How to Free Download audiobook.jp Podcasts and Audiobooks to Your PC
Summary:This guide shows how to download audiobook.jp audiobooks for personal use. Method 1 is about the official download route to save purchased titles as MP3 files. Method 2 uses BookFab AudiobookJP Converter to save your subscription audiobooks and podcasts from audiobook.jp in more formats, making it easier to organize your library and keep a permanent backup.
If you're learning Japanese or Japanese literature lover, you've likely already heard of audiobook.jp. Much like Audible, it offers a massive library of audiobooks, providing exclusive Japanese titles that you can't find anywhere else.
But there's a snag. Just like Audible, the platform usually keeps you inside its proprietary app. For titles included in a subscription plan, you can only listen in the app, and you can't download them. That makes it impossible to play them on an MP3 player, keep a permanent backup, or use them with your favorite study tools.
Don't worry. In this post, I'll show you how to easily download your favorite audiobooks from audiobook.jp for personal listening and learning.
What Is audiobook.jp?
If you haven't explored the world of Japanese audiobooks yet, you might only be familiar with Audible. However, audiobook.jp (formerly known as FeBe) is the homegrown giant in Japan. Operated by Otobank, it has been a staple for Japanese listeners for years and specifically caters to the local audience with a catalog that often feels more "authentic" than its international competitors. Its popularity is booming. By February 2024, the platform reached a major milestone, surpassing 3 million members.
In Japan, audiobook.jp is often a top choice for both professionals and students. While Audible has massive global reach, audiobook.jp stands out for niche, local content. With over 30,000 titles, its library covers catalogues like business and self-development, light novels and fiction, and exclusive podcasts. You can listen these titles via the mobile app or a PC browser.
audiobook.jp is also very cost-effective, offering several flexible pricing options depending on your listening habits:
- Unlimited Listening Plan: For a flat monthly fee (roughly $8-$10 USD), you get access to thousands of "all-you-can-listen" titles. This is a fantastic deal for learners who want to "sample" different materials without buying them one by one.
- Ticket/Credit Plans: Similar to Audible, you can subscribe to a plan that gives you "tickets" to exchange for any book in their store, regardless of its retail price.
- Individual Purchases: You can also buy specific books or podcast episodes. Once you buy them, they stay in your account library.
Audible vs. audiobook.jp
If you're already an Audible user, you might be wondering if it's worth adding another subscription. Here is a quick breakdown of how they compare, especially for someone focused on Japanese content.
| Feature | Audible | audiobook.jp |
| Catalog | Around 30,000 Japanese titles | 30,000+ Japanese titles |
| Specialty | Western bestsellers & Audible Originals | Japanses local audiobooks, including Business, Light Novels, & Local Podcasts |
| Ease of Use | High (Global app infrastructure) | Moderate (Interface is primarily in Japanese) |
| Pricing | Monthly credit system, or individual buy | Unlimited plan, tickets, or individual buy |
For Japanese learners, would audiobooks.jp be better? Audible is great for general listening and massive blockbusters. However, for a truly immersive experience with content that Japanese people actually listen to, audiobook.jp is the clear winner. It feels less like a "translated" experience and more like a native one.
How to Download audiobook.jp to MP3 and Other Formats
Now, let's get into the practical side. How do you download the audiobooks you've subscribed to or purchased for personal use? In this section, I'll cover two ways to download audiobook.jp titles and podcasts. Whether the content is something you bought or something included in a monthly plan, you can save it locally for personal backup and easier library management.
Method 1: Download from the Official Website
Yes, audiobook.jp does let you download audiobooks to your computer, but the scope is limited. Only audiobooks you purchase individually can be downloaded as MP3 files. Titles included in the Unlimited Listening Plan cannot be saved in MP3 format. If you need to download books from the Unlimited Listening Plan, check Method 2.
Step 1: Access the download page
Right after a purchase, the website usually takes you to a download page automatically. If you want to download audiobooks you purchased earlier, click "ライブラリ" (Library) in the top-right corner, select a purchased audiobook, and enter its download page.
