100 Best universities for History in Japan

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in History. A graph of 3.91M citations received by 314K academic papers made by 355 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

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For History

#18 in Asia

#158 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For History

#34 in Asia

#267 in the World

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

4. Nagoya University

For History

#45 in Asia

#325 in the World

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

5. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For History

#47 in Asia

#333 in the World

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

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For History

#49 in Asia

#338 in the World

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

7. Osaka University

For History

#54 in Asia

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1931

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For History

#62 in Asia

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 16,507
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1973

9. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For History

#67 in Asia

#429 in the World

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

10. Waseda University

For History

#101 in Asia

#579 in the World

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

11. Keio University

For History

#103 in Asia

#586 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For History

#107 in Asia

#603 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For History

#121 in Asia

#655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,871
Founded: 1902

14. Chiba University

For History

#130 in Asia

#710 in the World

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

15. Tokyo University of Science

For History

#168 in Asia

#829 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

16. Nihon University

For History

#189 in Asia

#886 in the World

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

17. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For History

#199 in Asia

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,127
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1949

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For History

#201 in Asia

#938 in the World

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

19. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For History

#217 in Asia

#990 in the World

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

20. Osaka City University

For History

#233 in Asia

#1050 in the World

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

21. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For History

#257 in Asia

#1105 in the World

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

22. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For History

#265 in Asia

#1124 in the World

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

23. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For History

#274 in Asia

#1138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

24. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For History

#284 in Asia

#1170 in the World

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

25. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For History

#291 in Asia

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For History

#298 in Asia

#1199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

27. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For History

#302 in Asia

#1206 in the World

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

28. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For History

#304 in Asia

#1209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

29. Tokai University

For History

#312 in Asia

#1231 in the World

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

30. Osaka Prefecture University

For History

#324 in Asia

#1275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 8,051
Founded: 1949

31. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For History

#345 in Asia

#1337 in the World

Founded: 1949

32. Gifu University

For History

#351 in Asia

#1356 in the World

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

33. Ritsumeikan University

For History

#358 in Asia

#1374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

34. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For History

#370 in Asia

#1396 in the World

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

35. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For History

#383 in Asia

#1432 in the World

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

36. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For History

#385 in Asia

#1436 in the World

Founded: 1972

37. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For History

#388 in Asia

#1441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

38. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For History

#390 in Asia

#1445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 10,661
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

39. Mie University

For History

#408 in Asia

#1489 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

40. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For History

#413 in Asia

#1503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 6,556
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

41. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For History

#416 in Asia

#1509 in the World

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

42. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For History

#422 in Asia

#1518 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 6,287
Male:Female: 70:30
Founded: 1875

43. University of Electro-Communications

For History

#432 in Asia

#1542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 5,329
Founded: 1949

44. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For History

#440 in Asia

#1565 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 5,876
Founded: 1907

45. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For History

#443 in Asia

#1577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

46. Juntendo University

For History

#445 in Asia

#1581 in the World

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

47. Saga University

For History

#454 in Asia

#1605 in the World

Founded: 1949

48. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For History

#456 in Asia

#1609 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,195
Founded: 1949

49. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For History

#478 in Asia

#1676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 6,539
Founded: 1949

50. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For History

#495 in Asia

#1719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

51. Kansai University

For History

#496 in Asia

#1720 in the World

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

52. Ibaraki University

For History

#506 in Asia

#1735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 8,249
Founded: 1949

53. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For History

#509 in Asia

#1752 in the World

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

54. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For History

#523 in Asia

#1792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

55. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For History

#526 in Asia

#1797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 9,031
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1949

56. Shimane University

For History

#534 in Asia

#1820 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

57. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For History

#535 in Asia

#1821 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

58. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For History

#540 in Asia

#1829 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

59. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For History

#541 in Asia

#1830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

60. University of Toyama

For History

#548 in Asia

#1844 in the World

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

61. Kitasato University

For History

#551 in Asia

#1848 in the World

Enrollment: 8,576
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1962

62. Doshisha University

For History

#571 in Asia

#1886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,354
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1920

63. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For History

#576 in Asia

#1898 in the World

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

64. University of Yamanashi

For History

#584 in Asia

#1913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

65. University of Fukui

For History

#586 in Asia

#1922 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 5,167
Founded: 1949

66. Sophia University

For History

#588 in Asia

#1924 in the World

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

67. Akita University

For History

#591 in Asia

#1936 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 5,157
Founded: 1949

68. Hosei University

For History

#592 in Asia

#1937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

69. Meiji University

For History

#603 in Asia

#1965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 31,339
Founded: 1881

70. Nagoya City University

For History

#611 in Asia

#1983 in the World

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

71. Jikei University School of Medicine

For History

#633 in Asia

#2033 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

72. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For History

#655 in Asia

#2068 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

73. Kurume University

For History

#661 in Asia

#2075 in the World

Founded: 1928

74. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For History

#669 in Asia

#2089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

75. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For History

#670 in Asia

#2090 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

76. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For History

#673 in Asia

#2097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

77. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

For History

#693 in Asia

#2130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2003

78. Toyo University

For History

#695 in Asia

#2132 in the World

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

79. Teikyo University

For History

#700 in Asia

#2147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

80. Toho University

For History

#705 in Asia

#2159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

81. Kochi University

For History

#718 in Asia

#2188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

82. Nippon Medical School

For History

#722 in Asia

#2202 in the World

Founded: 1904

83. Aoyama Gakuin University

For History

#725 in Asia

#2207 in the World

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

84. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For History

#729 in Asia

#2214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 417
Founded: 1997

85. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For History

#736 in Asia

#2231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

86. Meijo University

For History

#738 in Asia

#2234 in the World

Enrollment: 3,835
Founded: 1926

87. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For History

#743 in Asia

#2247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

88. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For History

#774 in Asia

#2329 in the World

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

89. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For History

#782 in Asia

#2342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1993

90. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For History

#784 in Asia

#2345 in the World

Founded: 1972

91. Ryukoku University

For History

#792 in Asia

#2360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

92. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For History

#803 in Asia

#2374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 25,254
Founded: 1912

93. Oita University

For History

#810 in Asia

#2393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 5,781
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

94. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For History

#813 in Asia

#2396 in the World

Founded: 1978

95. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For History

#831 in Asia

#2438 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

96. Tokyo Denki University

For History

#846 in Asia

#2477 in the World

Founded: 1907

97. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For History

#848 in Asia

#2479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

98. Showa University

For History

#856 in Asia

#2496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

99. Rikkyo University

For History

#859 in Asia

#2503 in the World

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

100. Tokyo University of the Arts

For History

#863 in Asia

#2511 in the World

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

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

Anthropology151

Broadcast Journalism10

Classics and Ancient History78

Communications and Public Relations43

Criminology and Criminal Justice10

Early Childhood Education8

Education Majors158

Forensic Science27

Gender Studies26

Human Rights Law3

Intellectual Property and Patent Law19

International Law11

International Relations and Diplomacy19

Journalism and Digital Media21

Law Enforcement7

Library and Information science134

Media Studies14

Military science9

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution19

Occupational Safety and Health32

Political Economy19

Political Science404

Public Policy / Administration27

Radio and Television broadcasting17

Special Education15

Sports / Exercise science50

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies141

Urban and Regional planning27