100 Best Art & Design schools in Japan

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 3.65M citations received by 271K academic papers made by 350 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

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,918
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Art & Design

#12 in Asia

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,365
Founded: 1897

3. Osaka University

For Art & Design

#17 in Asia

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,234
Founded: 1931

4. Tohoku University

For Art & Design

#24 in Asia

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,975
Founded: 1907

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#33 in Asia

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#46 in Asia

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,813
Founded: 1911

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Art & Design

#48 in Asia

#345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,770
Founded: 1918

8. Nagoya University

For Art & Design

#49 in Asia

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,959
Founded: 1939

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Art & Design

#56 in Asia

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,684
Founded: 1973

10. Waseda University

For Art & Design

#63 in Asia

#415 in the World

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

11. Keio University

For Art & Design

#70 in Asia

#446 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Art & Design

#88 in Asia

#537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 15,505
Founded: 1949

13. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Art & Design

#119 in Asia

#652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 9,126
Founded: 2005

14. Kobe University

For Art & Design

#122 in Asia

#670 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 16,214
Founded: 1902

15. Tokyo University of Science

For Art & Design

#126 in Asia

#694 in the World

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

16. Ritsumeikan University

For Art & Design

#141 in Asia

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

17. Chiba University

For Art & Design

#142 in Asia

#743 in the World

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

18. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Art & Design

#163 in Asia

#831 in the World

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

19. Nihon University

For Art & Design

#174 in Asia

#860 in the World

Founded: 1889

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Art & Design

#178 in Asia

#878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

21. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Art & Design

#232 in Asia

#1029 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

22. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Art & Design

#249 in Asia

#1075 in the World

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

23. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#252 in Asia

#1086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

24. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Art & Design

#253 in Asia

#1092 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

25. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#256 in Asia

#1104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

26. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Art & Design

#257 in Asia

#1106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

27. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#265 in Asia

#1126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

28. Osaka Prefecture University

For Art & Design

#268 in Asia

#1135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

29. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Art & Design

#276 in Asia

#1167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

30. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Art & Design

#282 in Asia

#1178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

31. Osaka City University

For Art & Design

#283 in Asia

#1179 in the World

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

32. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Art & Design

#290 in Asia

#1195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

33. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Art & Design

#291 in Asia

#1200 in the World

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

34. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Art & Design

#298 in Asia

#1219 in the World

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

35. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#305 in Asia

#1233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

36. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Art & Design

#312 in Asia

#1248 in the World

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

37. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Art & Design

#346 in Asia

#1330 in the World

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

38. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Art & Design

#354 in Asia

#1349 in the World

Founded: 1949

39. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Art & Design

#365 in Asia

#1381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

40. Gifu University

For Art & Design

#367 in Asia

#1390 in the World

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

41. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Art & Design

#369 in Asia

#1392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 11,098
Founded: 1949

42. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Art & Design

#371 in Asia

#1395 in the World

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

43. Tokai University

For Art & Design

#372 in Asia

#1397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 29,700
Founded: 1946

44. Doshisha University

For Art & Design

#373 in Asia

#1398 in the World

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

45. Kansai University

For Art & Design

#389 in Asia

#1438 in the World

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

46. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Art & Design

#390 in Asia

#1439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

47. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Art & Design

#405 in Asia

#1467 in the World

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

48. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Art & Design

#413 in Asia

#1479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

49. Hosei University

For Art & Design

#429 in Asia

#1514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

50. Sophia University

For Art & Design

#430 in Asia

#1517 in the World

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

51. Mie University

For Art & Design

#438 in Asia

#1544 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

52. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Art & Design

#444 in Asia

#1559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

53. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Art & Design

#449 in Asia

#1572 in the World

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

54. Meiji University

For Art & Design

#451 in Asia

#1575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

55. Ibaraki University

For Art & Design

#493 in Asia

#1667 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

56. Tokyo Denki University

For Art & Design

#495 in Asia

#1671 in the World

Founded: 1907

57. Ochanomizu University

For Art & Design

#497 in Asia

#1674 in the World

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

58. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Art & Design

#501 in Asia

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 26,248
Founded: 1912

59. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Art & Design

#510 in Asia

#1708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

60. University of Yamanashi

For Art & Design

#514 in Asia

#1725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

61. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Art & Design

#517 in Asia

#1731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

62. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#522 in Asia

#1740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

63. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Art & Design

#550 in Asia

#1816 in the World

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

64. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Art & Design

#566 in Asia

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

65. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Art & Design

#598 in Asia

#1926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

66. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#608 in Asia

#1950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

67. Saga University

For Art & Design

#626 in Asia

#2005 in the World

Founded: 1949

68. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Art & Design

#628 in Asia

#2012 in the World

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

69. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Art & Design

#634 in Asia

#2028 in the World

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

70. Showa University

For Art & Design

#642 in Asia

#2055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

71. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#643 in Asia

#2058 in the World

Founded: 1934

72. University of Hyogo

For Art & Design

#657 in Asia

#2090 in the World

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

73. Toyo University

For Art & Design

#658 in Asia

#2094 in the World

Founded: 1887

74. Hiroshima City University

Japan | Hiroshima

For Art & Design

#662 in Asia

#2108 in the World

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

75. Teikyo University

For Art & Design

#682 in Asia

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

76. Ryukoku University

For Art & Design

#684 in Asia

#2152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

77. Shimane University

For Art & Design

#685 in Asia

#2153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

78. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Art & Design

#695 in Asia

#2168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

79. Osaka Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#698 in Asia

#2173 in the World

Enrollment: 8,146
Founded: 1922

80. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Art & Design

#700 in Asia

#2177 in the World

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

81. Toho University

For Art & Design

#711 in Asia

#2205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

82. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Art & Design

#724 in Asia

#2233 in the World

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

83. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Art & Design

#739 in Asia

#2257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

84. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Art & Design

#752 in Asia

#2286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

85. University of Fukui

For Art & Design

#777 in Asia

#2348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

86. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#779 in Asia

#2351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2003

87. Okayama Prefectural University

For Art & Design

#786 in Asia

#2360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1993

88. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#803 in Asia

#2393 in the World

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

89. Akita University

For Art & Design

#806 in Asia

#2397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

90. University of Toyama

For Art & Design

#808 in Asia

#2400 in the World

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

91. Kitasato University

For Art & Design

#812 in Asia

#2408 in the World

Founded: 1962

92. Rikkyo University

For Art & Design

#832 in Asia

#2441 in the World

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

93. Nagoya City University

For Art & Design

#834 in Asia

#2444 in the World

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

94. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Art & Design

#864 in Asia

#2499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

95. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)

For Art & Design

#876 in Asia

#2525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 237
Male:Female: 56:44

96. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Art & Design

#884 in Asia

#2538 in the World

Founded: 1942

97. Juntendo University

For Art & Design

#886 in Asia

#2542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

98. Fukuoka Institute of Technology

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#894 in Asia

#2558 in the World

Founded: 1963

99. Nara Women's University

For Art & Design

#899 in Asia

#2566 in the World

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

100. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Art & Design

#900 in Asia

#2568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

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