By seeta.bhardwa@…, 3 April, 2025

Top universities in Japan 2025: top 150

Japan University Rank 2025	University name	Prefecture
1	Tohoku University	Miyagi
2	Tokyo Institute of Technology	Tokyo
3	The University of Tokyo	Tokyo
4	Kyoto University	Kyoto
5	Kyushu University	Fukuoka
6	The University of Osaka	Osaka
7	Nagoya University	Aichi
8	Hokkaido University	Hokkaido
9	University of Tsukuba	Ibaraki
10	Akita International University	Akita
11	International Christian University	Tokyo
12	Keio University	Tokyo
13	Hiroshima University	Hiroshima
14	Waseda University	Tokyo
15	Kobe University	Hyogo
16	Chiba University	Chiba
17	Hitotsubashi University	Tokyo
18	Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU)	Tokyo
19	Kanazawa University	Ishikawa
20	Okayama University	Okayama
21	Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology	Tokyo
22	Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)	Oita
23	Kumamoto University	Kumamoto
24	Sophia University	Tokyo
25	Tokyo University of Foreign Studies	Tokyo
26	Nagasaki University	Nagasaki
27	The University of Aizu	Fukushima
28	Ritsumeikan University	Kyoto
29	Nagaoka University of Technology	Niigata
30	Yokohama National University	Kanagawa
31	Kyoto Institute of Technology	Kyoto
32	Shibaura Institute of Technology	Tokyo
33	Osaka Metropolitan University	Osaka
34	Nagoya City University	Aichi
=35	Kanda University of International Studies	Chiba
=35	Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology	Tokyo
37	Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech)	Fukuoka
38	Ochanomizu University	Tokyo
39	Tokyo University of Science	Tokyo
=40	Rikkyo University	Tokyo
=40	Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT)	Aichi
=42	Doshisha University	Kyoto
=42	The University of Electro-Communications	Tokyo
44	Yokohama City University	Kanagawa
45	Kwansei Gakuin University	Hyogo
46	Niigata University	Niigata
47	Meiji University	Tokyo
48	Fukuoka Women’s University	Fukuoka
=49	Aoyama Gakuin University	Tokyo
=49	Nagoya Institute of Technology	Aichi
51	Saga University	Saga
52	Kansai University	Osaka
53	Akita University	Akita
54	Hosei University	Tokyo
55	Kagoshima University	Kagoshima
56	Gunma University	Gunma
=57	Nanzan University	Aichi
=57	St Luke’s International University	Tokyo
59	Shinshu University	Nagano
60	Juntendo University	Tokyo
61	Yamagata University	Yamagata
62	Soka University	Tokyo
=63	Chuo University	Tokyo
=63	Utsunomiya University	Tochigi
65	The University of Kitakyushu	Fukuoka
=66	Kansai Gaidai University	Osaka
=66	Kindai University	Osaka
=66	Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine	Hokkaido
69	Tsuda University	Tokyo
70	Kobe City University of Foreign Studies	Hyogo
=71	Gakushuin University	Tokyo
=71	Nara Women’s University	Nara
=73	Gifu University	Gifu
=73	Saitama University	Saitama
=73	Shimane University	Shimane
76	University of Toyama	Toyama
77	Yamaguchi University	Yamaguchi
78	Kagawa University	Kagawa
79	Tottori University	Tottori
=80	Kochi University of Technology	Kochi
=80	Toyo University	Tokyo
82	Musashi University	Tokyo
83	University of Fukui	Fukui
=84	University of Hyogo	Hyogo
=84	Mie University	Mie
86	Ehime University	Ehime
87	University of Yamanashi	Yamanashi
88	Aichi Prefectural University	Aichi
89	Tokushima University	Tokushima
=90	Iwate University	Iwate
=90	University of Miyazaki	Miyazaki
=92	Hamamatsu University School of Medicine	Shizuoka
=92	Toyota Technological Institute	Aichi
=94	Ibaraki University	Ibaraki
=94	Shizuoka University	Shizuoka
96	Hirosaki University	Aomori
97	Kyoto University of Foreign Studies	Kyoto
98	Showa Women’s University	Tokyo
99	Nagoya University of Commerce Business	Aichi
100	Shiga University of Medical Science	Shiga
101-110	J. F. Oberlin University	Tokyo
101-110	Kochi University	Kochi
101-110	Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine	Kyoto
101-110	Meiji Gakuin University	Tokyo
101-110	Nagoya University of Foreign Studies	Aichi
101-110	University of Niigata Prefecture	Niigata
101-110	Ryukoku University	Kyoto
101-110	University of the Ryukyus	Okinawa
101-110	Seinan Gakuin University	Fukuoka
101-110	University of Shizuoka	Shizuoka
111-120	Dokkyo University	Saitama
111-120	Future University Hakodate	Hokkaido
111-120	Jikei University School of Medicine	Tokyo
111-120	Kyoto Sangyo University	Kyoto
111-120	Nippon Medical School	Tokyo
111-120	University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan	Fukuoka
111-120	Reitaku University	Chiba
111-120	Sapporo Medical University	Hokkaido
111-120	Shiga University	Shiga
111-120	Tokyo Woman’s Christian University	Tokyo
121-130	Aichi Medical University	Aichi
121-130	Akita Prefectural University	Akita
121-130	Fukuoka University	Fukuoka
121-130	Fukuoka Institute of Technology	Fukuoka
121-130	Fukushima University	Fukushima
121-130	Kanagawa University	Kanagawa
121-130	Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT)	Ishikawa
121-130	Muroran Institute of Technology	Hokkaido
121-130	Oita University	Oita
121-130	Seikei University	Tokyo
121-130	Teikyo University	Tokyo
121-130	Tsuru University	Yamanashi
131-140	Aichi University	Aichi
131-140	Chukyo University	Aichi
131-140	Fukushima Medical University	Fukushima
131-140	Kitasato University	Tokyo
131-140	Musashino University	Tokyo
131-140	Nara Medical University	Nara
131-140	Tokyo University of Agriculture	Tokyo
131-140	Tokyo City University	Tokyo
131-140	Tokyo Medical University	Tokyo
141-150	Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts	Kyoto
141-150	Fujita Health University	Aichi
141-150	Japan Women's University	Tokyo
141-150	Konan University	Hyogo
141-150	Kyoto Prefectural University	Kyoto
141-150	Meikai University	Chiba
141-150	Miyazaki International College	Miyazaki
141-150	Nihon University	Tokyo
141-150	Osaka Jogakuin University	Osaka

