100 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 5.6M citations received by 365K academic papers made by 415 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

#9 in Asia

#122 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Law

#13 in Asia

#168 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Law

#41 in Asia

#352 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Law

#63 in Asia

#462 in the World

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

5. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Law

#68 in Asia

#481 in the World

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

6. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Law

#75 in Asia

#513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

7. Nagoya University

For Law

#76 in Asia

#519 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Law

#80 in Asia

#557 in the World

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

9. Keio University

For Law

#81 in Asia

#563 in the World

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

10. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Law

#91 in Asia

#597 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For Law

#93 in Asia

#607 in the World

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

12. Kobe University

For Law

#101 in Asia

#635 in the World

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

13. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Law

#148 in Asia

#802 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Law

#149 in Asia

#803 in the World

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

15. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Law

#163 in Asia

#856 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Law

#218 in Asia

#1038 in the World

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

17. Chiba University

For Law

#226 in Asia

#1065 in the World

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

18. Nihon University

For Law

#303 in Asia

#1280 in the World

Founded: 1889

19. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Law

#311 in Asia

#1308 in the World

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

20. Ritsumeikan University

For Law

#312 in Asia

#1309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

21. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#360 in Asia

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

22. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Law

#407 in Asia

#1565 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

23. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Law

#417 in Asia

#1583 in the World

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

24. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Law

#425 in Asia

#1596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

25. Osaka Prefecture University

For Law

#430 in Asia

#1610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

26. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Law

#433 in Asia

#1613 in the World

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

27. University of Electro-Communications

For Law

#434 in Asia

#1615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

28. Osaka City University

For Law

#439 in Asia

#1630 in the World

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

29. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Law

#452 in Asia

#1655 in the World

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

30. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Law

#471 in Asia

#1701 in the World

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

31. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Law

#483 in Asia

#1728 in the World

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

32. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Law

#490 in Asia

#1740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

33. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For Law

#497 in Asia

#1760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 417
Founded: 1997

34. Tokai University

For Law

#500 in Asia

#1765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

35. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Law

#510 in Asia

#1781 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

36. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Law

#512 in Asia

#1786 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

37. Doshisha University

For Law

#520 in Asia

#1813 in the World

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

38. Hosei University

For Law

#538 in Asia

#1853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

39. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Law

#542 in Asia

#1866 in the World

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

40. Kitasato University

For Law

#548 in Asia

#1886 in the World

Founded: 1962

41. Kansai University

For Law

#550 in Asia

#1894 in the World

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

42. Sophia University

For Law

#570 in Asia

#1945 in the World

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

43. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Law

#572 in Asia

#1953 in the World

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

44. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Law

#575 in Asia

#1957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

45. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Law

#592 in Asia

#2010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

46. Meiji University

For Law

#617 in Asia

#2063 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

47. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Law

#622 in Asia

#2075 in the World

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

48. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Law

#625 in Asia

#2078 in the World

Founded: 1949

49. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Law

#635 in Asia

#2103 in the World

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

50. Nagoya City University

For Law

#652 in Asia

#2136 in the World

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

51. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Law

#669 in Asia

#2180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

52. Gifu University

For Law

#681 in Asia

#2204 in the World

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

53. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Law

#689 in Asia

#2226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

54. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Law

#702 in Asia

#2256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

55. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Law

#706 in Asia

#2265 in the World

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

56. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Law

#722 in Asia

#2298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

57. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Law

#731 in Asia

#2318 in the World

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

58. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Law

#734 in Asia

#2328 in the World

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

59. Teikyo University

For Law

#745 in Asia

#2351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

60. Gakushuin University

For Law

#757 in Asia

#2375 in the World

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

61. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Law

#761 in Asia

#2384 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

62. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Law

#772 in Asia

#2407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

63. Mie University

For Law

#784 in Asia

#2426 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

64. Juntendo University

For Law

#787 in Asia

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

65. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#791 in Asia

#2440 in the World

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

66. Ibaraki University

For Law

#798 in Asia

#2452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

67. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Law

#807 in Asia

#2465 in the World

Founded: 1934

68. Osaka University of Economics

For Law

#809 in Asia

#2473 in the World

Enrollment: 7,337
Founded: 1949

69. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Law

#828 in Asia

#2512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

70. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Law

#831 in Asia

#2521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

71. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Law

#839 in Asia

#2535 in the World

Founded: 1978

72. Saga University

For Law

#862 in Asia

#2588 in the World

Founded: 1949

73. Rikkyo University

For Law

#867 in Asia

#2601 in the World

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

74. Oita University

For Law

#868 in Asia

#2605 in the World

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

75. Toyo University

For Law

#874 in Asia

#2619 in the World

Founded: 1887

76. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Law

#883 in Asia

#2633 in the World

Founded: 1972

77. University of Hyogo

For Law

#885 in Asia

#2636 in the World

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

78. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Law

#892 in Asia

#2646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1962

79. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Law

#898 in Asia

#2661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

80. Ochanomizu University

For Law

#928 in Asia

#2725 in the World

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

81. University of Yamanashi

For Law

#936 in Asia

#2736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

82. University of Toyama

For Law

#941 in Asia

#2754 in the World

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

83. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#942 in Asia

#2755 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1949

84. International University of Japan

Japan | Minamiuonuma

For Law

#953 in Asia

#2776 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1982

85. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Law

#959 in Asia

#2792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

86. Showa University

For Law

#984 in Asia

#2843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

87. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Law

#990 in Asia

#2849 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

88. Shimane University

For Law

#997 in Asia

#2862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

89. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Law

#998 in Asia

#2863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

90. Toho University

For Law

#1021 in Asia

#2906 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

91. Ryukoku University

For Law

#1023 in Asia

#2910 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

92. University of Fukui

For Law

#1036 in Asia

#2938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

93. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Law

#1038 in Asia

#2942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

94. Nippon Medical School

For Law

#1044 in Asia

#2955 in the World

Founded: 1904

95. Tokyo Denki University

For Law

#1058 in Asia

#2976 in the World

Founded: 1907

96. International Christian University

For Law

#1085 in Asia

#3027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1953

97. Meijo University

For Law

#1102 in Asia

#3059 in the World

Founded: 1926

98. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Law

#1110 in Asia

#3083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

99. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Law

#1138 in Asia

#3147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

100. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Law

#1141 in Asia

#3155 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

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