100 Best universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 9.73M citations received by 674K academic papers made by 471 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

#79 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Philosophy

#8 in Asia

#136 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Philosophy

#21 in Asia

#264 in the World

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

4. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#42 in Asia

#377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

5. Tohoku University

For Philosophy

#45 in Asia

#391 in the World

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

6. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Philosophy

#48 in Asia

#409 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Philosophy

#57 in Asia

#438 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Philosophy

#72 in Asia

#509 in the World

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

9. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Philosophy

#73 in Asia

#514 in the World

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

10. Keio University

For Philosophy

#93 in Asia

#611 in the World

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

11. Waseda University

For Philosophy

#100 in Asia

#637 in the World

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

12. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Philosophy

#118 in Asia

#727 in the World

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

13. Kobe University

For Philosophy

#124 in Asia

#745 in the World

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

14. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Philosophy

#161 in Asia

#867 in the World

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

15. Tokyo University of Science

For Philosophy

#163 in Asia

#885 in the World

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

16. Chiba University

For Philosophy

#180 in Asia

#944 in the World

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

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Philosophy

#198 in Asia

#1006 in the World

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

18. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Philosophy

#207 in Asia

#1035 in the World

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

19. Osaka Prefecture University

For Philosophy

#237 in Asia

#1158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

20. University of Electro-Communications

For Philosophy

#249 in Asia

#1190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

21. Nihon University

For Philosophy

#255 in Asia

#1203 in the World

Founded: 1889

22. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Philosophy

#260 in Asia

#1218 in the World

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

23. Ritsumeikan University

For Philosophy

#274 in Asia

#1276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

24. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Philosophy

#278 in Asia

#1283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

25. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Philosophy

#285 in Asia

#1292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

26. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Philosophy

#290 in Asia

#1306 in the World

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

27. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Philosophy

#295 in Asia

#1314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

28. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#302 in Asia

#1334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

29. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Philosophy

#313 in Asia

#1379 in the World

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

30. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Philosophy

#326 in Asia

#1417 in the World

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

31. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#338 in Asia

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

32. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Philosophy

#348 in Asia

#1473 in the World

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

33. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#354 in Asia

#1489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

34. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Philosophy

#355 in Asia

#1509 in the World

Founded: 1949

35. Osaka City University

For Philosophy

#369 in Asia

#1545 in the World

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

36. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Philosophy

#372 in Asia

#1551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

37. Tokai University

For Philosophy

#382 in Asia

#1585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

38. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#408 in Asia

#1659 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

39. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Philosophy

#413 in Asia

#1678 in the World

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

40. Mie University

For Philosophy

#422 in Asia

#1699 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

41. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Philosophy

#429 in Asia

#1721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

42. Juntendo University

For Philosophy

#443 in Asia

#1748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

43. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Philosophy

#455 in Asia

#1782 in the World

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

44. Meiji University

For Philosophy

#472 in Asia

#1822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

45. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Philosophy

#479 in Asia

#1837 in the World

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

46. Hosei University

For Philosophy

#484 in Asia

#1847 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

47. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Philosophy

#488 in Asia

#1862 in the World

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

48. Gifu University

For Philosophy

#493 in Asia

#1872 in the World

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

49. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Philosophy

#508 in Asia

#1930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

50. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Philosophy

#519 in Asia

#1957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

51. Kansai University

For Philosophy

#521 in Asia

#1962 in the World

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

52. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Philosophy

#527 in Asia

#1978 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

53. Ibaraki University

For Philosophy

#534 in Asia

#2000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

54. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Philosophy

#537 in Asia

#2004 in the World

Founded: 1978

55. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Philosophy

#538 in Asia

#2006 in the World

Founded: 1934

56. Doshisha University

For Philosophy

#539 in Asia

#2007 in the World

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

57. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Philosophy

#543 in Asia

#2012 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

58. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Philosophy

#546 in Asia

#2019 in the World

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

59. Ryukoku University

For Philosophy

#547 in Asia

#2022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

60. Kitasato University

For Philosophy

#552 in Asia

#2028 in the World

Founded: 1962

61. Sophia University

For Philosophy

#554 in Asia

#2034 in the World

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

62. Nippon Medical School

For Philosophy

#558 in Asia

#2047 in the World

Founded: 1904

63. University of Fukui

For Philosophy

#564 in Asia

#2062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

64. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Philosophy

#571 in Asia

#2076 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

65. Nagoya City University

For Philosophy

#572 in Asia

#2077 in the World

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

66. University of Toyama

For Philosophy

#582 in Asia

#2116 in the World

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

67. Toho University

For Philosophy

#585 in Asia

#2125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

68. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Philosophy

#591 in Asia

#2134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

69. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Philosophy

#592 in Asia

#2136 in the World

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

70. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Philosophy

#594 in Asia

#2142 in the World

Founded: 1972

71. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Philosophy

#595 in Asia

#2146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

72. Tokyo Denki University

For Philosophy

#609 in Asia

#2187 in the World

Founded: 1907

73. Saga University

For Philosophy

#611 in Asia

#2197 in the World

Founded: 1949

74. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Philosophy

#630 in Asia

#2233 in the World

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

75. University of Yamanashi

For Philosophy

#633 in Asia

#2246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

76. Kurume University

For Philosophy

#639 in Asia

#2255 in the World

Founded: 1928

77. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Philosophy

#643 in Asia

#2270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

78. Teikyo University

For Philosophy

#647 in Asia

#2274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

79. Shimane University

For Philosophy

#654 in Asia

#2296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

80. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Philosophy

#656 in Asia

#2304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

81. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Philosophy

#665 in Asia

#2323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

82. Showa University

For Philosophy

#672 in Asia

#2338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

83. Kyoto Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#683 in Asia

#2358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

84. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Philosophy

#698 in Asia

#2383 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

85. Rikkyo University

For Philosophy

#705 in Asia

#2395 in the World

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

86. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Philosophy

#713 in Asia

#2413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

87. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Philosophy

#719 in Asia

#2436 in the World

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

88. Akita University

For Philosophy

#758 in Asia

#2530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

89. Saitama Medical School

Japan | Moroyama

For Philosophy

#761 in Asia

#2537 in the World

Founded: 1972

90. Oita University

For Philosophy

#763 in Asia

#2541 in the World

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

91. Nagaoka University of Technology

Japan | Nagaoka

For Philosophy

#773 in Asia

#2559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1976

92. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Philosophy

#779 in Asia

#2577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

93. Tokyo Medical University

For Philosophy

#783 in Asia

#2584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

94. Nanzan University

For Philosophy

#791 in Asia

#2595 in the World

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

95. Ochanomizu University

For Philosophy

#810 in Asia

#2632 in the World

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

96. Meijo University

For Philosophy

#821 in Asia

#2665 in the World

Founded: 1926

97. Shibaura Institute of Technology

For Philosophy

#847 in Asia

#2719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Founded: 1949

98. Toyo University

For Philosophy

#858 in Asia

#2741 in the World

Founded: 1887

99. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Philosophy

#864 in Asia

#2754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

100. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Philosophy

#872 in Asia

#2773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

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

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