100 Best universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 6.99M citations received by 368K academic papers made by 436 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

#141 in the World

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

2. Kyoto University

For Sociology

#9 in Asia

#200 in the World

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

3. Osaka University

For Sociology

#31 in Asia

#366 in the World

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

4. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Sociology

#34 in Asia

#386 in the World

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

5. Tohoku University

For Sociology

#37 in Asia

#408 in the World

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

6. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Sociology

#47 in Asia

#461 in the World

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

7. Nagoya University

For Sociology

#54 in Asia

#484 in the World

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

8. University of Tsukuba

Japan | Tsukuba

For Sociology

#59 in Asia

#511 in the World

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

9. Keio University

For Sociology

#74 in Asia

#596 in the World

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

10. Waseda University

For Sociology

#97 in Asia

#697 in the World

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

11. Hiroshima University

Japan | Higashihiroshima

For Sociology

#98 in Asia

#699 in the World

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

12. Kobe University

For Sociology

#105 in Asia

#728 in the World

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

13. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Sociology

#109 in Asia

#756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

14. Chiba University

For Sociology

#153 in Asia

#909 in the World

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

15. Nihon University

For Sociology

#181 in Asia

#975 in the World

Founded: 1889

16. Tokyo Medical and Dental University

For Sociology

#191 in Asia

#1000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1946

17. Okayama University

Japan | Okayama

For Sociology

#197 in Asia

#1014 in the World

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

18. Tokyo Metropolitan University

Japan | Hachioji

For Sociology

#218 in Asia

#1111 in the World

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

19. Tokyo University of Science

For Sociology

#238 in Asia

#1170 in the World

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

20. Niigata University

Japan | Niigata

For Sociology

#241 in Asia

#1176 in the World

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

21. Nagasaki University

Japan | Nagasaki

For Sociology

#245 in Asia

#1189 in the World

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

22. Kanazawa University

Japan | Kanazawa

For Sociology

#270 in Asia

#1274 in the World

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

23. Ritsumeikan University

For Sociology

#279 in Asia

#1302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1899

24. Osaka City University

For Sociology

#315 in Asia

#1397 in the World

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

25. Juntendo University

For Sociology

#334 in Asia

#1446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1836

26. University of Tokushima

Japan | Tokushima

For Sociology

#349 in Asia

#1486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

27. Gifu University

For Sociology

#352 in Asia

#1498 in the World

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

28. University of Electro-Communications

For Sociology

#353 in Asia

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1949

29. Shinshu University

Japan | Matsumoto

For Sociology

#355 in Asia

#1512 in the World

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

30. Tokai University

For Sociology

#356 in Asia

#1519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

31. Ehime University

Japan | Matsuyama

For Sociology

#363 in Asia

#1540 in the World

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

32. Kumamoto University

Japan | Kumamoto

For Sociology

#371 in Asia

#1553 in the World

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

33. Hitotsubashi University

Japan | Kunitachi

For Sociology

#375 in Asia

#1563 in the World

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

34. Kindai University

Japan | Higashiosaka

For Sociology

#387 in Asia

#1608 in the World

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

35. Jichi Medical University

Japan | Tochigi

For Sociology

#400 in Asia

#1644 in the World

Founded: 1972

36. Kagoshima University

Japan | Kagoshima

For Sociology

#409 in Asia

#1661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

37. Tottori University

Japan | Tottori

For Sociology

#410 in Asia

#1662 in the World

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

38. Yokohama City University

Japan | Yokohama

For Sociology

#412 in Asia

#1669 in the World

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

39. Doshisha University

For Sociology

#430 in Asia

#1723 in the World

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

40. Gunma University

Japan | Maebashi

For Sociology

#438 in Asia

#1734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

41. University of the Ryukyus

Japan | Nishihara

For Sociology

#440 in Asia

#1739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1950

42. Mie University

For Sociology

#445 in Asia

#1761 in the World

Enrollment: 8,455
Founded: 1949

43. Nagoya City University

For Sociology

#451 in Asia

#1776 in the World

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

44. Yokohama National University

Japan | Yokohama

For Sociology

#463 in Asia

#1802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1949

45. Shiga University of Medical Science

For Sociology

#498 in Asia

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1974

46. Shimane University

For Sociology

#503 in Asia

#1905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1949

47. Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#508 in Asia

#1917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1990

48. Yamagata University

Japan | Yamagata

For Sociology

#509 in Asia

#1918 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

49. Shizuoka University

Japan | Shizuoka

For Sociology

#513 in Asia

#1924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1949

50. University of Toyama

For Sociology

