47 best universities in Japan in 2026
Ranking based on the average of the three main global rankings: Shanghai (ARWU), Times Higher Education and QS.
The University of Tokyo
Average rank: #29
No. 1The University of Tokyo
Japan’s premier public university for academic excellence in sciences and engineering.
No. 2Kyoto University
Public Japanese university excelling in humanities and medicine.
No. 3Tokyo Institute of Science and Technology
Public Japanese leader in science and engineering.
No. 4Tohoku University
Leading Japanese public university excelling in research and engineering.
No. 5Osaka University
Public Japanese university excelling in medicine and engineering.
No. 6Nagoya University
Public Japanese university excelling in engineering and medicine.
No. 7Hokkaido University
Public Japanese university excelling in agriculture and medicine.
No. 8Kyushu University
Public Japanese university excelling in medicine and engineering.
No. 9Keio University
Private Japanese university of excellence in medicine, law, and economics.
No. 10University of Tsukuba
Public Japanese leader in sciences and technologies.
No. 11Waseda University
Private Japanese university of excellence in humanities and social sciences.
No. 12Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
Cutting-edge private research institute in science and technology, based in Okinawa.
No. 13Hitotsubashi University
Public Japanese leader in economics and social sciences.
No. 14Hiroshima University
Public Japanese leader in medicine and natural sciences.
No. 15Kobe University
Public Japanese university renowned for economics and medicine.
No. 16Sophia University
Private Japanese university renowned for humanities and international relations.
No. 17Kanazawa University
Public Japanese university renowned for medicine and natural sciences.
No. 18Ritsumeikan University
Private university of renown offering diverse programs in humanities and technologies.
No. 19Kitasato University
Private Japanese university renowned for medicine and pharmacy, founded in 1962.
No. 20Osaka Metropolitan University
Public Japanese university specializing in engineering and social sciences.
No. 21The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)
Public Japanese university specializing in advanced research.
No. 22Chiba University
Public Japanese university renowned for medicine and natural sciences.
No. 23Tokyo University of Science
Private Japanese leader in science and engineering.
No. 24Okayama University
Public Japanese university renowned for medicine and agriculture.