100 Best Art & Design schools in Japan

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 2.59M citations received by 237K academic papers made by 328 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

#1 in Asia

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Art & Design

#11 in Asia

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Male:Female: 76:24
Founded: 1897

3. Osaka University

For Art & Design

#12 in Asia

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1931

4. Tohoku University

For Art & Design

#20 in Asia

#185 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#24 in Asia

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 10,357
Founded: 1881

6. Nagoya University

For Art & Design

#38 in Asia

#298 in the World

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

7. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#39 in Asia

#302 in the World

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

8. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Art & Design

#41 in Asia

#316 in the World

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

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Art & Design

#53 in Asia

#383 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1973

10. Waseda University

For Art & Design

#55 in Asia

#393 in the World

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

11. Keio University

For Art & Design

#61 in Asia

#414 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Art & Design

#76 in Asia

#500 in the World

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

13. Tokyo University of Science

For Art & Design

#95 in Asia

#578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

14. Kobe University

For Art & Design

#104 in Asia

#621 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,871
Founded: 1902

15. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Art & Design

#107 in Asia

#641 in the World

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

16. Ritsumeikan University

For Art & Design

#117 in Asia

#693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

17. Chiba University

For Art & Design

#119 in Asia

#701 in the World

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

18. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Art & Design

#130 in Asia

#747 in the World

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

19. Nihon University

For Art & Design

#145 in Asia

#800 in the World

Enrollment: 77,651
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1889

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Art & Design

#147 in Asia

#808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 5,329
Founded: 1949

21. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Art & Design

#181 in Asia

#930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 6,287
Male:Female: 70:30
Founded: 1875

22. Osaka Prefecture University

For Art & Design

#193 in Asia

#954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 8,051
Founded: 1949

23. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Art & Design

#195 in Asia

#958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

24. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#205 in Asia

#985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 5,776
Founded: 1905

25. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Art & Design

#211 in Asia

#1005 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

26. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Art & Design

#215 in Asia

#1015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

27. Osaka City University

For Art & Design

#216 in Asia

#1017 in the World

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

28. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Art & Design

#222 in Asia

#1028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 5,876
Founded: 1907

29. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#224 in Asia

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

30. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#228 in Asia

#1048 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 891
Male:Female: 83:17
Founded: 1990

31. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Art & Design

#232 in Asia

#1053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 10,090
Founded: 1949

32. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Art & Design

#243 in Asia

#1094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1993

33. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Art & Design

#245 in Asia

#1096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

34. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#247 in Asia

#1100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

35. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Art & Design

#249 in Asia

#1109 in the World

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

36. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Art & Design

#255 in Asia

#1132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,127
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1949

37. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Art & Design

#259 in Asia

#1143 in the World

Founded: 1949

38. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Art & Design

#271 in Asia

#1196 in the World

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

39. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Art & Design

#285 in Asia

#1234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,661
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

40. Gifu University

For Art & Design

#302 in Asia

#1268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 7,227
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1949

41. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Art & Design

#308 in Asia

#1285 in the World

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

42. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Art & Design

#310 in Asia

#1289 in the World

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

43. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Art & Design

#317 in Asia

#1305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

44. Tokai University

For Art & Design

#322 in Asia

#1318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 28,535
Founded: 1946

45. Mie University

For Art & Design

#325 in Asia

#1333 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

46. Doshisha University

For Art & Design

#330 in Asia

#1344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,354
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1920

47. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Art & Design

#333 in Asia

#1349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 6,556
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

48. Sophia University

For Art & Design

#338 in Asia

#1357 in the World

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

49. Hosei University

For Art & Design

#340 in Asia

#1365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

50. Kansai University

For Art & Design

#346 in Asia

#1379 in the World

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

51. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Art & Design

#370 in Asia

#1424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 9,031
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1949

52. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Art & Design

#372 in Asia

#1427 in the World

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

53. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Art & Design

#376 in Asia

#1435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

54. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Art & Design

#377 in Asia

#1437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

55. Meiji University

For Art & Design

#389 in Asia

#1467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 31,339
Founded: 1881

56. Ibaraki University

For Art & Design

#392 in Asia

#1474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 8,249
Founded: 1949

57. Tokyo Denki University

For Art & Design

#399 in Asia

#1497 in the World

Founded: 1907

58. Ochanomizu University

For Art & Design

#403 in Asia

#1508 in the World

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

59. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#408 in Asia

#1519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

60. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Art & Design

#415 in Asia

#1532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,254
Founded: 1912

61. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Art & Design

#422 in Asia

#1555 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

62. University of Yamanashi

For Art & Design

#431 in Asia

#1575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

63. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Art & Design

#460 in Asia

#1649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

64. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Art & Design

#474 in Asia

#1685 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

65. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Art & Design

#480 in Asia

#1699 in the World

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

66. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Art & Design

#485 in Asia

#1712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 6,539
Founded: 1949

67. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Art & Design

#498 in Asia

#1745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,195
Founded: 1949

68. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Art & Design

#520 in Asia

#1815 in the World

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

69. University of Hyogo

For Art & Design

#531 in Asia

#1846 in the World

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

70. Hiroshima City University

Japan | Hiroshima

For Art & Design

#533 in Asia

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 2,114
Founded: 1994

71. Teikyo University

For Art & Design

#539 in Asia

#1870 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

72. Osaka Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#547 in Asia

#1893 in the World

Enrollment: 8,146
Founded: 1922

73. Saga University

For Art & Design

#549 in Asia

#1900 in the World

Founded: 1949

74. Toyo University

For Art & Design

#554 in Asia

#1915 in the World

Enrollment: 29,300
Male:Female: 59:41
Founded: 1887

75. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Art & Design

#559 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

76. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#570 in Asia

#1946 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

77. Showa University

For Art & Design

#581 in Asia

#1965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

78. Ryukoku University

For Art & Design

#584 in Asia

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

79. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Art & Design

#589 in Asia

#1996 in the World

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

80. Okayama Prefectural University

For Art & Design

#600 in Asia

#2027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 1,862
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1993

81. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Art & Design

#601 in Asia

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

82. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Art & Design

#604 in Asia

#2034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

83. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#615 in Asia

#2058 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2003

84. Shimane University

For Art & Design

#619 in Asia

#2062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

85. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Art & Design

#623 in Asia

#2069 in the World

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

86. University of Fukui

For Art & Design

#637 in Asia

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 5,167
Founded: 1949

87. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Art & Design

#638 in Asia

#2108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

88. Toho University

For Art & Design

#641 in Asia

#2113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

89. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#655 in Asia

#2147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

90. Akita University

For Art & Design

#662 in Asia

#2161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 5,157
Founded: 1949

91. University of Toyama

For Art & Design

#677 in Asia

#2192 in the World

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

92. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Art & Design

#682 in Asia

#2206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

93. Fukuoka Institute of Technology

Japan | Fukuoka

For Art & Design

#709 in Asia

#2254 in the World

Enrollment: 4,460
Founded: 1963

94. Meijo University

For Art & Design

#711 in Asia

#2257 in the World

Enrollment: 3,835
Founded: 1926

95. Kitasato University

For Art & Design

#712 in Asia

#2260 in the World

Enrollment: 8,576
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1962

96. Nagoya City University

For Art & Design

#721 in Asia

#2276 in the World

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

97. Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics

For Art & Design

#730 in Asia

#2296 in the World

Enrollment: 320
Founded: 2004

98. Rikkyo University

For Art & Design

#732 in Asia

#2299 in the World

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

99. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Art & Design

#736 in Asia

#2305 in the World

Enrollment: 9,853
Founded: 1942

100. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Art & Design

#740 in Asia

#2313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 18,693
Founded: 1949

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