100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 6.64M citations received by 416K academic papers made by 382 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 Linguistics

#2 in Asia

#39 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Linguistics

#6 in Asia

#61 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Linguistics

#18 in Asia

#137 in the World

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

4. Tohoku University

For Linguistics

#26 in Asia

#186 in the World

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

5. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Linguistics

#30 in Asia

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Linguistics

#36 in Asia

#224 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Linguistics

#45 in Asia

#249 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Linguistics

#51 in Asia

#288 in the World

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

9. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Linguistics

#58 in Asia

#332 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Linguistics

#66 in Asia

#360 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Linguistics

#75 in Asia

#413 in the World

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

12. Waseda University

For Linguistics

#77 in Asia

#420 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Linguistics

#87 in Asia

#469 in the World

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

14. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Linguistics

#110 in Asia

#554 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Linguistics

#120 in Asia

#579 in the World

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

16. Tokyo University of Science

For Linguistics

#122 in Asia

#581 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Linguistics

#132 in Asia

#626 in the World

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

18. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Linguistics

#136 in Asia

#643 in the World

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

19. Osaka Prefecture University

For Linguistics

#142 in Asia

#664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Linguistics

#171 in Asia

#749 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

21. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Linguistics

#183 in Asia

#773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

22. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Linguistics

#184 in Asia

#774 in the World

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

23. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Linguistics

#186 in Asia

#781 in the World

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

24. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Linguistics

#190 in Asia

#788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

25. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Linguistics

#194 in Asia

#801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

26. Ritsumeikan University

For Linguistics

#204 in Asia

#816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

27. Nihon University

For Linguistics

#221 in Asia

#868 in the World

Founded: 1889

28. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Linguistics

#222 in Asia

#872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

29. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Linguistics

#233 in Asia

#901 in the World

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

30. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Linguistics

#239 in Asia

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

31. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Linguistics

#247 in Asia

#946 in the World

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

32. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Linguistics

#262 in Asia

#978 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

33. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Linguistics

#266 in Asia

#988 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

34. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Linguistics

#267 in Asia

#989 in the World

Founded: 1949

35. Osaka City University

For Linguistics

#296 in Asia

#1052 in the World

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

36. Tokai University

For Linguistics

#304 in Asia

#1074 in the World

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

37. Juntendo University

For Linguistics

#324 in Asia

#1124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

38. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Linguistics

#325 in Asia

#1130 in the World

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

39. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Linguistics

#332 in Asia

#1145 in the World

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

40. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Linguistics

#347 in Asia

#1177 in the World

Founded: 1978

41. Mie University

For Linguistics

#351 in Asia

#1183 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

42. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Linguistics

#361 in Asia

#1207 in the World

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

43. Nippon Medical School

For Linguistics

#370 in Asia

#1227 in the World

Founded: 1904

44. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Linguistics

#377 in Asia

#1238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

45. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Linguistics

#387 in Asia

#1255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

46. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Linguistics

#390 in Asia

#1265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Linguistics

#393 in Asia

#1271 in the World

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

48. Gifu University

For Linguistics

#401 in Asia

#1293 in the World

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

49. Hosei University

For Linguistics

#411 in Asia

#1331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

50. University of Fukui

For Linguistics

#413 in Asia

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

51. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Linguistics

#414 in Asia

#1342 in the World

Founded: 1934

52. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Linguistics

#415 in Asia

#1343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

53. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Linguistics

#416 in Asia

#1344 in the World

Founded: 1972

54. Meiji University

For Linguistics

#419 in Asia

#1353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

55. Nagoya City University

For Linguistics

#428 in Asia

#1368 in the World

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

56. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Linguistics

#429 in Asia

#1373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

57. Kurume University

For Linguistics

#442 in Asia

#1389 in the World

Founded: 1928

58. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Linguistics

#443 in Asia

#1393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

59. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Linguistics

#447 in Asia

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

60. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Linguistics

#453 in Asia

#1417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

61. Kansai University

For Linguistics

#458 in Asia

#1426 in the World

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

62. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Linguistics

#460 in Asia

#1430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

63. Toho University

For Linguistics

#462 in Asia

#1433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

64. Kitasato University

For Linguistics

#463 in Asia

#1435 in the World

Founded: 1962

65. Saga University

For Linguistics

#465 in Asia

#1438 in the World

Founded: 1949

66. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Linguistics

#466 in Asia

#1441 in the World

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

67. Ibaraki University

For Linguistics

#467 in Asia

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

68. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Linguistics

#489 in Asia

#1481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

69. Doshisha University

For Linguistics

#502 in Asia

#1514 in the World

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

70. Tokyo Denki University

For Linguistics

#505 in Asia

#1519 in the World

Founded: 1907

71. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Linguistics

#521 in Asia

#1554 in the World

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

72. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Linguistics

#534 in Asia

#1578 in the World

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

73. University of Yamanashi

For Linguistics

#545 in Asia

#1600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

74. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Linguistics

#552 in Asia

#1613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

75. University of Toyama

For Linguistics

#555 in Asia

#1621 in the World

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

76. Shimane University

For Linguistics

#558 in Asia

#1637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

77. Showa University

For Linguistics

#562 in Asia

#1645 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

78. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Linguistics

#563 in Asia

#1648 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

79. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Linguistics

#564 in Asia

#1649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

80. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Linguistics

#567 in Asia

#1652 in the World

Founded: 1972

81. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Linguistics

#571 in Asia

#1660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

82. Sophia University

For Linguistics

#579 in Asia

#1671 in the World

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

83. Teikyo University

For Linguistics

#583 in Asia

#1678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

84. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Linguistics

#605 in Asia

#1713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

85. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Linguistics

#608 in Asia

#1721 in the World

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

86. Oita University

For Linguistics

#624 in Asia

#1750 in the World

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

87. Akita University

For Linguistics

#629 in Asia

#1761 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

88. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Linguistics

#632 in Asia

#1764 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

89. Tokyo Medical University

For Linguistics

#654 in Asia

#1805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

90. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Linguistics

#661 in Asia

#1817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

91. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Linguistics

#686 in Asia

#1869 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

92. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Linguistics

#707 in Asia

#1911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

93. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Linguistics

#751 in Asia

#2000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

94. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Linguistics

#763 in Asia

#2025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

95. Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

For Linguistics

#790 in Asia

#2091 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1939

96. Ochanomizu University

For Linguistics

#792 in Asia

#2094 in the World

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

97. Rikkyo University

For Linguistics

#794 in Asia

#2096 in the World

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

98. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Linguistics

#799 in Asia

#2106 in the World

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

99. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Linguistics

#801 in Asia

#2109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

100. Kansai Medical University

Japan | Moriguchi

For Linguistics

#810 in Asia

#2132 in the World

Founded: 1928

The best cities to study Linguistics 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