100 Best universities for Anthropology 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 Anthropology. A graph of 693K citations received by 44.2K academic papers made by 163 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 Anthropology

#11 in Asia

#239 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Anthropology

#14 in Asia

#272 in the World

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

3. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Anthropology

#47 in Asia

#511 in the World

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

4. Osaka University

For Anthropology

#54 in Asia

#537 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Anthropology

#64 in Asia

#608 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Anthropology

#78 in Asia

#670 in the World

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

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Anthropology

#80 in Asia

#677 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Anthropology

#86 in Asia

#702 in the World

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

9. Keio University

For Anthropology

#109 in Asia

#781 in the World

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

10. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Anthropology

#113 in Asia

#795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

11. Waseda University

For Anthropology

#137 in Asia

#873 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Anthropology

#155 in Asia

#940 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Anthropology

#165 in Asia

#980 in the World

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

14. Chiba University

For Anthropology

#187 in Asia

#1054 in the World

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

15. Ritsumeikan University

For Anthropology

#210 in Asia

#1112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

16. Nihon University

For Anthropology

#283 in Asia

#1354 in the World

Founded: 1889

17. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Anthropology

#298 in Asia

#1402 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

18. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Anthropology

#312 in Asia

#1437 in the World

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

19. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Anthropology

#325 in Asia

#1465 in the World

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

20. Nanzan University

For Anthropology

#339 in Asia

#1494 in the World

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

21. Tokyo University of Science

For Anthropology

#375 in Asia

#1601 in the World

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

22. Tokai University

For Anthropology

#381 in Asia

#1612 in the World

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

23. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Anthropology

#396 in Asia

#1650 in the World

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

24. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Anthropology

#427 in Asia

#1722 in the World

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

25. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Anthropology

#437 in Asia

#1750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

26. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Anthropology

#442 in Asia

#1761 in the World

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

27. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Anthropology

#447 in Asia

#1777 in the World

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

28. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Anthropology

#474 in Asia

#1838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

29. Osaka City University

For Anthropology

#481 in Asia

#1853 in the World

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

30. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Anthropology

#488 in Asia

#1873 in the World

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

31. Juntendo University

For Anthropology

#496 in Asia

#1892 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

32. Gifu University

For Anthropology

#505 in Asia

#1919 in the World

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

33. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Anthropology

#525 in Asia

#1974 in the World

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

34. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Anthropology

#531 in Asia

#1987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

35. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Anthropology

#537 in Asia

#2004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

36. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Anthropology

#543 in Asia

#2018 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

37. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Anthropology

#544 in Asia

#2022 in the World

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

38. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Anthropology

#554 in Asia

#2043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

39. Shimane University

For Anthropology

#556 in Asia

#2045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

40. Doshisha University

For Anthropology

#568 in Asia

#2068 in the World

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

41. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Anthropology

#574 in Asia

#2079 in the World

Founded: 1972

42. Sophia University

For Anthropology

#585 in Asia

#2101 in the World

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

43. Rikkyo University

For Anthropology

#586 in Asia

#2105 in the World

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

44. Kansai University

For Anthropology

#588 in Asia

#2107 in the World

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

45. Hosei University

For Anthropology

#601 in Asia

#2138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

46. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Anthropology

#606 in Asia

#2152 in the World

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

47. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Anthropology

#608 in Asia

#2157 in the World

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

48. Showa University

For Anthropology

#620 in Asia

#2189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

49. Mie University

For Anthropology

#633 in Asia

#2205 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

50. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Anthropology

#669 in Asia

#2291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

51. Meiji University

For Anthropology

#677 in Asia

#2302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

52. Ryukoku University

For Anthropology

#681 in Asia

#2311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

53. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Anthropology

#687 in Asia

