Put a Kakuyomu Story on Kindle with Calibre
You can put a Kakuyomu story on a Kindle without Amazon’s Send to Kindle service. Download the complete story as an EPUB with WP Downloader, add it to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and transfer it to your Kindle over USB.
calibre is a free e-book manager for Windows, macOS, and Linux. This method lets you manage and transfer the book from your computer.
What you need
- The Kakuyomu story page
- A computer with calibre installed
- Your Kindle and its USB cable
A Kakuyomu story URL usually looks like this:
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/12341234123412341234You do not need a Kakuyomu account. WP Downloader downloads the whole story, not an individual chapter or a list.
Step 1: Download the Kakuyomu story as an EPUB
Open the Kakuyomu downloader in your browser. WP Downloader is a free web tool, so you do not need to install anything.
- Copy the Kakuyomu story URL.
- Paste it into the downloader box.
- Choose whether to include the story’s images.
- Download the story as an EPUB.
EPUB downloads are free for everyone. WP Downloader can also create a PDF after a free Discord sign-in. For this method, use EPUB so calibre can convert the story to a Kindle format.
WP Downloader cannot add new chapters to an EPUB you have already downloaded. If the story is updated, paste its URL into the downloader again and download a new copy.
See how to download Kakuyomu stories for more help with the download.
Step 2: Add the EPUB to calibre
Open calibre and select Add books. Find the EPUB you downloaded and add it to your calibre library.
The story will appear with the other books in your library. You can edit its metadata or cover before transferring it, or skip those changes and continue to the conversion.
You can also open the EPUB in calibre’s e-book viewer to check it. The viewer has a Read aloud feature for listening on your computer.
Step 3: Convert the EPUB to AZW3
Select the Kakuyomu story in your calibre library and choose the option to convert the book. Set AZW3 as the output format, then start the conversion.
AZW3 is a Kindle format that you can transfer directly over USB. calibre can also convert EPUB files to MOBI or PDF, but neither format is needed for this guide.
Amazon’s Send to Kindle service no longer accepts MOBI files. Kindle e-readers can still open MOBI and AZW3 files copied over USB, so use AZW3 for this transfer.
Step 4: Connect the Kindle by USB
Connect your Kindle to the computer with its USB cable and wait for calibre to recognize it.
Select the converted story in your calibre library and choose Send to device. calibre will copy the book to the Kindle over USB.
When the transfer finishes, safely disconnect the Kindle. The Kakuyomu story will be available on the device for offline reading.
USB transfer or Send to Kindle?
With the USB method, calibre converts the EPUB to AZW3 and copies it directly to your connected Kindle. The transfer does not use Amazon’s Send to Kindle service.
To use Amazon’s service instead, follow the guide to send Kakuyomu stories to Kindle. For a Kobo e-reader, see how to read Kakuyomu stories on Kobo.
FAQ
Does WP Downloader create an AZW3 file?
No. WP Downloader creates EPUB files for everyone and PDFs after a free Discord sign-in. Download the EPUB and use calibre to convert it to AZW3.
Do I need a Kakuyomu account?
No. You do not need to sign in to Kakuyomu to download a story with WP Downloader.
Can I download one Kakuyomu chapter?
No. WP Downloader downloads whole Kakuyomu stories, not individual chapters or lists.
Can I transfer a MOBI file over USB?
Yes. Kindle e-readers can still open MOBI and AZW3 files copied over USB. Amazon ended MOBI support for its Send to Kindle service, not for direct USB transfers.
How do I get new chapters onto my Kindle?
Download the Kakuyomu story again with WP Downloader. Add the new EPUB to calibre, convert it to AZW3, and transfer that version to your Kindle.