100 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Japan

Ranking by academic field

Below is the list of best universities in Japan ranked based on their research performance in Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 1.86M citations received by 91.5K academic papers made by 244 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Asia

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 28,171
Founded: 1877

2. Kyoto University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in Asia

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Enrollment: 22,615
Male:Female: 76:24
Founded: 1897

3. Osaka University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#30 in Asia

#419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 23,316
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1931

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#32 in Asia

#441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 15,959
Founded: 1911

5. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#40 in Asia

#496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 16,525
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1973

6. Tohoku University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#46 in Asia

#530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 17,831
Founded: 1907

7. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#48 in Asia

#540 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 18,628
Founded: 1918

8. Nagoya University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in Asia

#544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 16,376
Founded: 1939

9. Keio University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#62 in Asia

#596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 33,500
Founded: 1858

10. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#81 in Asia

#708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 15,226
Founded: 1949

11. Waseda University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#87 in Asia

#733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 50,221
Founded: 1882

12. Kobe University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#99 in Asia

#781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 15,986
Founded: 1902

13. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#147 in Asia

#985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Enrollment: 10,357
Founded: 1881

14. Chiba University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#156 in Asia

#1014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 13,983
Founded: 1949

15. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#163 in Asia

#1041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 13,054
Founded: 1922

16. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#167 in Asia

#1062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1946

17. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#183 in Asia

#1122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 9,150
Founded: 1949

18. Nihon University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#191 in Asia

#1152 in the World

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

19. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#195 in Asia

#1165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 6,287
Male:Female: 70:30
Founded: 1875

20. Juntendo University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#205 in Asia

#1191 in the World

Enrollment: 3,802
Founded: 1836

21. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#209 in Asia

#1198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 12,289
Founded: 1922

22. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#213 in Asia

#1211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 10,111
Male:Female: 64:36
Founded: 1949

23. Osaka City University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#219 in Asia

#1231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1928

24. Health Science University

Japan | Fujikawaguchiko

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#223 in Asia

#1244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 2003

25. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#245 in Asia

#1318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 12,500
Founded: 1949

26. Gifu University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#260 in Asia

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 7,323
Male:Female: 65:35
Founded: 1949

27. Tokai University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#276 in Asia

#1393 in the World

Enrollment: 28,535
Founded: 1946

28. Ritsumeikan University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#304 in Asia

#1481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1899

29. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#308 in Asia

#1488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1950

30. Sophia University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#311 in Asia

#1493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 13,280
Founded: 1913

31. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#319 in Asia

#1513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 7,629
Founded: 1949

32. Nagoya City University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#336 in Asia

#1562 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1950

33. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#342 in Asia

#1571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

34. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#349 in Asia

#1590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 9,267
Founded: 1949

35. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#350 in Asia

#1596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 9,126
Founded: 2005

36. Teikyo University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#359 in Asia

#1624 in the World

Enrollment: 22,500
Founded: 1966

37. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#361 in Asia

#1627 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 1,107
Founded: 1974

38. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#367 in Asia

#1652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1949

39. Doshisha University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#373 in Asia

#1668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 28,642
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1920

40. Osaka Prefecture University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#376 in Asia

#1673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 8,051
Founded: 1949

41. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#382 in Asia

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 32,145
Founded: 1949

42. International Christian University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#386 in Asia

#1701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 3,134
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1953

43. Kurume University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#397 in Asia

#1752 in the World

Founded: 1928

44. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#399 in Asia

#1757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1949

45. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#409 in Asia

#1777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 6,556
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

46. Kitasato University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#417 in Asia

#1799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 8,576
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1962

47. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#422 in Asia

#1809 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 19,776
Founded: 1874

48. Meiji University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#435 in Asia

#1840 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 31,339
Founded: 1881

49. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#440 in Asia

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

50. Nippon Medical School

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#445 in Asia

#1861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1904

51. Ryukoku University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#446 in Asia

#1862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 12,500
Founded: 1639

52. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#447 in Asia

#1865 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1928

53. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#451 in Asia

#1871 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 6,500
Founded: 1949

54. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#456 in Asia

#1881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 6,195
Founded: 1949

55. Kansai University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#462 in Asia

#1891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 30,178
Male:Female: 60:40
Founded: 1922

