To start practicing Java programs on a PC, the essential tool is the Java Development Kit (JDK), which can be downloaded from Oracle's official website. For an integrated development environment (IDE), Eclipse is the recommended choice, providing a user-friendly GUI and a robust debugging tool. While it's possible to write Java code in a simple text editor like Notepad, using Eclipse streamlines the coding process by allowing users to compile and run programs within the same interface. For beginners, watching tutorial videos can help in understanding how to effectively use Eclipse and its features.