100 Best universities for Literature in Japan

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 80.6M citations received by 4.71M academic papers made by 167 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

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,133
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Literature

#7 in Asia

#111 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For Literature

#30 in Asia

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 17,665
Founded: 1907

4. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Literature

#32 in Asia

#310 in the World

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

5. Osaka University

For Literature

#33 in Asia

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 23,044
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1931

6. Nagoya University

For Literature

#34 in Asia

#332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 16,376
Founded: 1939

7. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#44 in Asia

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 18,560
Founded: 1911

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Literature

#55 in Asia

#411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 16,507
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1973

9. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Literature

#61 in Asia

#449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 17,541
Founded: 1918

10. Waseda University

For Literature

#65 in Asia

#473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 47,094
Founded: 1882

11. Keio University

For Literature

#76 in Asia

#540 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 33,437
Founded: 1858

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Literature

#79 in Asia

#549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 15,077
Founded: 1949

13. Kobe University

For Literature

#99 in Asia

#679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,870
Founded: 1902

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Literature

#115 in Asia

#718 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1881

15. Chiba University

For Literature

#151 in Asia

#841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 13,983
Founded: 1949

16. Ritsumeikan University

For Literature

#172 in Asia

#913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1899

17. University of Electro-Communications

For Literature

#180 in Asia

#940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 5,329
Founded: 1949

18. Nihon University

For Literature

#203 in Asia

#1000 in the World

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

19. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Literature

#212 in Asia

#1038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

20. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Literature

#229 in Asia

#1103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 12,289
Founded: 1922

21. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#241 in Asia

#1126 in the World

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

22. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Literature

#256 in Asia

#1168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 13,057
Founded: 1922

23. Doshisha University

For Literature

#263 in Asia

#1193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 28,642
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1920

24. Osaka Prefecture University

For Literature

#268 in Asia

#1199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 8,051
Founded: 1949

25. Sophia University

For Literature

#272 in Asia

#1211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 13,280
Founded: 1913

26. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Literature

#276 in Asia

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

27. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Literature

#283 in Asia

#1242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1993

28. Osaka City University

For Literature

#287 in Asia

#1250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 8,230
Founded: 1928

29. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#293 in Asia

#1270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1949

30. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Literature

#300 in Asia

#1289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 10,111
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1949

31. Kansai University

For Literature

#302 in Asia

#1291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 29,749
Founded: 1922

32. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Literature

#303 in Asia

#1292 in the World

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

33. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#305 in Asia

#1295 in the World

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

34. Hosei University

For Literature

#313 in Asia

#1320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1880

35. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Literature

#322 in Asia

#1351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 6,556
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

36. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Literature

#324 in Asia

#1359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

37. Meiji University

For Literature

#338 in Asia

#1417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 31,339
Founded: 1881

38. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Literature

#358 in Asia

#1467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 1949

39. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Literature

#359 in Asia

#1468 in the World

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

40. Ryukoku University

For Literature

#360 in Asia

#1469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1639

41. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Literature

#363 in Asia

#1476 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 9,044
Founded: 1949

42. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Literature

#364 in Asia

#1477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1946

43. Ibaraki University

For Literature

#367 in Asia

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Enrollment: 8,249
Founded: 1949

44. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Literature

#373 in Asia

#1500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 7,629
Founded: 1949

45. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Literature

#374 in Asia

#1501 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 5,876
Founded: 1907

46. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Literature

#379 in Asia

#1513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 9,031
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1949

47. Gifu University

For Literature

#384 in Asia

#1525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 7,227
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1949

48. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Literature

#387 in Asia

#1531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 31,376
Founded: 1885

49. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Literature

#402 in Asia

#1572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 38,857
Founded: 1949

50. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Literature

#417 in Asia

#1616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

51. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Literature

#423 in Asia

#1633 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1976

52. Toyo University

For Literature

#430 in Asia

#1647 in the World

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

53. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Literature

#452 in Asia

#1713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

54. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Literature

#457 in Asia

#1720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 10,661
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

55. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Literature

#462 in Asia

#1731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 9,033
Founded: 1949

56. Ochanomizu University

For Literature

#468 in Asia

#1745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 2,075
Founded: 1874

57. Tokai University

For Literature

#469 in Asia

#1746 in the World

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

58. Teikyo University

For Literature

#470 in Asia

#1747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

59. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Literature

#478 in Asia

#1764 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 6,287
Male:Female: 70:30
Founded: 1875

60. University of Yamanashi

For Literature

#479 in Asia

#1768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

61. Iwate Prefectural University

For Literature

#487 in Asia

#1792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1998

62. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Literature

#491 in Asia

#1808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 6,539
Founded: 1949

63. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Literature

#495 in Asia

#1816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

64. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Literature

#500 in Asia

#1836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1991

65. Mie University

For Literature

#520 in Asia

#1878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 8,455
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

66. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Literature

#537 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1950

67. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Literature

#538 in Asia

#1926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1912

68. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Literature

#565 in Asia

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

69. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Literature

#568 in Asia

#2000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

70. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Literature

#572 in Asia

#2010 in the World

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

71. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Literature

#574 in Asia

#2012 in the World

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

72. Kitasato University

For Literature

#586 in Asia

#2035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 8,576
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1962

73. Tokyo Denki University

For Literature

#588 in Asia

#2040 in the World

Founded: 1907

74. Toho University

For Literature

#591 in Asia

#2049 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

75. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Literature

#594 in Asia

#2054 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

76. Shimane University

For Literature

#601 in Asia

#2072 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

77. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Literature

#605 in Asia

#2078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 20,285
Founded: 1874

78. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Literature

#608 in Asia

#2089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Founded: 1976

79. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Literature

#622 in Asia

#2126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 6,195
Founded: 1949

80. Nagoya City University

For Literature

#626 in Asia

#2131 in the World

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

81. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Literature

#634 in Asia

#2142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1891

82. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Literature

#642 in Asia

#2167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

83. Rikkyo University

For Literature

#644 in Asia

#2169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 20,720
Founded: 1922

84. University of Fukui

For Literature

#656 in Asia

#2191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 5,167
Founded: 1949

85. Nippon Institute of Technology

Japan | Miyashiro

For Literature

#664 in Asia

#2209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1967

86. Osaka Electro-Communication University

Japan | Neyagawa

For Literature

#678 in Asia

#2235 in the World

Enrollment: 5,403
Founded: 1961

87. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Literature

#680 in Asia

#2238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1928

88. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

For Literature

#701 in Asia

#2281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 4,144
Founded: 1873

89. University of Toyama

For Literature

#719 in Asia

#2318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 9,121
Founded: 1975

90. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Literature

#725 in Asia

#2327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

91. Saga University

For Literature

#727 in Asia

#2335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

92. Juntendo University

For Literature

#733 in Asia

#2352 in the World

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

93. Okayama Prefectural University

For Literature

#734 in Asia

#2359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,862
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1993

94. Kogakuin University

For Literature

#748 in Asia

#2403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1887

95. Kochi University

For Literature

#764 in Asia

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1949

96. Meijo University

For Literature

#771 in Asia

#2453 in the World

Enrollment: 3,835
Founded: 1926

97. Kobe Gakuin University

For Literature

#774 in Asia

#2458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 10,177
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1966

98. University of Hyogo

For Literature

#781 in Asia

#2470 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 6,695
Founded: 2004

99. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Literature

#782 in Asia

#2472 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

100. Osaka Institute of Technology

For Literature

#789 in Asia

#2490 in the World

Founded: 1922

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