#2330 in the World

Founded: 1949

54. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Anthropology

#693 in Asia

#2345 in the World

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

55. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Anthropology

#709 in Asia

#2395 in the World

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

56. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Anthropology

#724 in Asia

#2428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

57. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Anthropology

#726 in Asia

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

58. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Anthropology

#744 in Asia

#2470 in the World

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

59. University of Electro-Communications

For Anthropology

#752 in Asia

#2486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

60. Nagoya City University

For Anthropology

#757 in Asia

#2492 in the World

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

61. Saga University

For Anthropology

#758 in Asia

#2493 in the World

Founded: 1949

62. Ochanomizu University

For Anthropology

#759 in Asia

#2494 in the World

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

63. Kitasato University

For Anthropology

#771 in Asia

#2532 in the World

Founded: 1962

64. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Anthropology

#777 in Asia

#2553 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

65. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Anthropology

#795 in Asia

#2598 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

66. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Anthropology

#800 in Asia

#2618 in the World

Founded: 1934

67. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Anthropology

#807 in Asia

#2630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

68. Ibaraki University

For Anthropology

#812 in Asia

#2636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

69. Osaka University of Human Sciences

For Anthropology

#818 in Asia

#2649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2001

70. Teikyo University

For Anthropology

#829 in Asia

#2675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

71. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Anthropology

#831 in Asia

#2679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

72. University of Yamanashi

For Anthropology

#837 in Asia

#2694 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

73. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Anthropology

#846 in Asia

#2722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

74. Osaka Prefecture University

For Anthropology

#853 in Asia

#2738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

75. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Anthropology

#854 in Asia

#2739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

76. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Anthropology

#889 in Asia

#2825 in the World

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

77. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Anthropology

#890 in Asia

#2826 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

78. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Anthropology

#903 in Asia

#2856 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

79. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Anthropology

#907 in Asia

#2874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

80. University of Toyama

For Anthropology

#910 in Asia

#2877 in the World

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

81. Toho University

For Anthropology

#915 in Asia

#2882 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

82. Toyo University

For Anthropology

#919 in Asia

#2891 in the World

Founded: 1887

83. Akita University

For Anthropology

#951 in Asia

#2968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

84. Oita University

For Anthropology

#956 in Asia

#2982 in the World

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

85. International Christian University

For Anthropology

#984 in Asia

#3038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1953

86. Wakayama University

Japan | Wakayama

For Anthropology

#995 in Asia

#3060 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

87. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Anthropology

#996 in Asia

#3061 in the World

Founded: 1978

88. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Anthropology

#1008 in Asia

#3079 in the World

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

89. University of Shizuoka

Japan | Shizuoka

For Anthropology

#1012 in Asia

#3089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1987

90. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Anthropology

#1028 in Asia

#3116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

91. University of Fukui

For Anthropology

#1041 in Asia

#3141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

92. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Anthropology

#1050 in Asia

#3157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

93. Nippon Medical School

For Anthropology

#1054 in Asia

#3163 in the World

Founded: 1904

94. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Anthropology

#1061 in Asia

#3172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

95. Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing

For Anthropology

#1069 in Asia

#3193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1999

96. International University of Japan

Japan | Minamiuonuma

For Anthropology

#1070 in Asia

#3195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1982

97. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Anthropology

#1076 in Asia

#3219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

98. Kurume University

For Anthropology

#1078 in Asia

#3221 in the World

Founded: 1928

99. Dokkyo University

For Anthropology

#1087 in Asia

#3248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1964

100. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Anthropology

#1091 in Asia

#3256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Japan

Broadcast Journalism9

Classics and Ancient History93

Communications and Public Relations49

Criminology and Criminal Justice11

Early Childhood Education7

Education Majors170

Forensic Science26

Gender Studies37

Human Rights Law2

Intellectual Property and Patent Law16

International Law10

International Relations and Diplomacy18

Journalism and Digital Media24

Law Enforcement8

Library and Information science143

Media Studies17

Military science10

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution17

Occupational Safety and Health28

Political Economy19

Political Science431

Public Policy / Administration31

Radio and Television broadcasting15

Special Education15

Sports / Exercise science58

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies148

Urban and Regional planning35