100 Best universities for History 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 History. A graph of 6.05M citations received by 358K academic papers made by 373 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

#74 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For History

#21 in Asia

#176 in the World

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

3. Tohoku University

For History

#43 in Asia

#295 in the World

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

4. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For History

#54 in Asia

#351 in the World

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

5. Nagoya University

For History

#56 in Asia

#356 in the World

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

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For History

#58 in Asia

#362 in the World

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

7. Osaka University

For History

#64 in Asia

#387 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For History

#72 in Asia

#438 in the World

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

9. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For History

#79 in Asia

#475 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

10. Keio University

For History

#112 in Asia

#605 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For History

#114 in Asia

#610 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For History

#125 in Asia

#652 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For History

#137 in Asia

#701 in the World

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

14. Chiba University

For History

#172 in Asia

#803 in the World

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

15. Tokyo University of Science

For History

#207 in Asia

#917 in the World

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

16. Nihon University

For History

#225 in Asia

#963 in the World

Founded: 1889

17. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For History

#244 in Asia

#1021 in the World

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

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For History

#249 in Asia

#1034 in the World

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

19. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For History

#269 in Asia

#1107 in the World

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

20. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For History

#313 in Asia

#1203 in the World

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

21. Osaka City University

For History

#320 in Asia

#1218 in the World

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

22. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For History

#338 in Asia

#1277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

23. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For History

#346 in Asia

#1298 in the World

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

24. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For History

#357 in Asia

#1321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

25. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For History

#369 in Asia

#1338 in the World

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

26. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For History

#379 in Asia

#1361 in the World

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

27. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For History

#384 in Asia

#1378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

28. Tokai University

For History

#393 in Asia

#1393 in the World

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

29. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For History

#402 in Asia

#1411 in the World

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

30. Ritsumeikan University

For History

#410 in Asia

#1435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

31. Osaka Prefecture University

For History

#416 in Asia

#1456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

32. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For History

#428 in Asia

#1485 in the World

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

33. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For History

#436 in Asia

#1497 in the World

Founded: 1972

34. Gifu University

For History

#449 in Asia

#1547 in the World

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

35. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For History

#452 in Asia

#1562 in the World

Founded: 1949

36. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For History

#454 in Asia

#1565 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

37. Mie University

For History

#476 in Asia

#1610 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

38. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For History

#482 in Asia

#1630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

39. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For History

#490 in Asia

#1645 in the World

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

40. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For History

#495 in Asia

#1656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

41. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For History

#505 in Asia

#1689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

42. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For History

#510 in Asia

#1709 in the World

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

43. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For History

#512 in Asia

#1714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

44. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For History

#514 in Asia

#1721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

45. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For History

#542 in Asia

#1774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

46. Juntendo University

For History

#546 in Asia

#1781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

47. University of Electro-Communications

For History

#547 in Asia

#1782 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

48. Saga University

For History

#552 in Asia

#1790 in the World

Founded: 1949

49. Chukyo University

For History

#570 in Asia

#1835 in the World

Founded: 1927

50. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For History

#591 in Asia

#1887 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

51. Kansai University

For History

#612 in Asia

#1927 in the World

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

52. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For History

#620 in Asia

#1940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

53. Doshisha University

For History

#632 in Asia

#1963 in the World

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

54. Ibaraki University

For History

#635 in Asia

#1970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

55. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For History

#637 in Asia

#1979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

56. Shimane University

For History

#642 in Asia

#1991 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

57. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For History

#656 in Asia

#2031 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

58. Kitasato University

For History

#664 in Asia

#2041 in the World

Founded: 1962

59. Sophia University

For History

#667 in Asia

#2045 in the World

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

60. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For History

#672 in Asia

#2055 in the World

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

61. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For History

#677 in Asia

#2065 in the World

Founded: 1934

62. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For History

#682 in Asia

#2078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

63. Meiji University

For History

#686 in Asia

#2087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

64. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For History

#697 in Asia

#2109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

65. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For History

#704 in Asia

#2124 in the World

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

66. University of Toyama

For History

#710 in Asia

#2137 in the World

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

67. Hosei University

For History

#715 in Asia

#2146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

68. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For History

#717 in Asia

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

69. University of Yamanashi

For History

#727 in Asia

#2165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

70. Akita University

For History

#736 in Asia

#2190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

71. Nagoya City University

For History

#744 in Asia

#2210 in the World

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

72. University of Fukui

For History

#764 in Asia

#2252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

73. Teikyo University

For History

#786 in Asia

#2298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

74. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For History

#791 in Asia

#2305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

75. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For History

#795 in Asia

#2311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1997

76. Toyo University

For History

#797 in Asia

#2314 in the World

Founded: 1887

77. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For History

#804 in Asia

#2331 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

78. Toho University

For History

#806 in Asia

#2333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

79. Jikei University School of Medicine

For History

#812 in Asia

#2353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

80. Kochi University

For History

#817 in Asia

#2360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

81. Kurume University

For History

#830 in Asia

#2394 in the World

Founded: 1928

82. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For History

#839 in Asia

#2411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

83. Nippon Medical School

For History

#840 in Asia

#2412 in the World

Founded: 1904

84. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

For History

#846 in Asia

#2418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 2003

85. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For History

#870 in Asia

#2457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

86. Aoyama Gakuin University

For History

#876 in Asia

#2473 in the World

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

87. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For History

#878 in Asia

#2477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

88. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For History

#879 in Asia

#2478 in the World

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

89. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For History

#881 in Asia

#2482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

90. Meijo University

For History

#889 in Asia

#2494 in the World

Founded: 1926

91. Ryukoku University

For History

#924 in Asia

#2580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

92. Oita University

For History

#945 in Asia

#2625 in the World

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

93. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For History

#949 in Asia

#2632 in the World

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

94. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For History

#951 in Asia

#2636 in the World

Founded: 1978

95. Iwate University

Japan | Morioka

For History

#964 in Asia

#2664 in the World

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

96. Rikkyo University

For History

#980 in Asia

#2690 in the World

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

97. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For History

#1009 in Asia

#2748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

98. Utsunomiya University

Japan | Utsunomiya

For History

#1016 in Asia

#2762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

99. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For History

#1034 in Asia

#2810 in the World

Founded: 1972

100. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For History

#1037 in Asia

#2815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Japan

Anthropology163

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