100 Best universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 10.4M citations received by 690K academic papers made by 477 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

#80 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Philosophy

#8 in Asia

#135 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Philosophy

#23 in Asia

#271 in the World

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

4. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#44 in Asia

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

5. Tohoku University

For Philosophy

#46 in Asia

#399 in the World

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

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Philosophy

#56 in Asia

#424 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Philosophy

#59 in Asia

#443 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Philosophy

#75 in Asia

#518 in the World

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

9. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Philosophy

#76 in Asia

#526 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Philosophy

#95 in Asia

#617 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For Philosophy

#100 in Asia

#636 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Philosophy

#122 in Asia

#739 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Philosophy

#128 in Asia

#755 in the World

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

14. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Philosophy

#164 in Asia

#875 in the World

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

15. Tokyo University of Science

For Philosophy

#169 in Asia

#898 in the World

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

16. Chiba University

For Philosophy

#184 in Asia

#954 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Philosophy

#205 in Asia

#1018 in the World

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

18. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Philosophy

#214 in Asia

#1045 in the World

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

19. Osaka Prefecture University

For Philosophy

#251 in Asia

#1186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Philosophy

#260 in Asia

#1204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

21. Nihon University

For Philosophy

#269 in Asia

#1226 in the World

Founded: 1889

22. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Philosophy

#272 in Asia

#1237 in the World

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

23. Ritsumeikan University

For Philosophy

#285 in Asia

#1276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

24. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Philosophy

#296 in Asia

#1308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

25. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Philosophy

#299 in Asia

#1318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Philosophy

#301 in Asia

#1326 in the World

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

27. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Philosophy

#308 in Asia

#1341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

28. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#309 in Asia

#1343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

29. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Philosophy

#330 in Asia

#1410 in the World

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

30. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Philosophy

#344 in Asia

#1446 in the World

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

31. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#347 in Asia

#1463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

32. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Philosophy

#356 in Asia

#1487 in the World

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

33. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#361 in Asia

#1511 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

34. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Philosophy

#362 in Asia

#1515 in the World

Founded: 1949

35. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Philosophy

#386 in Asia

#1577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

36. Osaka City University

For Philosophy

#388 in Asia

#1580 in the World

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

37. Tokai University

For Philosophy

#403 in Asia

#1612 in the World

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

38. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#430 in Asia

#1692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

39. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Philosophy

#431 in Asia

#1695 in the World

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

40. Mie University

For Philosophy

#446 in Asia

#1735 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

41. Juntendo University

For Philosophy

#453 in Asia

#1748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

42. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Philosophy

#462 in Asia

#1767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

43. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#475 in Asia

#1816 in the World

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

44. Meiji University

For Philosophy

#485 in Asia

#1843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

45. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Philosophy

#495 in Asia

#1866 in the World

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

46. Hosei University

For Philosophy

#502 in Asia

#1886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Philosophy

#506 in Asia

#1899 in the World

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

48. Gifu University

For Philosophy

#507 in Asia

#1900 in the World

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

49. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Philosophy

#533 in Asia

#1966 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

50. Kansai University

For Philosophy

#543 in Asia

#1983 in the World

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

51. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Philosophy

#545 in Asia

#1991 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

52. Doshisha University

For Philosophy

#554 in Asia

#2027 in the World

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

53. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Philosophy

#559 in Asia

#2037 in the World

Founded: 1978

54. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Philosophy

#562 in Asia

#2043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

55. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Philosophy

#563 in Asia

#2044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

56. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Philosophy

#565 in Asia

#2048 in the World

Founded: 1934

57. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Philosophy

#570 in Asia

#2058 in the World

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

58. Ibaraki University

For Philosophy

#573 in Asia

#2062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

59. Nippon Medical School

For Philosophy

#575 in Asia

#2070 in the World

Founded: 1904

60. Kitasato University

For Philosophy

#576 in Asia

#2071 in the World

Founded: 1962

61. Sophia University

For Philosophy

#582 in Asia

#2087 in the World

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

62. Ryukoku University

For Philosophy

#584 in Asia

#2093 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

63. University of Fukui

For Philosophy

#588 in Asia

#2103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

64. Nagoya City University

For Philosophy

#590 in Asia

#2105 in the World

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

65. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Philosophy

#592 in Asia

#2114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

66. University of Toyama

For Philosophy

#596 in Asia

#2135 in the World

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

67. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Philosophy

#609 in Asia

#2163 in the World

Founded: 1972

68. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Philosophy

#610 in Asia

#2165 in the World

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

69. Toho University

For Philosophy

#611 in Asia

#2167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

70. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Philosophy

#617 in Asia

#2180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

71. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Philosophy

#624 in Asia

#2198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

72. Tokyo Denki University

For Philosophy

#635 in Asia

#2233 in the World

Founded: 1907

73. Saga University

For Philosophy

#637 in Asia

#2237 in the World

Founded: 1949

74. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Philosophy

#650 in Asia

#2267 in the World

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

75. University of Yamanashi

For Philosophy

#658 in Asia

#2279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

76. Kurume University

For Philosophy

#661 in Asia

#2288 in the World

Founded: 1928

77. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Philosophy

#670 in Asia

#2303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

78. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Philosophy

#673 in Asia

#2309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

79. Teikyo University

For Philosophy

#675 in Asia

#2311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

80. Shimane University

For Philosophy

#678 in Asia

#2326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

81. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Philosophy

#693 in Asia

#2363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

82. Showa University

For Philosophy

#700 in Asia

#2373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

83. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Philosophy

#706 in Asia

#2385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

84. Rikkyo University

For Philosophy

#724 in Asia

#2416 in the World

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

85. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#725 in Asia

#2417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

86. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Philosophy

#734 in Asia

#2447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

87. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Philosophy

#737 in Asia

#2456 in the World

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

88. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Philosophy

#783 in Asia

#2561 in the World

Founded: 1972

89. Oita University

For Philosophy

#786 in Asia

#2568 in the World

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

90. Akita University

For Philosophy

#790 in Asia

#2575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

91. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Philosophy

#791 in Asia

#2576 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 981
Founded: 1881

92. Tokyo Medical University

For Philosophy

#804 in Asia

#2601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

93. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Philosophy

#812 in Asia

#2616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

94. Nanzan University

For Philosophy

#814 in Asia

#2631 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 9,883
Founded: 1949

95. Ochanomizu University

For Philosophy

#838 in Asia

#2676 in the World

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

96. Meijo University

For Philosophy

#857 in Asia

#2715 in the World

Founded: 1926

97. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#870 in Asia

#2747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

98. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Philosophy

#883 in Asia

#2769 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

99. Toyo University

For Philosophy

#887 in Asia

#2778 in the World

Founded: 1887

100. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Philosophy

#888 in Asia

#2780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

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

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