100 Best universities for History 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 History. A graph of 5.74M citations received by 351K academic papers made by 366 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 History

#5 in Asia

#73 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For History

#20 in Asia

#174 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For History

#40 in Asia

#287 in the World

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

4. Nagoya University

For History

#49 in Asia

#340 in the World

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

5. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For History

#51 in Asia

#343 in the World

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

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For History

#54 in Asia

#354 in the World

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

7. Osaka University

For History

#61 in Asia

#378 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For History

#69 in Asia

#430 in the World

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

9. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For History

#76 in Asia

#464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

10. Keio University

For History

#109 in Asia

#598 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For History

#112 in Asia

#608 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For History

#121 in Asia

#643 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For History

#130 in Asia

#678 in the World

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

14. Chiba University

For History

#160 in Asia

#784 in the World

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

15. Tokyo University of Science

For History

#196 in Asia

#901 in the World

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

16. Nihon University

For History

#212 in Asia

#942 in the World

Founded: 1889

17. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For History

#232 in Asia

#1003 in the World

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

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For History

#234 in Asia

#1010 in the World

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

19. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For History

#260 in Asia

#1084 in the World

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

20. Osaka City University

For History

#299 in Asia

#1180 in the World

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

21. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For History

#302 in Asia

#1186 in the World

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

22. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For History

#324 in Asia

#1249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

23. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For History

#327 in Asia

#1257 in the World

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

24. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For History

#340 in Asia

#1294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

25. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For History

#348 in Asia

#1309 in the World

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

26. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For History

#355 in Asia

#1326 in the World

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

27. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For History

#363 in Asia

#1343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

28. Tokai University

For History

#371 in Asia

#1360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

29. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For History

#376 in Asia

#1373 in the World

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

30. Osaka Prefecture University

For History

#397 in Asia

#1425 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

31. Ritsumeikan University

For History

#399 in Asia

#1428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

32. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For History

#407 in Asia

#1447 in the World

Founded: 1949

33. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For History

#414 in Asia

#1461 in the World

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

34. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For History

#423 in Asia

#1488 in the World

Founded: 1972

35. Gifu University

For History

#436 in Asia

#1519 in the World

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

36. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For History

#444 in Asia

#1548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

37. Mie University

For History

#452 in Asia

#1568 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

38. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For History

#464 in Asia

#1595 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

39. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For History

#470 in Asia

#1611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

40. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For History

#473 in Asia

#1620 in the World

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

41. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For History

#491 in Asia

#1670 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

42. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For History

#493 in Asia

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

43. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For History

#494 in Asia

#1682 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

44. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For History

#495 in Asia

#1687 in the World

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

45. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For History

#518 in Asia

#1743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

46. University of Electro-Communications

For History

#519 in Asia

#1746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

47. Saga University

For History

#520 in Asia

#1747 in the World

Founded: 1949

48. Juntendo University

For History

#532 in Asia

#1771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

49. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For History

#566 in Asia

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

50. Kansai University

For History

#576 in Asia

#1876 in the World

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

51. Chukyo University

For History

#581 in Asia

#1882 in the World

Founded: 1927

52. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For History

#586 in Asia

#1893 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

53. Ibaraki University

For History

#604 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

54. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For History

#607 in Asia

#1929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

55. Doshisha University

For History

#609 in Asia

#1931 in the World

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

56. Shimane University

For History

#629 in Asia

#1977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

57. Kitasato University

For History

#632 in Asia

#1994 in the World

Founded: 1962

58. Sophia University

For History

#637 in Asia

#2002 in the World

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

59. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For History

#641 in Asia

#2008 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

60. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For History

#643 in Asia

#2011 in the World

Founded: 1934

61. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For History

#649 in Asia

#2022 in the World

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

62. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For History

#656 in Asia

#2034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

63. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For History

#668 in Asia

#2064 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

64. Meiji University

For History

#671 in Asia

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

65. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For History

#680 in Asia

#2093 in the World

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

66. University of Toyama

For History

#682 in Asia

#2100 in the World

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

67. Hosei University

For History

#684 in Asia

#2109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

68. University of Yamanashi

For History

#688 in Asia

#2114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

69. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For History

#693 in Asia

#2127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

70. Akita University

For History

#712 in Asia

#2152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

71. Nagoya City University

For History

#715 in Asia

#2162 in the World

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

72. University of Fukui

For History

#733 in Asia

#2201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

73. Teikyo University

For History

#757 in Asia

#2256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

74. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For History

#761 in Asia

#2267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

75. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For History

#772 in Asia

#2289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 417
Founded: 1997

76. Toyo University

For History

#775 in Asia

#2292 in the World

Founded: 1887

77. Toho University

For History

#778 in Asia

#2297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

78. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For History

#784 in Asia

#2310 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

79. Jikei University School of Medicine

For History

#785 in Asia

#2311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

80. Kurume University

For History

#790 in Asia

#2322 in the World

Founded: 1928

81. Kochi University

For History

#796 in Asia

#2333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

82. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For History

#808 in Asia

#2358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

83. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

For History

#810 in Asia

#2365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2003

84. Nippon Medical School

For History

#815 in Asia

#2372 in the World

Founded: 1904

85. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For History

#830 in Asia

#2409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

86. Aoyama Gakuin University

For History

#836 in Asia

#2421 in the World

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

87. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For History

#839 in Asia

#2424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

88. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For History

#845 in Asia

#2437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

89. Meijo University

For History

#857 in Asia

#2460 in the World

Founded: 1926

90. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For History

#871 in Asia

#2487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,679
Founded: 1912

91. Ryukoku University

For History

#883 in Asia

#2519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

92. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For History

#912 in Asia

#2585 in the World

Founded: 1978

93. Oita University

For History

#915 in Asia

#2589 in the World

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

94. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For History

#917 in Asia

#2591 in the World

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

95. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For History

#929 in Asia

#2614 in the World

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

96. Rikkyo University

For History

#954 in Asia

#2671 in the World

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

97. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For History

#972 in Asia

#2708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

98. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For History

#991 in Asia

#2734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

99. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For History

#1004 in Asia

#2756 in the World

Founded: 1972

100. Showa University

For History

#1005 in Asia

#2757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Japan

Anthropology158

Broadcast Journalism9

Classics and Ancient History89

Communications and Public Relations49

Criminology and Criminal Justice10

Early Childhood Education7

Education Majors170

Forensic Science26

Gender Studies33

Human Rights Law2

Intellectual Property and Patent Law16

International Law10

International Relations and Diplomacy17

Journalism and Digital Media24

Law Enforcement7

Library and Information science143

Media Studies16

Military science9

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution17

Occupational Safety and Health27

Political Economy19

Political Science426

Public Policy / Administration29

Radio and Television broadcasting15

Special Education15

Sports / Exercise science56

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies146

Urban and Regional planning33