100 Best universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 7.27M citations received by 603K academic papers made by 448 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 Philosophy

#1 in Asia

#70 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Philosophy

#7 in Asia

#122 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Philosophy

#15 in Asia

#233 in the World

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

4. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#23 in Asia

#314 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Philosophy

#25 in Asia

#332 in the World

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

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Philosophy

#31 in Asia

#364 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Philosophy

#36 in Asia

#382 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Philosophy

#44 in Asia

#440 in the World

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

9. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Philosophy

#47 in Asia

#453 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Philosophy

#65 in Asia

#553 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For Philosophy

#68 in Asia

#571 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Philosophy

#80 in Asia

#630 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Philosophy

#98 in Asia

#700 in the World

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

14. Tokyo University of Science

For Philosophy

#100 in Asia

#707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

15. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Philosophy

#108 in Asia

#724 in the World

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

16. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Philosophy

#117 in Asia

#777 in the World

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

17. Chiba University

For Philosophy

#132 in Asia

#839 in the World

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

18. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Philosophy

#153 in Asia

#912 in the World

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

19. Osaka Prefecture University

For Philosophy

#173 in Asia

#987 in the World

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

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Philosophy

#188 in Asia

#1032 in the World

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

21. Nihon University

For Philosophy

#205 in Asia

#1112 in the World

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

22. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Philosophy

#220 in Asia

#1154 in the World

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

23. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Philosophy

#223 in Asia

#1159 in the World

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

24. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Philosophy

#225 in Asia

#1167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

25. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Philosophy

#241 in Asia

#1200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

26. Ritsumeikan University

For Philosophy

#248 in Asia

#1217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

27. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Philosophy

#249 in Asia

#1218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

28. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Philosophy

#252 in Asia

#1225 in the World

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

29. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#262 in Asia

#1252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

30. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Philosophy

#277 in Asia

#1287 in the World

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

31. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Philosophy

#288 in Asia

#1323 in the World

Founded: 1949

32. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#291 in Asia

#1335 in the World

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

33. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Philosophy

#292 in Asia

#1336 in the World

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

34. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#294 in Asia

#1347 in the World

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

35. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Philosophy

#295 in Asia

#1348 in the World

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

36. Osaka City University

For Philosophy

#321 in Asia

#1430 in the World

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

37. Tokai University

For Philosophy

#339 in Asia

#1476 in the World

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

38. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#349 in Asia

#1520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

39. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Philosophy

#367 in Asia

#1573 in the World

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

40. Mie University

For Philosophy

#371 in Asia

#1593 in the World

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

41. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Philosophy

#373 in Asia

#1598 in the World

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

42. Meiji University

For Philosophy

#402 in Asia

#1681 in the World

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

43. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#406 in Asia

#1690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

44. Hosei University

For Philosophy

#407 in Asia

#1691 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

45. Juntendo University

For Philosophy

#411 in Asia

#1700 in the World

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

46. Gifu University

For Philosophy

#416 in Asia

#1715 in the World

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

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Philosophy

#422 in Asia

#1722 in the World

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

48. Ryukoku University

For Philosophy

#431 in Asia

#1745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

49. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Philosophy

#435 in Asia

#1759 in the World

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

50. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Philosophy

#437 in Asia

#1765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

51. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Philosophy

#440 in Asia

#1769 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

52. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Philosophy

#444 in Asia

#1776 in the World

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

53. Ibaraki University

For Philosophy

#450 in Asia

#1792 in the World

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

54. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Philosophy

#455 in Asia

#1806 in the World

Founded: 1978

55. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Philosophy

#456 in Asia

#1808 in the World

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

56. University of Fukui

For Philosophy

#457 in Asia

#1815 in the World

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

57. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Philosophy

#464 in Asia

#1832 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

58. Doshisha University

For Philosophy

#468 in Asia

#1848 in the World

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

59. Nagoya City University

For Philosophy

#469 in Asia

#1851 in the World

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

60. Kansai University

For Philosophy

#470 in Asia

#1852 in the World

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

61. Kitasato University

For Philosophy

#471 in Asia

#1854 in the World

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

62. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Philosophy

#476 in Asia

#1864 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

63. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Philosophy

#478 in Asia

#1868 in the World

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

64. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Philosophy

#481 in Asia

#1874 in the World

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

65. Sophia University

For Philosophy

#483 in Asia

#1883 in the World

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

66. Toho University

For Philosophy

#491 in Asia

#1913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

67. Nippon Medical School

For Philosophy

#494 in Asia

#1921 in the World

Founded: 1904

68. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Philosophy

#503 in Asia

#1951 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1993

69. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Philosophy

#504 in Asia

#1952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

70. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Philosophy

#512 in Asia

#1969 in the World

Founded: 1972

71. Showa University

For Philosophy

#515 in Asia

#1981 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

72. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Philosophy

#529 in Asia

#2014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

73. Teikyo University

For Philosophy

#534 in Asia

#2023 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

74. University of Toyama

For Philosophy

#535 in Asia

#2024 in the World

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

75. Saga University

For Philosophy

#539 in Asia

#2037 in the World

Founded: 1949

76. Tokyo Denki University

For Philosophy

#541 in Asia

#2046 in the World

Founded: 1907

77. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Philosophy

#548 in Asia

#2057 in the World

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

78. University of Yamanashi

For Philosophy

#550 in Asia

#2067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

79. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Philosophy

#551 in Asia

#2069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 1,223
Founded: 1872

80. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Philosophy

#557 in Asia

#2094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

81. Kurume University

For Philosophy

#562 in Asia

#2112 in the World

Founded: 1928

82. Shimane University

For Philosophy

#587 in Asia

#2157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

83. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#599 in Asia

#2179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

84. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Philosophy

#610 in Asia

#2202 in the World

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

85. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Philosophy

#620 in Asia

#2222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 934
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1974

86. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Philosophy

#634 in Asia

#2275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

87. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Philosophy

#654 in Asia

#2326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

88. Akita University

For Philosophy

#668 in Asia

#2355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 5,157
Founded: 1949

89. Rikkyo University

For Philosophy

#670 in Asia

#2359 in the World

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

90. Oita University

For Philosophy

#677 in Asia

#2370 in the World

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

91. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Philosophy

#697 in Asia

#2413 in the World

Founded: 1972

92. Tokyo Medical University

For Philosophy

#722 in Asia

#2465 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

93. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Philosophy

#738 in Asia

#2494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

94. Tokyo University of Information Sciences

For Philosophy

#740 in Asia

#2498 in the World

Enrollment: 2,186
Founded: 1988

95. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Philosophy

#756 in Asia

#2535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

96. Toyo University

For Philosophy

#763 in Asia

#2557 in the World

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

97. Ochanomizu University

For Philosophy

#766 in Asia

#2566 in the World

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

98. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#767 in Asia

#2570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

99. Kanagawa University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#776 in Asia

#2584 in the World

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

100. Okayama University of Science

Japan | Okayama

For Philosophy

#777 in Asia

#2585 in the World

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

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

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