#516 in Asia

#1931 in the World

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

51. University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Sociology

#526 in Asia

#1955 in the World

Founded: 1978

52. Teikyo University

For Sociology

#547 in Asia

#1998 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1966

53. Kitasato University

For Sociology

#550 in Asia

#2005 in the World

Founded: 1962

54. Osaka Prefecture University

For Sociology

#551 in Asia

#2010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1949

55. Kurume University

For Sociology

#552 in Asia

#2020 in the World

Founded: 1928

56. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

For Sociology

#553 in Asia

#2022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1949

57. Yamaguchi University

Japan | Yamaguchi

For Sociology

#559 in Asia

#2030 in the World

Founded: 1949

58. Showa University

For Sociology

#561 in Asia

#2033 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1928

59. Kansai University

For Sociology

#566 in Asia

#2049 in the World

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

60. Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine

For Sociology

#570 in Asia

#2061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1872

61. Graduate University for Advanced Studies

For Sociology

#573 in Asia

#2072 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1988

62. Saga University

For Sociology

#575 in Asia

#2077 in the World

Founded: 1949

63. Sapporo Medical University

Japan | Sapporo

For Sociology

#576 in Asia

#2079 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1950

64. Toho University

For Sociology

#578 in Asia

#2088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1925

65. University of Yamanashi

For Sociology

#582 in Asia

#2097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

66. Nara Institute of Science and Technology

For Sociology

#585 in Asia

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1991

67. Hirosaki University

Japan | Hirosaki

For Sociology

#600 in Asia

#2145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1949

68. Nippon Medical School

For Sociology

#610 in Asia

#2168 in the World

Founded: 1904

69. Fukushima Medical University

Japan | Fukushima

For Sociology

#625 in Asia

#2205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1952

70. Nagoya Institute of Technology

For Sociology

#632 in Asia

#2220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1905

71. Kwansei Gakuin University

Japan | Nishinomiya

For Sociology

#638 in Asia

#2231 in the World

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

72. Fukuoka University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Sociology

#639 in Asia

#2232 in the World

Founded: 1934

73. Aoyama Gakuin University

For Sociology

#640 in Asia

#2239 in the World

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

74. Sophia University

For Sociology

#643 in Asia

#2243 in the World

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

75. Hosei University

For Sociology

#650 in Asia

#2265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1880

76. Meiji University

For Sociology

#655 in Asia

#2277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Founded: 1881

77. Chuo University

Japan | Hachioji

For Sociology

#661 in Asia

#2293 in the World

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

78. Fujita Health University

Japan | Toyoake

For Sociology

#668 in Asia

#2311 in the World

Enrollment: 3,106
Founded: 1964

79. Nanzan University

For Sociology

#669 in Asia

#2312 in the World

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

80. Kyushu Institute of Technology

Japan | Kitakyushu

For Sociology

#677 in Asia

#2330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1907

81. Rikkyo University

For Sociology

#686 in Asia

#2350 in the World

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

82. Jikei University School of Medicine

For Sociology

#703 in Asia

#2387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

83. Akita University

For Sociology

#706 in Asia

#2397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1949

84. University of Fukui

For Sociology

#720 in Asia

#2440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

85. Iwate Medical University

Japan | Morioka

For Sociology

#734 in Asia

#2466 in the World

Founded: 1928

86. Kagawa University

Japan | Takamatsu

For Sociology

#751 in Asia

#2501 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1949

87. Ochanomizu University

For Sociology

#772 in Asia

#2548 in the World

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

88. Saitama University

Japan | Saitama

For Sociology

#784 in Asia

#2572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1949

89. Tokyo University of the Arts

For Sociology

#787 in Asia

#2577 in the World

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

90. University of Miyazaki

Japan | Miyazaki

For Sociology

#809 in Asia

#2621 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1949

91. Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Japan | Hamamatsu

For Sociology

#817 in Asia

#2638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1974

92. Nara Women's University

For Sociology

#825 in Asia

#2647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 2,631
Founded: 1908

93. Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)

For Sociology

#827 in Asia

#2654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 237
Male:Female: 56:44

94. Ibaraki University

For Sociology

#829 in Asia

#2664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1949

95. University of Aizu

Japan | Aizuwakamatsu

For Sociology

#841 in Asia

#2689 in the World

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

96. Oita University

For Sociology

#847 in Asia

#2697 in the World

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

97. Tokyo Medical University

For Sociology

#848 in Asia

#2699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1916

98. Nara Medical University

Japan | Kashihara

For Sociology

#853 in Asia

#2711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1945

99. St. Marianna University School of Medicine

Japan | Kawasaki

For Sociology

#855 in Asia

#2719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1971

100. Toyohashi University of Technology

Japan | Toyohashi

For Sociology

#869 in Asia

#2750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Founded: 1976

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

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