Key Insights from the Japan University Rankings 2025

Tohoku University takes first place in the 2025 Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings.
The rankings were produced in partnership with Japanese education company Benesse.
The Japan University Rankings are calculated based on four broad “pillars” (resources, engagement, outcomes and environment) covering 16 performance indicators. They differ from the THE World University Rankings in that they are more focused on what institutions offer students than on research data. Click here to read the full methodology for the Japan rankings.
Japan successfully maintains ancient traditions alongside its identity as a nation of technological innovation. This contrast can also be seen in the country’s higher education institutions as they develop their research output and international outreach while preserving Japan’s culture and values.

Top five universities in Japan

1. Tohoku University

Many of Tohoku University’s facilities are built around and within the ancient war grounds of the city of Sendai.

In 1913, Tohoku became the first university in Japan to admit female students. Tohoku University was also the first in Japan to admit international students.

In 2009, Tohoku was one of 13 universities selected by the Japanese government to contribute to providing higher education at an international level, and the university introduced a series of degree programmes that are predominantly taught in English.

2. Tokyo Institute of Technology

The Tokyo Institute of Technology is a national research university located in the Greater Tokyo area.

It is the country’s largest higher education institution dedicated to science and technology. The university is organised into six schools, within which there are more than 40 departments and research centres.

Nobel Prize laureate Hideki Shirakawa, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000, attended the university.

3. The University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo was Japan’s first national university when it was established in 1877.

It provides courses across the academic spectrum and has 10 faculties, 15 graduate schools, 11 affiliated research institutes (including the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology), three main libraries and three institutes for advanced study.

Students are taught at three campuses in Hongo, Komaba and Kashiwa, but there are facilities associated with the university throughout Japan. The university has a slightly unusual course structure in that students follow a liberal arts programme at one campus during their first two years before transferring to another campus to study their chosen major.

The campuses are in close proximity to many of Tokyo’s cultural attractions including Yanesen, a district of temples, and Ueno Park, with its museums and cherry blossoms.

4. Kyoto University

Kyoto University is spread across three campuses in Yoshida, Uji and Katsura. It is one of Japan’s oldest universities and is consistently ranked highly in Asia.

Kyoto University has about 22,000 students, 10 faculties, 18 graduate schools, 13 research institutes and 21 research and educational centres.

The university was initially comprised of colleges in law, medicine, letters, and science and engineering. Within two years, the university opened a library and a hospital. Later, it established departments of economics, agriculture and humanities, and the first graduate school was launched in the mid-20th century.

The institution has produced a number of successful researchers, including 11 Nobel prizewinners, two Fields medallists and one Gauss Prize winner.

5. Kyushu University

Kyushu University returns to the top five this year, moving up one place from last year’s number six spot.

The university has international students from many countries. The number of foreign students continues to rise year-on-year.

There are 7.5 million items in the Kyushu University Museum including documents, archaeological artefacts and an insect collection of more than 4 million specimens.

Explore more universities in Asia here

Best universities in Asia
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Best universities in Tokyo

See the full Japan University Rankings here

Best universities in Japan 2025