100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 786K citations received by 65.9K academic papers made by 200 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

#5 in Asia

#73 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Literature

#10 in Asia

#140 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Literature

#33 in Asia

#334 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Literature

#36 in Asia

#361 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Literature

#39 in Asia

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#45 in Asia

#404 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Literature

#47 in Asia

#409 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Literature

#53 in Asia

#433 in the World

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

9. Waseda University

For Literature

#65 in Asia

#501 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Literature

#71 in Asia

#517 in the World

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

11. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Literature

#72 in Asia

#530 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Literature

#81 in Asia

#584 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Literature

#115 in Asia

#709 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Literature

#167 in Asia

#864 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Literature

#176 in Asia

#912 in the World

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

16. Nihon University

For Literature

#189 in Asia

#954 in the World

Founded: 1889

17. Ritsumeikan University

For Literature

#206 in Asia

#987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

18. University of Electro-Communications

For Literature

#246 in Asia

#1120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

19. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#248 in Asia

#1122 in the World

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

20. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Literature

#258 in Asia

#1142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

21. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#262 in Asia

#1154 in the World

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

22. Doshisha University

For Literature

#303 in Asia

#1280 in the World

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

23. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Literature

#306 in Asia

#1290 in the World

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

24. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Literature

#318 in Asia

#1316 in the World

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

25. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Literature

#321 in Asia

#1329 in the World

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

26. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#338 in Asia

#1371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

27. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Literature

#347 in Asia

#1409 in the World

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

28. Kansai University

For Literature

#350 in Asia

#1422 in the World

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

29. Osaka City University

For Literature

#351 in Asia

#1425 in the World

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

30. Meiji University

For Literature

#378 in Asia

#1497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

31. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Literature

#380 in Asia

#1500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

32. Sophia University

For Literature

#393 in Asia

#1532 in the World

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

33. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Literature

#404 in Asia

#1558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

34. Hosei University

For Literature

#429 in Asia

#1608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

35. Osaka Prefecture University

For Literature

#431 in Asia

#1614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

36. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Literature

#435 in Asia

#1624 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

37. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Literature

#436 in Asia

#1625 in the World

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

38. Tokai University

For Literature

#441 in Asia

#1641 in the World

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

39. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#442 in Asia

#1642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

40. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Literature

#445 in Asia

#1652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

41. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Literature

#449 in Asia

#1662 in the World

Founded: 1949

42. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Literature

#461 in Asia

#1683 in the World

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

43. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Literature

#468 in Asia

#1696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

44. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Literature

#472 in Asia

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

45. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Literature

#476 in Asia

#1715 in the World

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

46. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Literature

#477 in Asia

#1717 in the World

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

47. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Literature

#481 in Asia

#1725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

48. Ryukoku University

For Literature

#491 in Asia

#1748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

49. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Literature

#497 in Asia

#1764 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

50. Gifu University

For Literature

#513 in Asia

#1794 in the World

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

51. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#523 in Asia

#1816 in the World

Founded: 1934

52. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#537 in Asia

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

53. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Literature

#540 in Asia

#1854 in the World

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

54. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Literature

#548 in Asia

#1878 in the World

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

55. Ibaraki University

For Literature

#549 in Asia

#1879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

56. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Literature

#553 in Asia

#1893 in the World

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

57. Ochanomizu University

For Literature

#564 in Asia

#1928 in the World

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

58. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Literature

#565 in Asia

#1930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

59. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Literature

#570 in Asia

#1943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

60. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Literature

#590 in Asia

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

61. Toyo University

For Literature

#594 in Asia

#2009 in the World

Founded: 1887

62. Teikyo University

For Literature

#596 in Asia

#2018 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

63. Mie University

For Literature

#599 in Asia

#2025 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

64. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#619 in Asia

#2070 in the World

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

65. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Literature

#640 in Asia

#2113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

66. Iwate Prefectural University

For Literature

#648 in Asia

#2129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1998

67. Tokyo Denki University

For Literature

#656 in Asia

#2145 in the World

Founded: 1907

68. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Literature

#658 in Asia

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

69. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Literature

#666 in Asia

#2161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

70. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Literature

#667 in Asia

#2162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

71. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Literature

#672 in Asia

#2170 in the World

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

72. University of Yamanashi

For Literature

#676 in Asia

#2184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

73. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Literature

#688 in Asia

#2215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

74. Nagoya City University

For Literature

#701 in Asia

#2236 in the World

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

75. Shimane University

For Literature

#704 in Asia

#2249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

76. Nippon Institute of Technology

Japan | Miyashiro

For Literature

#722 in Asia

#2294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1967

77. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Literature

#746 in Asia

#2342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

78. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Literature

#748 in Asia

#2346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

79. Toho University

For Literature

#758 in Asia

#2372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

80. Rikkyo University

For Literature

#763 in Asia

#2378 in the World

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

81. University of Fukui

For Literature

#767 in Asia

#2385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

82. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Literature

#772 in Asia

#2394 in the World

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

83. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Literature

#781 in Asia

#2409 in the World

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

84. Juntendo University

For Literature

#782 in Asia

#2411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

85. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Literature

#797 in Asia

#2443 in the World

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

86. Kitasato University

For Literature

#816 in Asia

#2486 in the World

Founded: 1962

87. Komazawa University

For Literature

#825 in Asia

#2503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1592

88. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Literature

#829 in Asia

#2512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

89. University of Toyama

For Literature

#831 in Asia

#2521 in the World

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

90. Kurume University

For Literature

#848 in Asia

#2557 in the World

Founded: 1928

91. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Literature

#865 in Asia

#2599 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

92. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Literature

#881 in Asia

#2648 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

93. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Literature

#891 in Asia

#2668 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

94. Nanzan University

For Literature

#915 in Asia

#2714 in the World

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

95. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

For Literature

#916 in Asia

#2718 in the World

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

96. University of Hyogo

For Literature

#921 in Asia

#2728 in the World

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

97. Takushoku University

For Literature

#942 in Asia

#2782 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1922

98. Saga University

For Literature

#959 in Asia

#2812 in the World

Founded: 1949

99. Kogakuin University

For Literature

#962 in Asia

#2815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1887

100. International University of Health and Welfare

Japan | Otawara

For Literature

#969 in Asia

#2831 in the World

Founded: 1995

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