Step 2: Adjust download settings
Choose the download speed option. audiobook.jp offers two modes: a standard version and a speed-up version.
Adjust the output audio quality. You can choose 64 kbps or 128 kbps. 128 kbps sounds better, but the file size will be larger. Pick the quality that fits your device and listening scenario.
Choose a download mode. If you want to save the full set of audio files in one go, select "一括ダウンロード" (Bulk Download). The files will be saved to your computer as a ZIP file. Of course, you can also download and save the files chapter by chapter.
Step 3: Extract the file
Extract the ZIP file you downloaded, and you'll find multiple MP3 files inside. In most cases, they're split by track or chapter, for example: Track01.mp3, Track02.mp3, Chapter01.mp3.
Method 2: Download audiobook.jp with BookFab AudiobookJP Converter
Method 1 works well when the title offers an MP3 download on the official website. The problem is that this option is tied to purchased audiobooks. If you are using the Unlimited Listening Plan, you can only listen those titles in app only, and cannot download them as files. That is exactly the gap BookFab AudiobookJP Converter is built to cover.
BookFab AudiobookJP Converter is a Windows program dedicated to downloading audiobook.jp podcasts and audiobooks. It supports downloading almost any kind of audiobooks and podcasts from audiobook.jp, including purchased audiobooks, Unlimited Listening Plan titles, and subscribed podcasts. Moreover, it lets you choose output formats like MP3 and M4A, so your library is easier to manage outside the official app.
Step 1: Install BookFab and open AudiobookJP Converter
After installing BookFab, open the AudiobookJP Converter module from the sidebar. If you already have BookFab installed, it is worth checking if you are on 1.2.1.8 or later, so the AudiobookJP Converter shows up.
Step 2: Sign in to your audiobook.jp account inside BookFab
Once the AudiobookJP Converter is open, BookFab will prompt you to sign in in the built-in browser so it can access and anaylize the audiobooks available in your account.
Step 3: Find the audiobook or podcast you want to save
Open your library area to find content you already purchased or subscribed to. Open the detail page for a title, BookFab AudiobookJP Converter should detect the playable audio content and prepare it for download.
Step 4: Choose an output format
BookFab AudiobookJP Converter lets you download audiobook.jp titles in multiple formats, including MP3 and M4A. Here is how I usually choose:
- MP3: maximum compatibility (MP3 players, car stereos, simple file transfers).
- M4A: better compatibility with Apple ecosystems.
- FLAC/WAV: lossless quality, better for archiving
- OPUS: output small audio files with strong quality
Step 5: Download audiobook.jp titles
Click "Download Now". You can monitor the downloading progress in Download Manager. Once the download finishes, you will have real local audio files that you can back up, move to external storage, or play with any media player.
Disclaimer: BookFab does not encourage or support downloading audiobooks for any commercial purpose or distribution. Please make sure any downloads are for personal, lawful use only and comply with your local copyright laws and the platform's terms.
FAQ about audiobook.jp
It depends on your purpose. If you like Japanese culture, enjoy Japanese literature and light novels, and are learning Japanese, then audiobook.jp is a better choice. It features a much deeper selection of local business trends, light novels, and exclusive podcasts that provide a more authentic experience for anyone looking to master the language and understand the culture. By comparison, Audible also has Japanese audiobooks, but the selection is very limited.
Many audiobook platforms, such as audiobook.jp converter and Audible converter, support downloading audiobooks for offline listening. The process is basically the same: find the books you purchased or subscribed to in your library, then click the download button. But it's important to note that this kind of download is only cached for listening in the app, and you can't find the downloaded files. If you want to truly download audiobooks from Audible or audiobook.jp, you need dedicated software, such as BookFab Audible Converter.
Conclusion
Once you've got these steps down, you can easily download both your purchased and subscription audiobooks from audiobook.jp. You'll have more freedom to store, organize, and listen to your audiobooks the way you want, which makes language study more personal, and lets you keep a permanent backup of the niche Japanese titles you love.
