100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 514K citations received by 55.7K academic papers made by 181 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

#62 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Literature

#8 in Asia

#122 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Literature

#29 in Asia

#314 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Literature

#30 in Asia

#317 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Literature

#34 in Asia

#341 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Literature

#36 in Asia

#360 in the World

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

7. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#41 in Asia

#398 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Literature

#45 in Asia

#418 in the World

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

9. Waseda University

For Literature

#57 in Asia

#467 in the World

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

10. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Literature

#62 in Asia

#490 in the World

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

11. Keio University

For Literature

#67 in Asia

#519 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Literature

#71 in Asia

#538 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Literature

#94 in Asia

#690 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Literature

#100 in Asia

#711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

15. Chiba University

For Literature

#146 in Asia

#867 in the World

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

16. Nihon University

For Literature

#149 in Asia

#874 in the World

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

17. Ritsumeikan University

For Literature

#166 in Asia

#924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

18. University of Electro-Communications

For Literature

#184 in Asia

#971 in the World

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

19. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#224 in Asia

#1092 in the World

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

20. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Literature

#227 in Asia

#1105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

21. Doshisha University

For Literature

#249 in Asia

#1176 in the World

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

22. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Literature

#256 in Asia

#1197 in the World

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

23. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#259 in Asia

#1210 in the World

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

24. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Literature

#266 in Asia

#1223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1993

25. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Literature

#275 in Asia

#1253 in the World

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

26. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#276 in Asia

#1254 in the World

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

27. Osaka Prefecture University

For Literature

#281 in Asia

#1274 in the World

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

28. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Literature

#283 in Asia

#1277 in the World

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

29. Osaka City University

For Literature

#284 in Asia

#1279 in the World

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

30. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Literature

#286 in Asia

#1281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

31. Kansai University

For Literature

#298 in Asia

#1332 in the World

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

32. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Literature

#305 in Asia

#1354 in the World

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

33. Sophia University

For Literature

#307 in Asia

#1361 in the World

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

34. Hosei University

For Literature

#320 in Asia

#1391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

35. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Literature

#328 in Asia

#1412 in the World

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

36. Meiji University

For Literature

#333 in Asia

#1428 in the World

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

37. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Literature

#341 in Asia

#1446 in the World

Founded: 1949

38. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#351 in Asia

#1478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

39. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Literature

#375 in Asia

#1547 in the World

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

40. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Literature

#380 in Asia

#1553 in the World

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

41. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Literature

#386 in Asia

#1572 in the World

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

42. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Literature

#390 in Asia

#1584 in the World

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

43. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Literature

#392 in Asia

#1586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

44. Ibaraki University

For Literature

#393 in Asia

#1587 in the World

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

45. Gifu University

For Literature

#394 in Asia

#1588 in the World

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

46. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Literature

#403 in Asia

#1616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

47. Ryukoku University

For Literature

#405 in Asia

#1628 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

48. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Literature

#407 in Asia

#1634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

49. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Literature

#410 in Asia

#1638 in the World

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

50. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Literature

#427 in Asia

#1684 in the World

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

51. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Literature

#436 in Asia

#1707 in the World

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

52. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Literature

#438 in Asia

#1711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

53. Tokai University

For Literature

#439 in Asia

#1712 in the World

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

54. Ochanomizu University

For Literature

#443 in Asia

#1719 in the World

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

55. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Literature

#449 in Asia

#1737 in the World

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

56. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Literature

#461 in Asia

#1770 in the World

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

57. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Literature

#462 in Asia

#1772 in the World

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

58. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#465 in Asia

#1780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

59. Mie University

For Literature

#476 in Asia

#1817 in the World

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

60. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#481 in Asia

#1828 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

61. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Literature

#493 in Asia

#1866 in the World

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

62. Toyo University

For Literature

#498 in Asia

#1872 in the World

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

63. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Literature

#499 in Asia

#1873 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

64. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Literature

#500 in Asia

#1874 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

65. Teikyo University

For Literature

#505 in Asia

#1889 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

66. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Literature

#508 in Asia

#1895 in the World

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

67. Iwate Prefectural University

For Literature

#521 in Asia

#1916 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1998

68. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#524 in Asia

#1919 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

69. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Literature

#564 in Asia

#2015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

70. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Literature

#571 in Asia

#2036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

71. University of Yamanashi

For Literature

#572 in Asia

#2038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

72. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Literature

#576 in Asia

#2050 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

73. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Literature

#579 in Asia

#2053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

74. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Literature

#604 in Asia

#2099 in the World

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

75. University of Fukui

For Literature

#609 in Asia

#2110 in the World

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

76. Nagoya City University

For Literature

#610 in Asia

#2112 in the World

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

77. Komazawa University

For Literature

#616 in Asia

#2136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 16,000
Founded: 1592

78. Shimane University

For Literature

#621 in Asia

#2144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

79. Rikkyo University

For Literature

#623 in Asia

#2151 in the World

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

80. Toho University

For Literature

#628 in Asia

#2167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

81. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Literature

#630 in Asia

#2170 in the World

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

82. Tokyo Denki University

For Literature

#638 in Asia

#2187 in the World

Founded: 1907

83. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Literature

#640 in Asia

#2192 in the World

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

84. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Literature

#653 in Asia

#2215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

85. Nippon Institute of Technology

Japan | Miyashiro

For Literature

#663 in Asia

#2233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1967

86. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Literature

#682 in Asia

#2280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

87. Kitasato University

For Literature

#698 in Asia

#2308 in the World

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

88. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Literature

#709 in Asia

#2336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

89. Kurume University

For Literature

#737 in Asia

#2389 in the World

Founded: 1928

90. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Literature

#743 in Asia

#2402 in the World

Founded: 1978

91. Okayama Prefectural University

For Literature

#747 in Asia

#2410 in the World

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

92. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

For Literature

#751 in Asia

#2421 in the World

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

93. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Literature

#756 in Asia

#2439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

94. Osaka Electro-Communication University

Japan | Neyagawa

For Literature

#779 in Asia

#2490 in the World

Enrollment: 5,403
Founded: 1961

95. University of Hyogo

For Literature

#781 in Asia

#2493 in the World

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

96. University of Toyama

For Literature

#787 in Asia

#2501 in the World

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

97. Juntendo University

For Literature

#792 in Asia

#2516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 3,802
Founded: 1836

98. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For Literature

#823 in Asia

#2596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

99. Kanazawa Institute of Technology

Japan | Nonoichi

For Literature

#825 in Asia

#2600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1965

100. Kogakuin University

For Literature

#833 in Asia

#2615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1887

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