100 Best Art & Design schools in Japan

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 3.48M citations received by 265K academic papers made by 346 universities in Japan was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Tokyo

For Art & Design

#3 in Asia

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,479
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Art & Design

#12 in Asia

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Founded: 1897

3. Osaka University

For Art & Design

#15 in Asia

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Founded: 1931

4. Tohoku University

For Art & Design

#22 in Asia

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,591
Founded: 1907

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#31 in Asia

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#43 in Asia

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,560
Founded: 1911

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Art & Design

#46 in Asia

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,541
Founded: 1918

8. Nagoya University

For Art & Design

#47 in Asia

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,834
Founded: 1939

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Art & Design

#54 in Asia

#383 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Founded: 1973

10. Waseda University

For Art & Design

#59 in Asia

#408 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 47,094
Founded: 1882

11. Keio University

For Art & Design

#66 in Asia

#437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 33,518
Founded: 1858

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Art & Design

#86 in Asia

#531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 15,066
Founded: 1949

13. Kobe University

For Art & Design

#113 in Asia

#647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1902

14. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Art & Design

#115 in Asia

#651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 9,059
Founded: 2005

15. Tokyo University of Science

For Art & Design

#121 in Asia

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 19,768
Founded: 1881

16. Chiba University

For Art & Design

#133 in Asia

#730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 13,983
Founded: 1949

17. Ritsumeikan University

For Art & Design

#134 in Asia

#732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

18. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Art & Design

#155 in Asia

#812 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 13,057
Founded: 1922

19. Nihon University

For Art & Design

#163 in Asia

#842 in the World

Founded: 1889

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Art & Design

#172 in Asia

#861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

21. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Art & Design

#225 in Asia

#1021 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

22. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Art & Design

#235 in Asia

#1046 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 6,287
Founded: 1875

23. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Art & Design

#243 in Asia

#1068 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

24. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Art & Design

#244 in Asia

#1069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

25. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#246 in Asia

#1072 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

26. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#248 in Asia

#1077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

27. Osaka Prefecture University

For Art & Design

#255 in Asia

#1111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

28. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#257 in Asia

#1113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

29. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Art & Design

#265 in Asia

#1137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

30. Osaka City University

For Art & Design

#266 in Asia

#1139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 8,230
Founded: 1928

31. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Art & Design

#274 in Asia

#1158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

32. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Art & Design

#276 in Asia

#1164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

33. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Art & Design

#282 in Asia

#1189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,371
Founded: 1993

34. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Art & Design

#289 in Asia

#1208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,127
Founded: 1949

35. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#291 in Asia

#1210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

36. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Art & Design

#296 in Asia

#1222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 12,068
Founded: 1922

37. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Art & Design

#314 in Asia

#1272 in the World

Founded: 1949

38. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Art & Design

#325 in Asia

#1303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,090
Founded: 1949

39. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Art & Design

#355 in Asia

#1363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

40. Gifu University

For Art & Design

#357 in Asia

#1369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 7,227
Founded: 1949

41. Tokai University

For Art & Design

#358 in Asia

#1372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

42. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Art & Design

#359 in Asia

#1374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 7,629
Founded: 1949

43. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Art & Design

#361 in Asia

#1378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 38,857
Founded: 1949

44. Doshisha University

For Art & Design

#366 in Asia

#1396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,354
Founded: 1920

45. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Art & Design

#371 in Asia

#1406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

46. Kansai University

For Art & Design

#375 in Asia

#1420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 29,749
Founded: 1922

47. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Art & Design

#380 in Asia

#1431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 31,739
Founded: 1885

48. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Art & Design

#385 in Asia

#1441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

49. Hosei University

For Art & Design

#399 in Asia

