Novel difficulty list
This is a list of novels, both light novels and traditional novels, ranked by their difficulty, on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is very easy and 10 is very hard. You can use it to find the most appropriate novel to read based on how good your Japanese is.
If you already have a novel in mind which is around your level you can also search for it, and then click on "Show details..." to see other novels of similar difficulty.
The difficulty ratings were generated automatically by a machine learning model. If you're interested in how we calculated them take a look here. We do not distribute any copyrighted materials from any of these works; we only provide aggregate statistics.
We also have other difficulty lists if you're interested:
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Showing 1..50 from 428 entries
Novel
Kindaichi-kun no Bouken
| Length (in words) | 20192 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 2996 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1427 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 717 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 196 |
| Difficulty | 1/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.7 |
| Characters | 49319 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Nichijou no Natsuyasumi
| Length (in words) | 33447 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3690 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1529 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 840 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 214 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.1 |
| Characters | 72484 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
| Length (in words) | 20123 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3177 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1637 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 908 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 240 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.7 |
| Characters | 47652 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Sono Hanashi wo Kikasete wa Ikenai
| Length (in words) | 13628 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 2488 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1223 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 935 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 255 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 25.2 |
| Characters | 31169 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kitan Room
| Length (in words) | 29709 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3282 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1489 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 951 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 217 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.8 |
| Characters | 70311 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Orange
| Length (in words) | 76427 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5943 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2351 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 39% |
| Unique kanji | 1047 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 174 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 16.1 |
| Characters | 192198 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Kitchen
| Length (in words) | 32471 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4495 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2353 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 52% |
| Unique kanji | 1092 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 224 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.4 |
| Characters | 73449 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Mata, Onaji Yume wo Miteita
| Length (in words) | 53553 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3783 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1677 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1124 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 220 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.8 |
| Characters | 123587 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kuromajo-san ga Tooru!!
| Length (in words) | 65525 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6609 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2836 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 42% |
| Unique kanji | 1151 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 224 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.0 |
| Characters | 165200 |
| Volumes | 3 |
Novel
Hoshi no Ko
| Length (in words) | 31611 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4488 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2184 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1159 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 241 |
| Difficulty | 1/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.0 |
| Characters | 73774 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Futago Ouji no Miwakekata
| Length (in words) | 28334 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3435 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1668 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1167 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 270 |
| Difficulty | 1/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.5 |
| Characters | 65366 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Owari no Seraph
| Length (in words) | 33673 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3714 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1730 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1168 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 242 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 15.7 |
| Characters | 75789 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Shiawase wa Koneko no Katachi
| Length (in words) | 45752 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5433 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2531 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1194 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 252 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 26.6 |
| Characters | 109851 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kuudere Ojousama wa Nanka Chigau: Tatanai Ore to Do S na Kanojo
| Length (in words) | 14767 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3496 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2086 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 59% |
| Unique kanji | 1208 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 360 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.7 |
| Characters | 36079 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Watashi, Nibanme no Kanojo de Ii kara
| Length (in words) | 43507 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4559 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2131 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1219 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 256 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.3 |
| Characters | 102543 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Murasaki Iro no Qualia
| Length (in words) | 49077 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4915 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2254 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1223 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 271 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.1 |
| Characters | 115470 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking-Glass
| Length (in words) | 35728 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4881 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2482 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1228 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 327 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.8 |
| Characters | 85308 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Konbini Ningen
| Length (in words) | 26051 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3750 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1865 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 49% |
| Unique kanji | 1253 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 289 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.4 |
| Characters | 60188 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Penguin Highway
| Length (in words) | 73689 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5449 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2285 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 41% |
| Unique kanji | 1272 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 202 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 23.1 |
| Characters | 174333 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Torinoko City
| Length (in words) | 48787 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4632 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2030 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1274 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 234 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.5 |
| Characters | 117728 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Jitsu wa Onaji Shokuba ni Anata wo Suki na Hito ga Imasu Tenkin Saki wa Bijo Dake no Eigyousho!?
| Length (in words) | 47655 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4735 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2093 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1277 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 274 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.5 |
| Characters | 115590 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Shuu Yon de Heya ni Asobi ni Kuru Koakuma Girl wa Kubittake!
