A series of Light Novels based on the Gin Tama manga have been authored by Tomohito Ōsaki, illustrated by Hideaki Sorachi, and published by Shueisha. They feature the series characters transposed to a school setting with Gintoki acting as their teacher. It is running in Jump Square under the title 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-sensei (3年Z組銀八先生? lit. "Grade 3 Class Z Ginpachi-sensei"). The first novel was published on February 3, 2006, while as of September 4, 2013, seven light novels have been published by Shueisha.
A novelization of the second film has also been authored by Ōsaki and was released in 2013 alongside the film.