56. Mie University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#473 in Asia

#1913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 8,455
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1949

57. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#475 in Asia

#1915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 15,500
Founded: 1912

58. University of Toyama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#478 in Asia

#1923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1975

59. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#485 in Asia

#1936 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 10,661
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1949

60. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#486 in Asia

#1940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1988

61. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#487 in Asia

#1941 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 12,500
Founded: 1949

62. Shimane University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#490 in Asia

#1946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 7,500
Founded: 1949

63. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#491 in Asia

#1947 in the World

Founded: 1972

64. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#494 in Asia

#1952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1872

65. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#504 in Asia

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1952

66. Tokyo Medical University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#511 in Asia

#1997 in the World

Founded: 1916

67. University of Yamanashi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#518 in Asia

#2011 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 5,500
Founded: 1949

68. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#521 in Asia

#2023 in the World

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

69. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#533 in Asia

#2055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1950

70. Toho University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#535 in Asia

#2058 in the World

Enrollment: 4,500
Founded: 1925

71. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#548 in Asia

#2097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1978

72. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#554 in Asia

#2111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 27,500
Founded: 1885

73. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#557 in Asia

#2115 in the World

Enrollment: 891
Male:Female: 83:17
Founded: 1990

74. Showa University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#560 in Asia

#2120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1928

75. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#561 in Asia

#2124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 6,500
Founded: 2000

76. Rikkyo University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#568 in Asia

#2138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 20,720
Founded: 1922

77. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#570 in Asia

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

78. Ibaraki University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#579 in Asia

#2182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Enrollment: 8,249
Founded: 1949

79. Akita University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#580 in Asia

#2188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 5,157
Founded: 1949

80. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#586 in Asia

#2201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1945

81. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#603 in Asia

#2247 in the World

Founded: 1971

82. Hosei University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#609 in Asia

#2254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1880

83. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#612 in Asia

#2259 in the World

Founded: 1881

84. Tokyo Gakugei University

Japan | Koganei

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#628 in Asia

#2299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 6,500
Founded: 1949

85. Tokyo University of Science

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#635 in Asia

#2308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 22,500
Founded: 1881

86. Saga University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#637 in Asia

#2312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 7,500
Founded: 1949

87. Hyogo College of Medicine

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#643 in Asia

#2319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1971

88. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#653 in Asia

#2358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 5,776
Founded: 1905

89. Nanzan University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#654 in Asia

#2359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1949

90. Kanazawa Medical University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#656 in Asia

#2368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Enrollment: 913
Founded: 1972

91. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#657 in Asia

#2370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1945

92. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#659 in Asia

#2375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1928

93. Ochanomizu University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#665 in Asia

#2385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 2,075
Founded: 1874

94. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#672 in Asia

#2395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1991

95. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#673 in Asia

#2396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 6,539
Founded: 1949

96. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#684 in Asia

#2416 in the World

Founded: 1972

97. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#692 in Asia

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 934
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1974

98. Chukyo University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#700 in Asia

#2454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 12,500
Founded: 1927

99. University of Hyogo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#712 in Asia

#2481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 6,695
Founded: 2004

100. Kyorin University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#721 in Asia

#2512 in the World

Enrollment: 4,820
Founded: 1966

The best cities to study Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Japan based on the number of universities and their ranks are Tokyo, Kyoto, Suita, and Fukuoka.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Japan

Broadcast Journalism13

Classics and Ancient History17

Communications and Public Relations15

Criminology and Criminal Justice5

Early Childhood Education4

Education Majors7

Forensic Science33

Gender Studies7

Human Rights Law4

Intellectual Property and Patent Law17

International Law10

International Relations and Diplomacy24

Journalism and Digital Media11

Law Enforcement12

Library and Information science26

Media Studies10

Military science7

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution18

Occupational Safety and Health36

Political Economy12

Political Science39

Public Policy / Administration8

Radio and Television broadcasting20

Special Education13

Sports / Exercise science42

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies14

Urban and Regional planning19