something and anything. If you're reading and studying stuff, then that'll give you an opportunity to practice it and make it your own.

Thanks Darg---

Thanks for the information. I linked to the excite translation device. I forgot somewhere there is a place where you can copy kanji to hiragana. Also, any advice on how to best find the meanings of kanji. Im writing from a manga kissaten in Japan. There are too many manga to read, but at least I have access to computer here. Forgot my electronic dictionary which is hard to use anyway.

i like http://www.jref.com/forum

there is not just a japanese language forum but all aspects of japanese life.

I've would second the vote for Mixi , it is basically a social networking site like myspace . Its all japanese so its a bit of a challenge. But with the help of the
"rikai chan" translation tool for firefox its do-able even for intermediates like myself.
Plus side is that you're communicating with real japanese people.I was able to find a couple of communities on topics that I was really interested in too.

http://www.mixi.co.jp/

http://www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan/

You have to be invited to join mixi though.
If anyone wants an invite just pm me.

Maybe try this: http://www.hesjapanese.com

as discussed in this thread http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=563 theres some japanese equivalents to sites like dig, slashdot. One of my favourites is gizmodo.jp which just posts loads of stuff about gadgets etc.