100 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 5.88M citations received by 375K academic papers made by 418 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 Law

#10 in Asia

#126 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Law

#14 in Asia

#171 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Law

#44 in Asia

#364 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Law

#67 in Asia

#474 in the World

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

5. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Law

#70 in Asia

#489 in the World

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

6. Nagoya University

For Law

#76 in Asia

#526 in the World

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

7. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Law

#78 in Asia

#534 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Law

#84 in Asia

#568 in the World

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

9. Keio University

For Law

#86 in Asia

#573 in the World

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

10. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Law

#97 in Asia

#611 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For Law

#100 in Asia

#617 in the World

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

12. Kobe University

For Law

#141 in Asia

#771 in the World

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

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Law

#146 in Asia

#795 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Law

#153 in Asia

#817 in the World

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

15. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Law

#171 in Asia

#879 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Law

#227 in Asia

#1057 in the World

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

17. Chiba University

For Law

#243 in Asia

#1092 in the World

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

18. Ritsumeikan University

For Law

#318 in Asia

#1305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

19. Nihon University

For Law

#319 in Asia

#1308 in the World

Founded: 1889

20. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Law

#332 in Asia

#1333 in the World

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

21. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#390 in Asia

#1491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

22. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Law

#433 in Asia

#1601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

23. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Law

#438 in Asia

#1610 in the World

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

24. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Law

#450 in Asia

#1631 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

25. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Law

#460 in Asia

#1656 in the World

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

26. Osaka Prefecture University

For Law

#462 in Asia

#1661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

27. University of Electro-Communications

For Law

#463 in Asia

#1663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

28. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Law

#466 in Asia

#1666 in the World

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

29. Osaka City University

For Law

#471 in Asia

#1684 in the World

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

30. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Law

#493 in Asia

#1738 in the World

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

31. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Law

#502 in Asia

#1757 in the World

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

32. Tokai University

For Law

#516 in Asia

#1783 in the World

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

33. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For Law

#520 in Asia

#1788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1997

34. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Law

#523 in Asia

#1792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

35. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Law

#531 in Asia

#1817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

36. Doshisha University

For Law

#535 in Asia

#1827 in the World

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

37. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Law

#537 in Asia

#1830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

38. Hosei University

For Law

#553 in Asia

#1872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

39. Kitasato University

For Law

#565 in Asia

#1910 in the World

Founded: 1962

40. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Law

#571 in Asia

#1920 in the World

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

41. Kansai University

For Law

#574 in Asia

#1927 in the World

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

42. Sophia University

For Law

#598 in Asia

#1992 in the World

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

43. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Law

#601 in Asia

#2000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

44. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Law

#602 in Asia

#2004 in the World

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

45. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Law

#621 in Asia

#2055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

46. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Law

#637 in Asia

#2092 in the World

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

47. Meiji University

For Law

#638 in Asia

#2094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

48. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Law

#641 in Asia

#2101 in the World

Founded: 1949

49. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Law

#653 in Asia

#2125 in the World

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

50. Nagoya City University

For Law

#675 in Asia

#2170 in the World

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

51. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Law

#701 in Asia

#2233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

52. Gifu University

For Law

#706 in Asia

#2245 in the World

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

53. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Law

#715 in Asia

#2267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

54. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Law

#741 in Asia

#2322 in the World

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

55. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Law

#745 in Asia

#2334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

56. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Law

#750 in Asia

#2341 in the World

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

57. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Law

#761 in Asia

#2363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

58. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Law

#765 in Asia

#2371 in the World

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

59. Teikyo University

For Law

#771 in Asia

#2381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

60. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Law

#780 in Asia

#2404 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

61. Gakushuin University

For Law

#790 in Asia

#2417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 9,240
Founded: 1877

62. Juntendo University

For Law

#797 in Asia

#2430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

63. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#812 in Asia

#2459 in the World

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

64. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Law

#813 in Asia

#2464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

65. Mie University

For Law

#818 in Asia

#2473 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

66. Osaka University of Economics

For Law

#841 in Asia

#2517 in the World

Enrollment: 7,337
Founded: 1949

67. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Law

#844 in Asia

#2521 in the World

Founded: 1934

68. Ibaraki University

For Law

#850 in Asia

#2531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

69. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Law

#864 in Asia

#2565 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

70. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Law

#866 in Asia

#2567 in the World

Founded: 1978

71. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Law

#869 in Asia

#2576 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

72. Rikkyo University

For Law

#887 in Asia

#2615 in the World

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

73. Saga University

For Law

#890 in Asia

#2624 in the World

Founded: 1949

74. Toyo University

For Law

#893 in Asia

#2635 in the World

Founded: 1887

75. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Law

#897 in Asia

#2641 in the World

Founded: 1972

76. Oita University

For Law

#904 in Asia

#2651 in the World

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

77. University of Hyogo

For Law

#912 in Asia

#2672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 6,551
Founded: 2004

78. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Law

#931 in Asia

#2712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

79. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Law

#952 in Asia

#2752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

80. University of Toyama

For Law

#964 in Asia

#2777 in the World

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

81. University of Yamanashi

For Law

#970 in Asia

#2792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

82. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#977 in Asia

#2804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

83. Ochanomizu University

For Law

#982 in Asia

#2810 in the World

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

84. International University of Japan

Japan | Minamiuonuma

For Law

#1000 in Asia

#2841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1982

85. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Law

#1003 in Asia

#2850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

86. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Law

#1011 in Asia

#2868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

87. Showa University

For Law

#1025 in Asia

#2895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

88. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Law

#1030 in Asia

#2903 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

89. Shimane University

For Law

#1036 in Asia

#2917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

90. Toho University

For Law

#1055 in Asia

#2944 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

91. Ryukoku University

For Law

#1057 in Asia

#2946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

92. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Law

#1077 in Asia

#2993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

93. Nippon Medical School

For Law

#1083 in Asia

#3004 in the World

Founded: 1904

94. University of Fukui

For Law

#1086 in Asia

#3008 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

95. Tokyo Denki University

For Law

#1097 in Asia

#3035 in the World

Founded: 1907

96. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Law

#1107 in Asia

#3062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

97. International Christian University

For Law

#1122 in Asia

#3086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1953

98. Meijo University

For Law

#1144 in Asia

#3132 in the World

Founded: 1926

99. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Law

#1167 in Asia

#3191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

100. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Law

#1168 in Asia

#3194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

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

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