100 Best universities for Economics 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 Economics. A graph of 4.33M citations received by 280K academic papers made by 340 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 Economics

#5 in Asia

#88 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Economics

#17 in Asia

#182 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Economics

#43 in Asia

#320 in the World

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

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Economics

#60 in Asia

#405 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Economics

#62 in Asia

#410 in the World

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

6. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Economics

#66 in Asia

#425 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

7. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Economics

#70 in Asia

#444 in the World

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

8. Nagoya University

For Economics

#74 in Asia

#482 in the World

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

9. Keio University

For Economics

#81 in Asia

#505 in the World

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

10. Waseda University

For Economics

#85 in Asia

#526 in the World

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

11. Kobe University

For Economics

#92 in Asia

#548 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Economics

#109 in Asia

#610 in the World

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

13. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Economics

#111 in Asia

#620 in the World

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

14. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Economics

#116 in Asia

#641 in the World

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

15. Tokyo University of Science

For Economics

#173 in Asia

#822 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Economics

#211 in Asia

#936 in the World

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

17. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For Economics

#241 in Asia

#1036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1997

18. Chiba University

For Economics

#290 in Asia

#1183 in the World

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

19. Ritsumeikan University

For Economics

#294 in Asia

#1189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

20. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Economics

#296 in Asia

#1196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

21. Nihon University

For Economics

#322 in Asia

#1257 in the World

Founded: 1889

22. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Economics

#334 in Asia

#1295 in the World

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

23. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Economics

#371 in Asia

#1394 in the World

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

24. Osaka Prefecture University

For Economics

#394 in Asia

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

25. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Economics

#401 in Asia

#1455 in the World

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

26. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Economics

#437 in Asia

#1543 in the World

Founded: 1972

27. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Economics

#482 in Asia

#1651 in the World

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

28. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Economics

#487 in Asia

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

29. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Economics

#512 in Asia

#1719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

30. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Economics

#518 in Asia

#1730 in the World

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

31. Tokai University

For Economics

#519 in Asia

#1731 in the World

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

32. Osaka City University

For Economics

#529 in Asia

#1751 in the World

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

33. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Economics

#534 in Asia

#1761 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

34. Hosei University

For Economics

#539 in Asia

#1774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

35. Osaka University of Economics

For Economics

#546 in Asia

#1782 in the World

Enrollment: 7,337
Founded: 1949

36. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Economics

#556 in Asia

#1815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

37. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Economics

#557 in Asia

#1817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

38. Doshisha University

For Economics

#575 in Asia

#1857 in the World

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

39. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Economics

#584 in Asia

#1873 in the World

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

40. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Economics

#585 in Asia

#1874 in the World

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

41. Kansai University

For Economics

#586 in Asia

#1875 in the World

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

42. University of Electro-Communications

For Economics

#588 in Asia

#1877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

43. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Economics

#594 in Asia

#1896 in the World

Founded: 1949

44. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Economics

#609 in Asia

#1924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

45. Meiji University

For Economics

#617 in Asia

#1945 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

46. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Economics

#625 in Asia

#1960 in the World

Founded: 1934

47. Nagoya City University

For Economics

#651 in Asia

#2005 in the World

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

48. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Economics

#656 in Asia

#2019 in the World

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

49. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Economics

#663 in Asia

#2033 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

50. Saga University

For Economics

#667 in Asia

#2040 in the World

Founded: 1949

51. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Economics

#682 in Asia

#2067 in the World

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

52. Sophia University

For Economics

#691 in Asia

#2085 in the World

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

53. Gifu University

For Economics

#695 in Asia

#2092 in the World

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

54. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Economics

#696 in Asia

#2095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

55. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Economics

#697 in Asia

#2099 in the World

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

56. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Economics

#710 in Asia

#2123 in the World

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

57. Teikyo University

For Economics

#711 in Asia

#2125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

58. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Economics

#716 in Asia

#2135 in the World

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

59. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Economics

#719 in Asia

#2143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

60. International University of Japan

Japan | Minamiuonuma

For Economics

#745 in Asia

#2195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1982

61. University of Toyama

For Economics

#769 in Asia

#2249 in the World

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

62. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Economics

#780 in Asia

#2268 in the World

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

63. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Economics

#781 in Asia

#2270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

64. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Economics

#790 in Asia

#2285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

65. Rikkyo University

For Economics

#801 in Asia

#2306 in the World

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

66. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Economics

#834 in Asia

#2395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

67. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Economics

#836 in Asia

#2397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

68. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Economics

#837 in Asia

#2399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

69. University of Kitakyushu

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Economics

#844 in Asia

#2414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1946

70. Shimane University

For Economics

#855 in Asia

#2432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

71. Ibaraki University

For Economics

#857 in Asia

#2436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

72. Toho University

For Economics

#906 in Asia

#2544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

73. Mie University

For Economics

#914 in Asia

#2562 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

74. University of Hyogo

For Economics

#928 in Asia

#2591 in the World

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

75. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Economics

#931 in Asia

#2594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

76. Kitasato University

For Economics

#936 in Asia

#2603 in the World

Founded: 1962

77. Gakushuin University

For Economics

#941 in Asia

#2615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 9,240
Founded: 1877

78. International Christian University

For Economics

#997 in Asia

#2737 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1953

79. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Economics

#999 in Asia

#2740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

80. Toyo University

For Economics

#1016 in Asia

#2778 in the World

Founded: 1887

81. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Economics

#1021 in Asia

#2787 in the World

Founded: 1978

82. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Economics

#1022 in Asia

#2788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

83. Juntendo University

For Economics

#1043 in Asia

#2833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

84. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Economics

#1048 in Asia

#2842 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

85. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Economics

#1072 in Asia

#2894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

86. Ryukoku University

For Economics

#1074 in Asia

#2900 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

87. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Economics

#1089 in Asia

#2925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

88. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Economics

#1093 in Asia

#2938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

89. Meijo University

For Economics

#1106 in Asia

#2969 in the World

Founded: 1926

90. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Economics

#1119 in Asia

#3000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

91. University of Yamanashi

For Economics

#1133 in Asia

#3019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

92. Ochanomizu University

For Economics

#1137 in Asia

#3024 in the World

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

93. Tokyo Denki University

For Economics

#1152 in Asia

#3064 in the World

Founded: 1907

94. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Economics

#1179 in Asia

#3129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

95. Nanzan University

For Economics

#1188 in Asia

#3153 in the World

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

96. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Economics

#1207 in Asia

#3184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

97. Showa University

For Economics

#1214 in Asia

#3196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

98. Akita University

For Economics

#1221 in Asia

#3211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

99. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Economics

#1234 in Asia

#3237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

100. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Economics

#1264 in Asia

#3293 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

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

Economics subfields in Japan

Actuarial Science19

Agricultural Economics30

Development Studies235

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics150

Environmental Economics31

International Economics31

International Relations and Diplomacy18

International Trade41

Investment Banking and Stock trading34

Political Economy19