100 Best universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 5.28M citations received by 335K academic papers made by 414 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 Sociology

#6 in Asia

#136 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Sociology

#9 in Asia

#190 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Sociology

#25 in Asia

#336 in the World

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

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Sociology

#28 in Asia

#361 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Sociology

#31 in Asia

#379 in the World

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

6. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Sociology

#36 in Asia

#428 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Sociology

#37 in Asia

#430 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Sociology

#44 in Asia

#464 in the World

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

9. Keio University

For Sociology

#54 in Asia

#525 in the World

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

10. Waseda University

For Sociology

#80 in Asia

#669 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Sociology

#82 in Asia

#672 in the World

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

12. Kobe University

For Sociology

#83 in Asia

#673 in the World

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

13. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Sociology

#85 in Asia

#680 in the World

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

14. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Sociology

#90 in Asia

#695 in the World

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

15. Chiba University

For Sociology

#122 in Asia

#841 in the World

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

16. Nihon University

For Sociology

#149 in Asia

#912 in the World

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

17. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Sociology

#150 in Asia

#915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Sociology

#176 in Asia

#1002 in the World

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

19. Tokyo University of Science

For Sociology

#178 in Asia

#1007 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1881

20. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Sociology

#191 in Asia

#1067 in the World

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

21. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Sociology

#195 in Asia

#1078 in the World

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

22. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Sociology

#203 in Asia

#1107 in the World

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

23. Osaka City University

For Sociology

#248 in Asia

#1256 in the World

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

24. Ritsumeikan University

For Sociology

#250 in Asia

#1262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

25. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Sociology

#264 in Asia

#1291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Founded: 1949

26. Gifu University

For Sociology

#266 in Asia

#1296 in the World

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

27. Juntendo University

For Sociology

#276 in Asia

#1321 in the World

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

28. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Sociology

#277 in Asia

#1331 in the World

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

29. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Sociology

#278 in Asia

#1333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

30. Tokai University

For Sociology

#289 in Asia

#1364 in the World

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

31. University of Electro-Communications

For Sociology

#291 in Asia

#1373 in the World

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

32. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Sociology

#296 in Asia

#1384 in the World

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

33. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Sociology

#307 in Asia

#1412 in the World

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

34. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Sociology

#314 in Asia

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1928

35. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Sociology

#318 in Asia

#1446 in the World

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

36. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Sociology

#323 in Asia

#1455 in the World

Founded: 1972

37. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Sociology

#335 in Asia

#1492 in the World

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

38. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Sociology

#355 in Asia

#1539 in the World

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

39. Mie University

For Sociology

#360 in Asia

#1556 in the World

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

40. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Sociology

#362 in Asia

#1566 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

41. Nagoya City University

For Sociology

#366 in Asia

#1582 in the World

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

42. Showa University

For Sociology

#368 in Asia

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

43. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Sociology

#373 in Asia

#1595 in the World

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

44. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Sociology

#385 in Asia

#1637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

45. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Sociology

#391 in Asia

#1652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

46. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Sociology

#395 in Asia

#1665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,107
Founded: 1974

47. Osaka Prefecture University

For Sociology

#412 in Asia

#1705 in the World

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

48. Doshisha University

For Sociology

#415 in Asia

#1713 in the World

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

49. Teikyo University

For Sociology

#418 in Asia

#1723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

50. University of Toyama

For Sociology

#420 in Asia

#1730 in the World

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

51. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Sociology

#425 in Asia

#1741 in the World

Founded: 1978

52. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Sociology

#429 in Asia

#1750 in the World

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

53. Shimane University

For Sociology

#430 in Asia

#1752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

54. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Sociology

#440 in Asia

#1777 in the World

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

55. Kitasato University

For Sociology

#442 in Asia

#1782 in the World

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

56. Kurume University

For Sociology

#447 in Asia

#1805 in the World

Founded: 1928

57. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Sociology

#448 in Asia

#1808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

58. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Sociology

#453 in Asia

#1821 in the World

Founded: 1949

59. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Sociology

#456 in Asia

#1833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

60. Toho University

For Sociology

#459 in Asia

#1841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

61. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Sociology

#462 in Asia

#1845 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

62. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#465 in Asia

#1851 in the World

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

63. Saga University

For Sociology

#477 in Asia

#1878 in the World

Founded: 1949

64. University of Yamanashi

For Sociology

#485 in Asia

#1908 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

65. Kansai University

For Sociology

#490 in Asia

#1918 in the World

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

66. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#500 in Asia

#1943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

67. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Sociology

#505 in Asia

#1952 in the World

Enrollment: 20,356
Founded: 1934

68. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Sociology

#518 in Asia

#1979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

69. Nippon Medical School

For Sociology

#534 in Asia

#2026 in the World

Founded: 1904

70. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Sociology

#539 in Asia

#2036 in the World

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

71. Hosei University

For Sociology

#542 in Asia

#2042 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

72. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Sociology

#553 in Asia

#2068 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

73. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Sociology

#555 in Asia

#2072 in the World

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

74. Sophia University

For Sociology

#556 in Asia

#2080 in the World

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

75. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Sociology

#559 in Asia

#2093 in the World

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

76. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Sociology

#565 in Asia

#2103 in the World

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

77. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Sociology

#567 in Asia

#2107 in the World

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

78. Meiji University

For Sociology

#591 in Asia

#2174 in the World

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

79. University of Fukui

For Sociology

#602 in Asia

#2194 in the World

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

80. Akita University

For Sociology

#606 in Asia

#2200 in the World

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

81. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Sociology

#610 in Asia

#2205 in the World

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

82. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Sociology

#633 in Asia

#2250 in the World

Enrollment: 3,065
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1964

83. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Sociology

#634 in Asia

#2251 in the World

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

84. Rikkyo University

For Sociology

#639 in Asia

#2266 in the World

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

85. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Sociology

#678 in Asia

#2366 in the World

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

86. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Sociology

#681 in Asia

#2374 in the World

Founded: 1928

87. Ibaraki University

For Sociology

#682 in Asia

#2375 in the World

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

88. Ochanomizu University

For Sociology

#684 in Asia

#2379 in the World

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

89. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Sociology

#686 in Asia

#2387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 3,217
Founded: 1949

90. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Sociology

#694 in Asia

#2403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

91. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Sociology

#701 in Asia

#2418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

92. Oita University

For Sociology

#703 in Asia

#2423 in the World

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

93. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Sociology

#707 in Asia

#2431 in the World

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

94. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Sociology

#718 in Asia

#2451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1993

95. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Sociology

#724 in Asia

#2463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

96. Tokyo University of Agriculture

For Sociology

#732 in Asia

#2475 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1891

97. Tokyo Medical University

For Sociology

#733 in Asia

#2481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

98. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Sociology

#734 in Asia

#2488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

99. Wakayama Medical University

Japan | Wakayama

For Sociology

#736 in Asia

#2492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1945

100. Ryukoku University

For Sociology

#738 in Asia

#2500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1639

The best cities to study Sociology 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