100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 745K citations received by 63.9K academic papers made by 195 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 Literature

#3 in Asia

#68 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Literature

#9 in Asia

#137 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Literature

#32 in Asia

#323 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Literature

#34 in Asia

#352 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Literature

#36 in Asia

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#41 in Asia

#396 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Literature

#42 in Asia

#398 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Literature

#51 in Asia

#429 in the World

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

9. Waseda University

For Literature

#63 in Asia

#502 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Literature

#67 in Asia

#511 in the World

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

11. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Literature

#70 in Asia

#525 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Literature

#80 in Asia

#577 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Literature

#109 in Asia

#696 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Literature

#159 in Asia

#848 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Literature

#173 in Asia

#906 in the World

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

16. Nihon University

For Literature

#180 in Asia

#939 in the World

Founded: 1889

17. Ritsumeikan University

For Literature

#192 in Asia

#971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#241 in Asia

#1109 in the World

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

19. University of Electro-Communications

For Literature

#242 in Asia

#1111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

20. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Literature

#249 in Asia

#1133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

21. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#255 in Asia

#1147 in the World

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

22. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Literature

#289 in Asia

#1258 in the World

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

23. Doshisha University

For Literature

#292 in Asia

#1264 in the World

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

24. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Literature

#311 in Asia

#1307 in the World

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

25. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Literature

#312 in Asia

#1312 in the World

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

26. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#322 in Asia

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

27. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Literature

#338 in Asia

#1392 in the World

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

28. Osaka City University

For Literature

#339 in Asia

#1397 in the World

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

29. Kansai University

For Literature

#345 in Asia

#1413 in the World

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

30. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Literature

#363 in Asia

#1468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

31. Meiji University

For Literature

#368 in Asia

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

32. Sophia University

For Literature

#373 in Asia

#1503 in the World

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

33. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Literature

#384 in Asia

#1531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

34. Osaka Prefecture University

For Literature

#389 in Asia

#1547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

35. Hosei University

For Literature

#400 in Asia

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

36. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Literature

#401 in Asia

#1572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

37. Tokai University

For Literature

#413 in Asia

#1595 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

38. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Literature

#416 in Asia

#1599 in the World

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

39. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#419 in Asia

#1604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

40. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Literature

#423 in Asia

#1617 in the World

Founded: 1949

41. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Literature

#429 in Asia

#1629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

42. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Literature

#439 in Asia

#1652 in the World

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

43. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Literature

#446 in Asia

#1668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

44. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Literature

#448 in Asia

#1675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

45. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Literature

#452 in Asia

#1686 in the World

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

46. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Literature

#453 in Asia

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Literature

#463 in Asia

#1709 in the World

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

48. Ryukoku University

For Literature

#465 in Asia

#1711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

49. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Literature

#471 in Asia

#1727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

50. Gifu University

For Literature

#482 in Asia

#1745 in the World

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

51. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#497 in Asia

#1782 in the World

Founded: 1934

52. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Literature

#512 in Asia

#1815 in the World

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

53. Ibaraki University

For Literature

#518 in Asia

#1828 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

54. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Literature

#524 in Asia

#1841 in the World

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

55. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#529 in Asia

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

56. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Literature

#530 in Asia

#1854 in the World

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

57. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Literature

#545 in Asia

#1899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

58. Ochanomizu University

For Literature

#547 in Asia

#1901 in the World

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

59. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Literature

#548 in Asia

#1905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

60. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Literature

#567 in Asia

#1956 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

61. Toyo University

For Literature

#573 in Asia

#1981 in the World

Founded: 1887

62. Teikyo University

For Literature

#587 in Asia

#2018 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

63. Mie University

For Literature

#588 in Asia

#2020 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

64. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#598 in Asia

#2038 in the World

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

65. Iwate Prefectural University

For Literature

#607 in Asia

#2058 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1998

66. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Literature

#610 in Asia

#2062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

67. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Literature

#617 in Asia

#2080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

68. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Literature

#629 in Asia

#2110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

69. Tokyo Denki University

For Literature

#632 in Asia

#2113 in the World

Founded: 1907

70. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Literature

#640 in Asia

#2129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

71. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Literature

#647 in Asia

#2143 in the World

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

72. University of Yamanashi

For Literature

#651 in Asia

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

73. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Literature

#664 in Asia

#2183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

74. Nagoya City University

For Literature

#676 in Asia

#2208 in the World

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

75. Shimane University

For Literature

#687 in Asia

#2234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

76. Nippon Institute of Technology

Japan | Miyashiro

For Literature

#697 in Asia

#2264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1967

77. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Literature

#699 in Asia

#2269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

78. University of Fukui

For Literature

#724 in Asia

#2332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

79. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Literature

#728 in Asia

#2339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

80. Rikkyo University

For Literature

#730 in Asia

#2342 in the World

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

81. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Literature

#733 in Asia

#2345 in the World

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

82. Toho University

For Literature

#735 in Asia

#2347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

83. Juntendo University

For Literature

#750 in Asia

#2372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

84. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Literature

#753 in Asia

#2379 in the World

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

85. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Literature

#760 in Asia

#2387 in the World

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

86. Komazawa University

For Literature

#766 in Asia

#2409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1592

87. Kitasato University

For Literature

#784 in Asia

#2444 in the World

Founded: 1962

88. University of Toyama

For Literature

#791 in Asia

#2459 in the World

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

89. Kurume University

For Literature

#802 in Asia

#2485 in the World

Founded: 1928

90. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Literature

#805 in Asia

#2497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

91. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Literature

#852 in Asia

#2602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

92. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Literature

#860 in Asia

#2620 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

93. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Literature

#862 in Asia

#2623 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

94. Nanzan University

For Literature

#867 in Asia

#2635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 9,883
Founded: 1949

95. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

For Literature

#881 in Asia

#2660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 4,144
Founded: 1873

96. University of Hyogo

For Literature

#906 in Asia

#2718 in the World

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

97. Takushoku University

For Literature

#908 in Asia

#2723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1922

98. Kogakuin University

For Literature

#928 in Asia

#2766 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1887

99. Nippon Medical School

For Literature

#933 in Asia

#2776 in the World

Founded: 1904

100. Osaka Electro-Communication University

Japan | Neyagawa

For Literature

#941 in Asia

#2792 in the World

Founded: 1961

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