#1473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

50. Sophia University

For Art & Design

#405 in Asia

#1483 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 13,280
Founded: 1913

51. Mie University

For Art & Design

#417 in Asia

#1509 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

52. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Art & Design

#429 in Asia

#1537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

53. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Art & Design

#433 in Asia

#1544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 10,849
Founded: 1949

54. Meiji University

For Art & Design

#441 in Asia

#1564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

55. Ibaraki University

For Art & Design

#470 in Asia

#1633 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

56. Tokyo Denki University

For Art & Design

#473 in Asia

#1638 in the World

Founded: 1907

57. Ochanomizu University

For Art & Design

#481 in Asia

#1652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,075
Founded: 1874

58. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Art & Design

#483 in Asia

#1654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,679
Founded: 1912

59. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Art & Design

#497 in Asia

#1679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

60. University of Yamanashi

For Art & Design

#501 in Asia

#1700 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

61. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#503 in Asia

#1704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

62. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Art & Design

#505 in Asia

#1714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

63. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Art & Design

#537 in Asia

#1791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 9,033
Founded: 1949

64. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Art & Design

#544 in Asia

#1819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

65. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Art & Design

#567 in Asia

#1883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

66. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#589 in Asia

#1926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

67. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Art & Design

#605 in Asia

#1962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 5,402
Founded: 1949

68. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Art & Design

#608 in Asia

#1968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,179
Founded: 1949

69. Saga University

For Art & Design

#613 in Asia

#1986 in the World

Founded: 1949

70. Showa University

For Art & Design

#619 in Asia

#2002 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

71. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#630 in Asia

#2033 in the World

Founded: 1934

72. Hiroshima City University

Japan | Hiroshima

For Art & Design

#636 in Asia

#2055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 2,058
Founded: 1994

73. University of Hyogo

For Art & Design

#640 in Asia

#2069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,551
Founded: 2004

74. Toyo University

For Art & Design

#646 in Asia

#2082 in the World

Founded: 1887

75. Ryukoku University

For Art & Design

#662 in Asia

#2114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

76. Teikyo University

For Art & Design

#669 in Asia

#2125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

77. Osaka Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#672 in Asia

#2129 in the World

Enrollment: 8,146
Founded: 1922

78. Shimane University

For Art & Design

#674 in Asia

#2134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

79. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Art & Design

#676 in Asia

#2142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

80. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Art & Design

#678 in Asia

#2148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 3,217
Founded: 1949

81. Toho University

For Art & Design

#689 in Asia

#2181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

82. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Art & Design

#694 in Asia

#2192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 20,285
Founded: 1874

83. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Art & Design

#707 in Asia

#2211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

84. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Art & Design

#723 in Asia

#2245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

85. University of Fukui

For Art & Design

#755 in Asia

#2312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

86. Okayama Prefectural University

For Art & Design

#759 in Asia

#2320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1993

87. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#760 in Asia

#2322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2003

88. Akita University

For Art & Design

#778 in Asia

#2357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

89. University of Toyama

For Art & Design

#781 in Asia

#2361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 9,208
Founded: 1975

90. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#783 in Asia

#2363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 5,198
Founded: 1928

91. Kitasato University

For Art & Design

#786 in Asia

#2368 in the World

Founded: 1962

92. Nagoya City University

For Art & Design

#804 in Asia

#2404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 4,685
Founded: 1950

93. Rikkyo University

For Art & Design

#816 in Asia

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 20,720
Founded: 1922

94. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Art & Design

#828 in Asia

#2455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

95. Fukuoka Institute of Technology

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#834 in Asia

#2472 in the World

Founded: 1963

96. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Art & Design

#840 in Asia

#2484 in the World

Founded: 1942

97. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Art & Design

#844 in Asia

#2489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

98. Nara Women's University

For Art & Design

#845 in Asia

#2491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 2,631
Founded: 1908

99. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Art & Design

#864 in Asia

#2521 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

100. Juntendo University

For Art & Design

#871 in Asia

#2540 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

The best cities to study Art & Design in Japan based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tokyo, Kyoto, Suita, and Sendai.