100 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 3.9M citations received by 323K academic papers made by 397 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

#8 in Asia

#107 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Law

#11 in Asia

#164 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Law

#31 in Asia

#322 in the World

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

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Law

#50 in Asia

#413 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Law

#51 in Asia

#415 in the World

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

6. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Law

#56 in Asia

#450 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Law

#61 in Asia

#470 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Law

#73 in Asia

#549 in the World

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

9. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Law

#77 in Asia

#568 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Law

#84 in Asia

#583 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For Law

#91 in Asia

#617 in the World

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

12. Tokyo University of Science

For Law

#107 in Asia

#683 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

13. Kobe University

For Law

#114 in Asia

#728 in the World

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

14. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Law

#117 in Asia

#737 in the World

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

15. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Law

#141 in Asia

#814 in the World

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

16. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Law

#147 in Asia

#843 in the World

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

17. Chiba University

For Law

#185 in Asia

#969 in the World

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

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Law

#188 in Asia

#978 in the World

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

19. Nihon University

For Law

#259 in Asia

#1192 in the World

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

20. Ritsumeikan University

For Law

#277 in Asia

#1249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

21. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#289 in Asia

#1299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

22. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Law

#307 in Asia

#1347 in the World

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

23. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Law

#321 in Asia

#1386 in the World

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

24. Osaka City University

For Law

#329 in Asia

#1404 in the World

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

25. Osaka Prefecture University

For Law

#331 in Asia

#1416 in the World

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

26. University of Electro-Communications

For Law

#351 in Asia

#1468 in the World

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

27. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Law

#354 in Asia

#1483 in the World

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

28. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Law

#358 in Asia

#1497 in the World

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

29. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Law

#384 in Asia

#1557 in the World

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

30. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Law

#395 in Asia

#1581 in the World

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

31. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Law

#396 in Asia

#1582 in the World

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

32. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Law

#400 in Asia

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

33. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Law

#411 in Asia

#1607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

34. Kansai University

For Law

#413 in Asia

#1613 in the World

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

35. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Law

#422 in Asia

#1638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

36. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Law

#428 in Asia

#1649 in the World

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

37. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Law

#432 in Asia

#1657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

38. Tokai University

For Law

#437 in Asia

#1669 in the World

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

39. Doshisha University

For Law

#445 in Asia

#1692 in the World

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

40. Hosei University

For Law

#448 in Asia

#1701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

41. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Law

#452 in Asia

#1710 in the World

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

42. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies

For Law

#455 in Asia

#1716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 417
Founded: 1997

43. Kitasato University

For Law

#465 in Asia

#1739 in the World

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

44. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Law

#473 in Asia

#1759 in the World

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

45. Sophia University

For Law

#485 in Asia

#1802 in the World

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

46. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Law

#510 in Asia

#1865 in the World

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

47. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Law

#516 in Asia

#1879 in the World

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

48. Meiji University

For Law

#527 in Asia

#1904 in the World

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

49. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Law

#536 in Asia

#1925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

50. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Law

#547 in Asia

#1945 in the World

Founded: 1949

51. Nagoya City University

For Law

#575 in Asia

#2006 in the World

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

52. Teikyo University

For Law

#579 in Asia

#2015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

53. Gifu University

For Law

#586 in Asia

#2024 in the World

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

54. Gakushuin University

For Law

#602 in Asia

#2074 in the World

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

55. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Law

#607 in Asia

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1993

56. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Law

#612 in Asia

#2093 in the World

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

57. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Law

#617 in Asia

#2104 in the World

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

58. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Law

#621 in Asia

#2114 in the World

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

59. Mie University

For Law

#644 in Asia

#2165 in the World

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

60. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Law

#645 in Asia

#2171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

61. Osaka University of Economics

For Law

#651 in Asia

#2182 in the World

Enrollment: 7,337
Founded: 1949

62. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Law

#667 in Asia

#2221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

63. Ibaraki University

For Law

#668 in Asia

#2222 in the World

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

64. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Law

#675 in Asia

#2236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

65. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Law

#681 in Asia

#2253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,050
Founded: 1962

66. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Law

#685 in Asia

#2259 in the World

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

67. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Law

#693 in Asia

#2273 in the World

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

68. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#698 in Asia

#2284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

69. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Law

#716 in Asia

#2312 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

70. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Law

#721 in Asia

#2324 in the World

Founded: 1978

71. Juntendo University

For Law

#733 in Asia

#2348 in the World

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

72. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Law

#751 in Asia

#2381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 18,693
Founded: 1949

73. University of Hyogo

For Law

#774 in Asia

#2437 in the World

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

74. Rikkyo University

For Law

#789 in Asia

#2466 in the World

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

75. Toyo University

For Law

#800 in Asia

#2488 in the World

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

76. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Law

#801 in Asia

#2489 in the World

Founded: 1972

77. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

For Law

#804 in Asia

#2499 in the World

Enrollment: 5,796
Founded: 2000

78. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Law

#805 in Asia

#2500 in the World

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

79. Saga University

For Law

#828 in Asia

#2549 in the World

Founded: 1949

80. University of Yamanashi

For Law

#830 in Asia

#2553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

81. Muroran Institute of Technology

Japan | Muroran

For Law

#832 in Asia

#2556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

82. University of Toyama

For Law

#834 in Asia

#2558 in the World

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

83. Oita University

For Law

#835 in Asia

#2559 in the World

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

84. Ochanomizu University

For Law

#840 in Asia

#2568 in the World

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

85. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Law

#858 in Asia

#2616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

86. International University of Japan

Japan | Minamiuonuma

For Law

#865 in Asia

#2628 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1982

87. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Law

#876 in Asia

#2649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

88. Ryukoku University

For Law

#882 in Asia

#2657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

89. University of Fukui

For Law

#902 in Asia

#2691 in the World

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

90. Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics

For Law

#916 in Asia

#2716 in the World

Enrollment: 320
Founded: 2004

91. Meijo University

For Law

#918 in Asia

#2721 in the World

Enrollment: 3,835
Founded: 1926

92. Shimane University

For Law

#919 in Asia

#2722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

93. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Law

#924 in Asia

#2730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

94. Toho University

For Law

#933 in Asia

#2743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

95. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Law

#935 in Asia

#2747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

96. Tokyo Denki University

For Law

#941 in Asia

#2759 in the World

Founded: 1907

97. Nippon Medical School

For Law

#953 in Asia

#2797 in the World

Founded: 1904

98. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Law

#965 in Asia

#2828 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 1,095
Founded: 1952

99. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Law

#967 in Asia

#2833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

100. Chiba Institute of Technology

Japan | Narashino

For Law

#978 in Asia

#2852 in the World

Enrollment: 9,853
Founded: 1942

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

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