| Length (in words) | 36446 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4534 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2221 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 48% |
| Unique kanji | 1281 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 297 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.0 |
| Characters | 86520 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Vtuber Dakedo, Yuri Eigyou Shitara Dohamari Shita Ken
| Length (in words) | 31410 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4727 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2552 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 53% |
| Unique kanji | 1296 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 337 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.4 |
| Characters | 77612 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Natsu to Hanabi to Watashi no Shitai
| Length (in words) | 33746 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4081 |
| Unique words (used once) | 1930 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1303 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 274 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 24.3 |
| Characters | 76426 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Fushidara na Yatsura
| Length (in words) | 27040 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4575 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2372 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1321 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 314 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 16.6 |
| Characters | 68193 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Yoru no Bakemono
| Length (in words) | 45392 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4844 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2274 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1326 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 293 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.3 |
| Characters | 104492 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Another: Episode S
| Length (in words) | 43948 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4818 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2113 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 43% |
| Unique kanji | 1330 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 274 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.5 |
| Characters | 98276 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Koteki no Kanata
| Length (in words) | 56476 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5671 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2516 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1331 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 278 |
| Difficulty | 6/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.8 |
| Characters | 127667 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Chuumon no Ooi Ryouriten
| Length (in words) | 22654 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 3939 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2097 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 53% |
| Unique kanji | 1334 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 419 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.2 |
| Characters | 51994 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Wakatsuki Hikaru's Teens' Love Short Stories
| Length (in words) | 40357 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4956 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2202 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 44% |
| Unique kanji | 1347 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 277 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.3 |
| Characters | 97798 |
| Volumes | 9 |
Novel
Boogiepop Overdrive: The King of Distortion
| Length (in words) | 38466 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5010 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2598 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1350 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 317 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.9 |
| Characters | 92126 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Boogiepop in the Mirror: "Pandora"
| Length (in words) | 35546 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5004 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2609 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 52% |
| Unique kanji | 1351 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 345 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 17.7 |
| Characters | 83886 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kiki's Delivery Service
| Length (in words) | 234043 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 9595 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3368 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 35% |
| Unique kanji | 1354 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 204 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.6 |
| Characters | 593226 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Yomei Ichinen to Senkoku Sareta Boku ga Yomei Hantoshi no Kimi to Deatta Hanashi
| Length (in words) | 50183 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4792 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2058 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 42% |
| Unique kanji | 1360 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 264 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.6 |
| Characters | 117687 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kare Nanka Yori, Watashi no Hou ga Ii Desho?
| Length (in words) | 32460 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4760 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2453 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 51% |
| Unique kanji | 1366 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 314 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.1 |
| Characters | 73049 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Eru Shion
| Length (in words) | 56099 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 6757 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3074 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1368 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 307 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.5 |
| Characters | 137390 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Oshi, Moyu
| Length (in words) | 20592 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4504 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2590 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 57% |
| Unique kanji | 1371 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 349 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 31.3 |
| Characters | 47590 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Wagamama de Gomenasobase
| Length (in words) | 43081 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4778 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2188 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 45% |
| Unique kanji | 1373 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 292 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 21.4 |
| Characters | 101143 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Karafuru
| Length (in words) | 36688 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5939 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3105 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 52% |
| Unique kanji | 1377 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 305 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.6 |
| Characters | 88067 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Coffee ga Tsumetai Uchi ni
| Length (in words) | 46565 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5024 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2319 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1380 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 295 |
| Difficulty | 3/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.8 |
| Characters | 109173 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Doctor Alpha no Tea Time
| Length (in words) | 28706 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4569 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2415 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 52% |
| Unique kanji | 1381 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 337 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.8 |
| Characters | 67956 |
| Volumes | 6 |
Novel
Kaidan to Odorou, Soshite Anata wa Kaidan de Odoru
| Length (in words) | 45177 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5065 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2429 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 47% |
| Unique kanji | 1395 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 298 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.8 |
| Characters | 103858 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Kara no Kyoukai Mirai Fukuin
| Length (in words) | 21924 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4434 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2477 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 55% |
| Unique kanji | 1395 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 345 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 20.6 |
| Characters | 49296 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Alice in Wonderland
| Length (in words) | 34377 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5127 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2718 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 53% |
| Unique kanji | 1395 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 369 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 27.0 |
| Characters | 81247 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Boogiepop and Others
| Length (in words) | 37456 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5279 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2798 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 53% |
| Unique kanji | 1399 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 318 |
| Difficulty | 5/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.6 |
| Characters | 87751 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Satsujin Shussan
| Length (in words) | 30142 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 4422 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2245 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 50% |
| Unique kanji | 1403 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 292 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 22.1 |
| Characters | 67669 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Shokuzai
| Length (in words) | 54496 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5671 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2665 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1404 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 261 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 32.1 |
| Characters | 133154 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Ima kara Anata wo Uttaemasu!
| Length (in words) | 31015 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5165 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2741 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 53% |
| Unique kanji | 1411 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 324 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 19.1 |
| Characters | 75765 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Novel
Chaos;Child -Children’s Revive-
| Length (in words) | 48163 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5674 |
| Unique words (used once) | 2643 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 46% |
| Unique kanji | 1415 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 236 |
| Difficulty | 4/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.9 |
| Characters | 113208 |
| Volumes | 1 |
Novel
Bokutachi no Remake
| Length (in words) | 38625 |
|---|---|
| Unique words | 5847 |
| Unique words (used once) | 3082 |
| Unique words (used once %) | 52% |
| Unique kanji | 1421 |
| Unique kanji (used once) | 300 |
| Difficulty | 2/10 |
| Average sentence length | 18.8 |
| Characters | 90847 |
| Volumes | 1 |