100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 86.4M citations received by 3.71M academic papers made by 508 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.

1. University of Tokyo

For Chemistry

#1 in Asia

#4 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Chemistry

#2 in Asia

#10 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Chemistry

#3 in Asia

#20 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Chemistry

#6 in Asia

#31 in the World

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

5. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Chemistry

#12 in Asia

#59 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Chemistry

#13 in Asia

#69 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Chemistry

#16 in Asia

#82 in the World

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

8. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#19 in Asia

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

9. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Chemistry

#42 in Asia

#192 in the World

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

10. Tokyo University of Science

For Chemistry

#45 in Asia

#200 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Chemistry

#46 in Asia

#226 in the World

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

12. Keio University

For Chemistry

#51 in Asia

#236 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Chemistry

#61 in Asia

#265 in the World

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

14. Chiba University

For Chemistry

#67 in Asia

#276 in the World

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

15. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Chemistry

#68 in Asia

#278 in the World

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

16. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Chemistry

#83 in Asia

#336 in the World

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

17. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Chemistry

#84 in Asia

#339 in the World

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

18. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Chemistry

#96 in Asia

#384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

19. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Chemistry

#116 in Asia

#444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

20. Waseda University

For Chemistry

#118 in Asia

#446 in the World

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

21. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Chemistry

#131 in Asia

#485 in the World

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

22. Osaka City University

For Chemistry

#132 in Asia

#487 in the World

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

23. Osaka Prefecture University

For Chemistry

#138 in Asia

#499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

24. Gifu University

For Chemistry

#140 in Asia

#504 in the World

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

25. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Chemistry

#141 in Asia

#505 in the World

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

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Chemistry

#142 in Asia

#506 in the World

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

27. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Chemistry

#143 in Asia

#507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

28. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Chemistry

#147 in Asia

#521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

29. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Chemistry

#150 in Asia

#528 in the World

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

30. Nihon University

For Chemistry

#151 in Asia

#530 in the World

Founded: 1889

31. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Chemistry

#163 in Asia

#566 in the World

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

32. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Chemistry

#166 in Asia

#569 in the World

Founded: 1949

33. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Chemistry

#175 in Asia

#594 in the World

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

34. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Chemistry

#177 in Asia

#602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

35. Juntendo University

For Chemistry

#182 in Asia

#617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

36. Mie University

For Chemistry

#189 in Asia

#627 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

37. Kitasato University

For Chemistry

#192 in Asia

#631 in the World

Founded: 1962

38. Tokai University

For Chemistry

#197 in Asia

#640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

39. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Chemistry

#202 in Asia

#647 in the World

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

40. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#206 in Asia

#662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

41. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Chemistry

#209 in Asia

#668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

42. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Chemistry

#214 in Asia

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

43. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#216 in Asia

#682 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

44. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Chemistry

#221 in Asia

#691 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

45. Nagoya City University

For Chemistry

#224 in Asia

#694 in the World

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

46. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Chemistry

#230 in Asia

#711 in the World

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

47. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Chemistry

#248 in Asia

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

48. Showa University

For Chemistry

#258 in Asia

#770 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

49. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Chemistry

#265 in Asia

#791 in the World

Founded: 1972

50. University of Toyama

For Chemistry

#267 in Asia

#794 in the World

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

51. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Chemistry

#275 in Asia

#815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

52. University of Yamanashi

For Chemistry

#278 in Asia

#827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

53. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#280 in Asia

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

54. Teikyo University

For Chemistry

#288 in Asia

#855 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

55. Kyoto Pharmaceutical University

For Chemistry

#289 in Asia

#856 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1884

56. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Chemistry

#291 in Asia

#862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

57. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Chemistry

#293 in Asia

#866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

58. Shimane University

For Chemistry

#296 in Asia

#875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

59. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Chemistry

#297 in Asia

#879 in the World

Founded: 1934

60. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Chemistry

#298 in Asia

#880 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

61. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Chemistry

#299 in Asia

#883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

62. Toho University

For Chemistry

#302 in Asia

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

63. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Chemistry

#305 in Asia

#905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

64. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Chemistry

#308 in Asia

#910 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

65. Kurume University

For Chemistry

#310 in Asia

#914 in the World

Founded: 1928

66. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Chemistry

#329 in Asia

#950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

67. Nippon Medical School

For Chemistry

#333 in Asia

#957 in the World

Founded: 1904

68. University of Fukui

For Chemistry

#336 in Asia

#964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

69. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Chemistry

#341 in Asia

#970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

70. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Chemistry

#343 in Asia

#973 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

71. Saga University

For Chemistry

#344 in Asia

#978 in the World

Founded: 1949

72. University of Electro-Communications

For Chemistry

#350 in Asia

#992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

73. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Chemistry

#352 in Asia

#994 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

74. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Chemistry

#367 in Asia

#1021 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

75. Akita University

For Chemistry

#371 in Asia

#1030 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

76. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Chemistry

#378 in Asia

#1045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

77. Ibaraki University

For Chemistry

#381 in Asia

#1051 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

78. Ritsumeikan University

For Chemistry

#387 in Asia

#1063 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

79. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Chemistry

#392 in Asia

#1070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

80. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Chemistry

#393 in Asia

#1072 in the World

Founded: 1928

81. Kansai University

For Chemistry

#397 in Asia

#1079 in the World

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

82. Meijo University

For Chemistry

#401 in Asia

#1090 in the World

Founded: 1926

83. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For Chemistry

#404 in Asia

#1093 in the World

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

84. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Chemistry

#409 in Asia

#1112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

85. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Chemistry

#413 in Asia

#1117 in the World

Founded: 1971

86. Kochi University

For Chemistry

#426 in Asia

#1139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

87. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#427 in Asia

#1140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

88. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Chemistry

#428 in Asia

#1142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

89. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Chemistry

#431 in Asia

#1152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

90. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Chemistry

#438 in Asia

#1166 in the World

Founded: 1978

91. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Chemistry

#440 in Asia

#1171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

92. Oita University

For Chemistry

#444 in Asia

#1177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 5,781
Founded: 1949

93. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Chemistry

#446 in Asia

#1182 in the World

Founded: 1972

94. Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science

Japan | Hachioji

For Chemistry

#453 in Asia

#1190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1880

95. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Chemistry

#468 in Asia

#1219 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

96. University of Hyogo

For Chemistry

#473 in Asia

#1227 in the World

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

97. Doshisha University

For Chemistry

#475 in Asia

#1229 in the World

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

98. Gifu Pharmaceutical University

For Chemistry

#521 in Asia

#1332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1932

99. Tokyo Medical University

For Chemistry

#522 in Asia

#1333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

100. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Chemistry

#533 in Asia

#1352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

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

Chemistry subfields in Japan

Biochemical Engineering26

Biochemistry448

Chemical Engineering263

Computational Chemistry136

Environmental Chemistry230

Inorganic Chemistry219

Materials Science388

Nanotechnology246

Nutrition and Food Science258

Organic Chemistry413

Petrology and Geochemistry145

Physical chemistry275

Polymer science and Plastics engineering71

Radiochemistry177